Hope for Health Care for All

In the early days of Tallmadge, before the church was built on the north end of the circle in the center of town, there stood an Academy building, where the children and youth of the town came for education. The Academy was built and run with the resources of our church’s founders, notably Elizur Wright, Sr., Salmon Sackett, and Rev. Simon Woodruff, who, in addition to being the first minister to serve this church, was the first instructor when the Academy was built in 1815. The Academy building was destroyed in a fire, but was rebuilt in a different location, with classes held at the Wright house in the interim.

The high value of education is great tradition in our congregation, and in the United Church of Christ as a whole. It has always been important to us to provide for the education of the next generations. In many cases, education was provided by those in the community who had the time and resources available to support it, as it was here in Tallmadge. Eventually, our nation decided that the education of our children was of such importance both as a moral value to itself, and in the national interest to have an educated citizenry, that we couldn’t depend on the ability of individuals to provide for it. Once again, it was our Christian ancestors who made public education, then called common school, available to everyone. We recognized that we could do this together, and that it was worth doing for our country’s general welfare, which is what our Constitution says that the government was created to promote.

I want to remember this story, because I believe that the Christian church has a similar calling in our time. Churches have always worked for the health of others. Many hospitals have religious roots, and today our church hosts blood drives and health screening services. But just as education was once limited to those of fortunate geography or means, so is adequate health care limited today. I believe health care should be for all our neighbors. Everyone should be able to afford the outstanding treatment and care that is available in this country. As I remember our heritage in this church, I am inspired that good people of this generation can see this come to pass. I have great hope.