Office of Government Relations

The situation in Del Rio on the United States-Mexico border, with an estimated 14,000 migrants, mostly from Haiti, is a jarring manifestation of economic, human rights, environmental, and migration crises. The U.S. response is deeply problematic – the use of cruel and inhumane enforcement by Border Patrol agents on horseback reveals inexcusable racist dynamics at…

The Episcopal Church calls on the Biden administration and Congress to develop comprehensive plans to evacuate and provide green cards for our Afghan allies who have supported the U.S. armed forces after U.S. armed forces leave Afghanistan on September 11, 2021. Many of the individuals who have worked for the U.S. armed forces as interpreters,…

O blessed Lord, you ministered to all who came to you: Look with compassion upon all who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy; remove from them the fears that beset them; strengthen them in the work of their recovery; and to those who care…

Sanctify, O Lord, those whom you have called to the study and practice of the arts of healing, and to the prevention of disease and pain. Strengthen them by your life-giving Spirit, that by their ministries the health of the community may be promoted and your creation glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. -Prayer…

O gracious God, we give thee humble and hearty thanks that thou hast preserved through the pain and anxiety of childbirth thy servant, who desires now to offer unto thee her praises and thanksgivings. Grant, most merciful Father, that by thy help she may live faithfully according to thy will in this life, and finally…

The Holy Scriptures are replete with references to the Savior’s healing ministry. In obedience to the Lord’s command to tend the sick, the Church has long committed itself to improving the health of people through a wide variety of ministries and means, from running hospitals and nursing facilities to engaging in advocacy on health policy….

A Comprehensive and Universal Healthcare Program The Church supports comprehensive health care and recognizes the need for universal and equitable access for all. General Convention urges Episcopalians to advocate for adequate health care, along with nutrition and housing, as human rights that should be provided to all those residing in our nation, including veterans. This advocacy on a number of healthcare…

Malaria is one of the oldest and deadliest infectious diseases in the world today. While it has been eradicated in many parts of the world, malaria remains endemic in poor tropical and subtropical areas, especially where climatic factors such as humidity, temperature, and rainfall make it easier for Anopheles mosquitoes to thrive. People living in poverty and other…

“I believe that we in the religious communities have a unique ministry in that we are the popular, public and identified repositories of ethical, moral, and prophetic witness. People want to know what we think about this disease and what we see as a faithful response.” – Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning, from ENS report on the Atlanta…

This week, our global health series focuses on maternal and child health. Years of research and experience have shown that preventative measures, early diagnosis, and low-cost health interventions are critical for any health condition, including maternal and child health care. Since 1990, mortality rates among children have decreased by 50 percent, and maternal deaths have decreased…

For the next four weeks, the Office of Government Relations will share information with you about the global health sector and The Episcopal Church’s engagement in this area. In the midst of a global pandemic, it is clear how we all depend on global health systems and infrastructure and the role that governments and multilateral…

Successful re-entry into society is one of the most challenging parts of rehabilitation and an area where The Episcopal Church has voiced particular concern. When re-entering their communities, former offenders find themselves needing to reconnect with family and friends, find employment and housing while having a criminal record, and adjust to life outside of prison….