This study guide offers a format for three different class lengths: one 45-minute session; one 2-hour session; and a series of four 45-minute sessions.

Goal

• paper – to provide a healthcare resource to faith communities for study and reflection and for advocacy and action.
• study guide - to introduce participants to Vermont Ecumenical Council’s health care paper through a brief Bible study, personal reflection, and discussion of Health Care – An Imperative.
• Material: a Bible for each participant; copies of Health Care – An Imperative

45-minute session

Format:

1. Bible Study (see Appendix 1) [15 minutes] - Suggested passage: Matthew 25:31-40
2. Modified One-to-Ones [5 minutes]  Work in pairs. Take 2 minutes each to share a personal experience with the healthcare/health insurance system. Return to the larger group for discussion of the following questions.
3. Discussion [20 minutes]
   1. The paper Health care – An Imperative claims that “it is time to examine the conditions compelling us to act now, and to search for new ways to work toward a healthy society of whole persons” (p.3). What might it look like to have health care which is affordable, accessible, and equitable?
   2. What are the implications of having participated in this conversation? What will you carry with you personally? What might be our next steps as a group?
4. Closing Prayer [5 minutes]

2-hour session

Format

1. Introductions and opening prayer [10 minutes]
2. Bible Study (see Appendix 1) [20 minutes] Suggested passage: Matthew 25:31-40
3. Modified One-to-Ones [10 minutes] In pairs, take 4 to 5 minutes each to share a story about a personal experience with the healthcare/health insurance system. Return to the larger group for a synopsis of the paper.
4. Synopsis of Health Care – An Imperative [20 minutes]
5. Discussion in small groups [30 minutes]
   1. The paper Health Care – An Imperative claims that “it is time to examine the conditions compelling us to act now, and to search for new ways to work toward a healthy society of whole persons” (p. 3). What are the barriers prohibiting such a society? What might it look like to have health care which is affordable, accessible,
      and equitable?
   2. What are the implications of having participated in this conversation? What will you carry with you personally? What might be our next steps as a group?
6. Reflection and integration in larger group [20 minutes]
7. Closing Prayer [10 minutes]

Series of four 45-minute sessions

Format for each session:

1. Bible Study [15 minutes] (see appendix I for a suggested format)
2. Modified One-to-Ones [5 minutes]
3. Presentation of Question [5 minutes]
4. Group Discussion [15 minutes]
5. Closing Prayer [5 minutes]

Session 1 of 4

1. Bible Study Suggested passage: Matthew 25:31-40
2. Modified One-to-Ones. In pairs, take 2 minutes each to share a story about a personal experience with giving care to another person during a time of need. Return to the larger group for discussion of the following questions.
3. Presentation of Question - The paper states that “it is not enough to equate ‘health’ with ‘human happiness’ (‘if you have your health, you have everything’). At the same time, ‘health’ cannot be the broad label for every human flourishing. We must not ‘medicalize’ the whole of human experience. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.’” How would you define health? What role does health play in our daily lives?
4. Group discussion
5. Closing prayer

Session 2 of 4

1. Bible Study Suggested passages: Psalm 146; 147:3; 121:1-2
2. Modified One-to-Ones. In pairs, take 2 minutes each to share a story about a personal experience with the current healthcare system. Return to the larger group for discussion of the following questions.
3. Presentation of Question. The paper states that “‘health care’ itself can be ambiguous in meaning. Do all the actions taken in the name of ‘health care’ serve the restoration of health and the alleviation of symptoms? Nor can we lose sight of the impact of personal activities such as eating as we should and exercise. Add issues of the quality of housing, water, sewage and the environment, and it becomes clear that ‘health care’ is a complex interrelationship between health and other aspects of human well-being” (p. 4). What do we mean when we talk about health care? Would you agree that the issue is as complex as stated in the paper? Why or why not?
4. Group discussion
5. Closing prayer

Session 3 of 4

1. Bible Study Suggested passage: James 5:1-11
2. Modified One-to Ones. In pairs, take 2 minutes each to share a story about a personal experience with having one’s patience tested during a time of need. Return to the larger group for discussion of the following questions.
3. Presentation of Question. The paper states that “health care in all its dimensions cannot be separated from an ethical and religious context. A health care paradigm that would implicitly or explicitly close itself off from the Transcendent and which would accept principles based only on social and political consensus would be irresponsible and unacceptable. Health care ethics like bio-ethics must be grounded on objective truth, not ideologies or subjective opinions” (p. 5). What is the role of religion in the conversation about health care? What should it be? How would you employ the daily ethical principles you use in your own life to this conversation about health care?
4. Group Discussion
5. Closing prayer

Session 4 of 4

1. Bible Study Suggested passage: Mark 6:6b-13
2. Modified One-to Ones. In pairs, take 2 minutes each to share a story about a personal experience with receiving care during a time of need. Return to the larger group for discussion of the following questions.
3. Presentation of Question. The paper Health Care – An Imperative claims that “it is time to examine the conditions compelling us to act now, and to search for new ways to ‘work toward a healthy society of whole persons’” (p. 3). What are the barriers prohibiting such a society? What might it look like to have health care which is affordable, accessible and equitable? What are the implications of having participated in this conversation? What will you carry with you personally? What might be our next steps as a group?
4. Group discussion
5. Closing prayer

Appendix I: A Method for Bible Study from the Lumko Missiological Institute of South Africa

1. Read the passage slowly (one person aloud).
2. Each person shares the word or phrase that catches her/his attention, without comment (one minute).
3. Read the passage again (a different person aloud).
4. Each person names “where this passage touches my life today”, using ‘I’ statements (three to five minutes).
5. Read the passage again (one person aloud).
6. Each person who wishes names “from what I have heard and shared, what does God want me to do or be this week? How does God invite me to change?”
7. Each person prays for the person on the right daily until the group meets again.

Note: Steps 5 through 7 are optional; details like time constraints, length of meeting, familiarity of group, and whether group will meet again should be considered in planning.

Thank you:
VEC’s Peace, Justice and the Integrity of Creation Committee for initiating this project; The Health Care Task Force for finalizing the paper; Tanya Wallace, educator, St. Paul’s Cathedral for writing the study guide.

Questions, feedback and contributions to this on-going effort can be addressed to the Vermont Ecumenical Council at info@vecbs.org. Check the Council’s website for additional information: www.vecbs.org. The phone number for the VEC office is 802-434-7307. September 2004