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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
Nov./Dec. 2004 |
The faithful are called to action during Donor Sabbath Nov. 14
By Ann Steiner Lantz
An Oct. 1 organ donor waiting list has more than 87,000 patients. Since then, 714 have died, 2,929 have received life saving organ donations, and 4,652 people have been added to the list.
November 14 marks the annual National Donor Sabbath, an interdenominational celebration of gifts of life and hope provided through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. During this time, people of all faiths are being asked to make faith-based decisions to become organ and tissue donors.
On this, National Donor Sabbath, it is time for United Methodists to make a faith-based decision and register to be an organ and tissue donor. But, that's only the first step. It is equally important that this decision be discussed with your family. By having this discussion now, not when your family is in crisis, you will be able to share with them your faith-based decision and help them to understand the choice that you have made.
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Organ and tissue donation represent one of the highest forms of compassion, love and giving. |
The United Methodist Church supports organ and tissue donation and states in its Social Principles that, "We recognize the life-giving benefits of organ and other tissue donation and encourage all people of faith to become organ and tissue donors as a part of their love and ministry to others in need" (2004 U.M. Book of Discipline). Organ and tissue donation represent one of the highest forms of compassion, love and giving -- the principles upon which our faith is based.
Respect for the sacredness of each human life necessitates that people of faith become organ and tissue donors. This respect is based on the uniqueness of each person and applies to every human being. As people of faith, we are also called on to show compassion to all people, which is lived out by responding with love to the needs of others.
Advances in medical technology make it possible for us literally to save another's life. Each of us are challenged to be generous with the precious gift of life that God has given us. Organ and tissue donation shows the ultimate love for our neighbor and an expression of the love that God has shown to each of us.
Please join me this month in prayer for those families who, in the midst of their pain, made the decision to donate a loved one's organs or tissues and for the thousands of men, women and children who continue to wait, pray, and hope for desperately needed transplants to save their lives.
Online registration is available at www.indianadonationalliancefoundation.org or at any local Bureau of Motor Vehicles office. Registration also is available through the Indiana Organ Procurement Organization at 260-436-6023.
Ann Steiner Lantz is an ordained elder in the North Indiana Conference and serves as director of the chaplaincy program at United Methodist-related Parkview Hospital. The chaplaincy plays a key role in bringing families who wish to donate their loved ones organs and the Indiana Organ Procurement Organization together to accomplish this gift of life. Parkview Hospital, one of the leading organ and tissue donor hospitals in the United States, had 18 organ donors in 2003. The organs from these 18 donors saved the lives of 59 people.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008