Conference Board of Church & Society sends letter to Sen. Brownback
6/30/2010
Honorable Senator Sam Brownback
United States Senate
303 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510
Dear Honorable Senator Brownback,
The Kansas East Conference of the United Methodist Church gathered at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection June 9 to 12. During this annual meeting there was discussion of United States policy and support of maternal health and international family planning. As a body we voted to ask you to support increased funding for maternal health initiatives and international family planning.
As a church, we believe that life is of sacred worth and that Christ came that we might have life and life more abundantly. Our United Methodist Book of Discipline states: “Health is a condition of physical, mental, social and spiritual well being, and we view it as a responsibility – public and private. Health care is a basic human right.” The United Methodist Book of Discipline continues stating: “We affirm the right of men and women to have access to comprehensive reproductive health/family planning information and services which will serve as a means to prevent unplanned pregnancies, reduce abortions and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.”
Every minute, a woman somewhere in the world dies from complications during pregnancy or childbirth. One thousand women die daily from a lack of maternal care and family planning resources. Annually, four million infants die within a month of being born. As a country, we have the resources to financially support international family planning, maternal health care, and reduce both maternal and infant mortality rates. Supporting policies that make for healthy families in the world will only benefit the United States.
On behalf of the Kansas East Conference of the United Methodist Church, as the chair of the Conference Board of Church and Society, and as a Christian who cares about maternal health and family planning, I am asking you as a member of the Senate Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to support increased funding of international maternal health care and family planning.
Grace and Peace,
Rev. Kurt Cooper
Kansas East Conference of the United Methodist Church Conference Board of Church and Society
1305 Merchant
Emporia KS 66801
