American Baptist policy statment on health, healing and wholeness

Abstract

"Among current social phenomena that challenge all Christians are the widespread problems of substance abuse, the rapidly increasing numbers of chronically ill persons, a new openness to the care of the dying and a greater willingness of many people to take active responsibility for their own health. Medical science continues to offer new capabilities, including the means of sustaining biological life beyond natural limits. Efforts to alter the genetic "code" and new understandings about how thought processes relate to the sense of well-being force us to venture into areas of uncertainty. In addition, technological advances contribute to the rapidly escalating costs of health care, complicating the issue of equitable access to care."