Medical Assistance in Dying and our Faithful Response

 I have been asked by the Faith Development Committee at Trenton United Church, our home congregation, to lead a study and discussion group on the subject of Medical Assistance in Dying this Fall.I will do so, God being my helper, and I look forward to where this will take me and whoever participates. 

I have been involved in discussion about MAID for years and had the Rev. Rob Oliphant, a United Church minister and Canadian Member of Parliament come to Bridge St. Church about the legislation before it was passed because he was one of the co-chairs of the joint Parlimentary and Senate working group which framed it. On a hot Friday evening in May of 2016 nearly 100 people from the congregation and broader community arrived to listen and pose their questions. A newspaper report included some of Rob's comments about the process of developing legislation: 

“Every human life is sacred, but also our task was to make sure people have the best quality of life and to begin to respect their decisions,” said Oliphant, answering questions interview-style by Bridge Street United Church’s Rev. David Mundy.
“This is end of life care for people who have come to that point where they have a grievous and irremediable disease, where they have intolerable suffering and where they have capacity to make a decision to end that journey.
“Our question wasn’t about life or death, living or dying. Our question was about intolerable suffering and a gracious death and how we would come to that.”

Since that gathering six years ago a lot has happened and we will cover as much ground as possible in our discussions. Here is the announcement which will go up regarding the series, and as always folk who are not part of Trenton UC are welcome to participate. 

Medical Assistance in Dying and our Faithful Response
(Wednesdays Sep 28th, Oct 5th, 12th @ 10:15 AM)

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
    God is with us.
We are not alone.
    Thanks be to God.

In 2016 Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) became legal in Canada. Both before and after this legislation passed communities of faith from different traditions responded, some in strong opposition and others, including the United Church, with cautious support.

Together we will explore what the bible and our tradition say about the end of life and death, and how we can navigate the reality of MAID faithfully and compassionately.  Please sign up on the sheet at the back of the church or by contacting the office.

This will be a hybrid in-person and online study group.  The in-person gathering will take place in the Middle Auditorium at the church, and online participants can connect on Zoom through the following link:
Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86914198434

Below this are some of the questions which have already come to mind as I begin my preparation: 

What do the bible and our faith history say about the end of life and our choices in this regard?

Is it a sin or is it mercy to provide Medical Assistance in Dying? 

What is the history around Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada?  

Are the underlying premises of palliative care/hospice and MAID in opposition or can they be complementary? 

Why does the legislation around MAID keep changing? 

Should faith communities offer support for those choosing MAID?