I'll be posting a series of blogs about my trip.
Here is the introduction that I posted about myself a few days ago.
My name is Maryann Philbrook. I
currently live in Austin, TX where I attend the Episcopal Mission of
St. Julian's of Norwich. I am very busy here in Austin. I work
full time as a Customer Service representative. Answering phone
calls, technical support, that sort of thing. It pays the bills. I
also work part time (very part time) as the Children's Minister at my
Church. I was running the Children's Chapel program during the past
school year. I also work part time (also very part time) as an
attendant for a friend of mine who has a disability. When I'm not
doing one of these three paid jobs, I organize with Occupy Austin,
which is where I see my faith most vibrantly come alive. One of my
passions is travel. I have lived and travelled in over 15 countries
on 4 different continents.
I have been an Episcopalian all my life
and I'm drawn to the practical side of my faith. I believe that when
Jesus said he came to preach Good News to the poor, he meant it.
Literally. In trying to explore this understanding of my faith and
my calling, I have worked with Ecumenical groups, like the World
Council of Churches and the World Student Christian Federation. I
have also worked with Episcopal groups like the Episcopal Service
Corps. This year, I am excited to be joining the Episcopal Peace
Fellowship as part of their Young Adult Initiative at General
Convention. I understand that the issues facing our country, and the
world, are bigger than our individual lives. Each individual is
affected by the systemic and structural organization of our
government and our global society. I am coming to General Convention
because I want to be a part of the work the EPF is doing in moving
the Church towards its prophetic role.
I have found numerous resolutions that
I am looking forward to learning more about and, hopefully,
influencing the outcome of during General Convention. The one I am
most passionate about is Resolution A040, “Establish the Church as
the Moral Voice on Health Care.”
When I finished my year as Intern with
the Episcopal Service Corps I was ineligible to be insured through my
parents insurance so I bought a Major Medical Insurance policy.
While living with my parents, I was stung by a bug in the middle of
the night. We went to local ER where they gave me a shot of
cortizone and sent me home. This treatment cost over $1,000. My
deductible was $5,000, so the insurance I was buying did not cover a
dime. My parents are still paying off this trip to the ER. We need
healthcare reform that offers everyone equal access to health care,
not just a mandate to have insurance.
In 1991 General Convention recognized
that we need change: Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That
the 70th General Convention decries the inequitable health care
delivery system of the United States of America and calls upon the
President, the Congress, Governors and other leaders to devise a
system of universal access for the people of our country. (A009)
Currently there is a resolution on the
table to (A040) to establish the Episcopal Church as the moral voice
on health care. This resolution would resolve:
Every member of The Episcopal Church
make a moral commitment to health care for all of citizens and legal
residents by actively supporting the full implementation and funding
of the health care reform law in the United States.
This is not a “Moral” stance.
This law still leaves 26 million people uninsured. This law does not
ensure all Americans have equal access to health care. Requiring that
the government fund a law it has already passed is asking the
government to do what it has promised to do. A moral stance does
more than ask the bare minimum of our government.
The recent ruling by the Supreme Court
seriously undermines the enforceability of the ACA. Without the
ability ensure that states expand medicaid coverage many people will
not be able to afford the new, mandated, insurance. The personal
mandate was ruled to be constitutional, but without the expansion of
medicaid millions of people who cannot afford insurance will still be
without insurance and will owe the government money because of this
'penalty'. Endorsing this piece of legislation, as a moral stance,
is immoral because this legislation, although it improves the health
care situation in our country, is a far cry from the reforms that are
needed to actually enure that everyone in the US receives the health
care they need when they need it.
In 2009 the General Convention resolved
that: The Episcopal Church urge passage of federal legislation
establishing a “single payer” universal health care program which
would provide health care coverage for all of the people of the
United States (2009 D 048). Stating that this Affordable Care Act is
a moral bill is going back on our commitment to supporting a truly
universal health care system.
The Episcopal Church does need to
become the moral voice on health care. However, this will take
prophetic witness to what is possible, not a simple endorsement of a
compromised bill that does little address the real causes of problems
in our health care system.
There are many more resolutions that we
will be considering during Convention. I hope to be able to address
resolution A012, “Advocate for a Just Global Economy for
International Trade.” Having travelled abroad and seen the
disparity among nations I know, first hand, that we need to make
ensure that our economic policies are just. I also hope to speak to
resolution A017, “Monitor the use and Ethics of Drone Warfare.”
As we become a society with instant communication we also become a
society with the ability to cause instant destruction. The Church
needs to make a statement on the morality of the use of the drone
warfare in which the US is currently engaged.
I am hoping and praying that General
Convention will be a time of growth and learning and fruitful work
for all who attend. I am looking forward to being a part of that
with the Episcopal Peace Fellowship.
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