A few days ago, at a regular gathering of area Lutheran clergy I've begun attending, a colleague shared a moving letter received by a woman who had visited the pastor at his office. The woman was evidently making the rounds among several area churches during what was recognized by many Methodist churches as Organ Donation Sunday.It seems that the woman's daughter died a few years ago and the young woman's organs were donated for medical use. Nothing could assuage the mother's grief, to be sure. But the woman had just received a letter which she hoped might motivate others to consent to organ donation. The letter was from a young wife and mother who had received her daughter's heart. She told this mother she would always be grateful for the gift of life that her daughter's heart had made possible. Obviously, the mother was happy to receive the letter and made her feel that, if her daughter had to die, at least some part of her physical remains could be used here on earth to bring renewed life to another person.
A day after hearing my colleague's account and reading the letter sent by the transplant recipient, I read this in Christian Century magazine:
The Church of England says human organ donation is a Christian duty, in line with the giving of oneself and personal possessions voluntarily for the well-being of others. The church's statement came during discussion in the House of Lords on whether a position on organ donation should be adopted across the 27-member European Union, of which Britain is a part. The church made it clear that it remains firmly opposed to the sale of human organs, but it said that living donors giving organs freely is acceptable when no commercial gain is involved (RNS).Methodist bishop and theologian Albert Outler said near the end of his life, “For forty years, I’ve gotten it wrong. I’ve been telling people, ‘You’ve got to love! You’ve got to love!’ But the truth is that through Jesus, we get to love!”
Maybe organ donation isn't a Christian imperative because we have to do it, but a Christian imperative because we get to do it, an act of love for neighbors we'll never see...at least on this side of the resurrection.
[UPDATE: In the comments, Chris points out that our own Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has long seen organ donation by live donors as an act of love and those of deceased family members as an act of good stewardship. (Stewardship is the management of our time, talents, and other resources, including our bodies, minds, possessions, and money, in light of our faith in Jesus Christ.) See here and here.]
3 comments:
I just discovered your blog, and I'm glad I did.
I spent 9 months as a hospital chaplain (a full-time CPE Resident), and I've seen the power of organ donation. One of my best patient encounters was with a living kidney donor and the recipient of his kidney. They were like best friends, and the link between them was just amazing. If not for the donated kidney, the recipient would have been very ill.
Organ donation is a practice that is commended by our church and which our congregations should promote through annual events. It gives a whole new layer of meaning to "this is my body, given for you."
Peace.
The Church of England says a lot of things. I find it odd that they can articulate a binding Christian morality of organ donation, but sexual morality is up for grabs.
Nevertheless, I partly agree with them here. It seems a perfectly legitimate application of scriptural principles. I strongly believe in organ donation for all the reasons cited, but I do not believe that we can bind others' consciences with our convictions on secondary issues such as this.
If organ donation is a Christian duty, wouldn't that apply in life as well as death? There are always shortages of organs, and you only need one kidney. Have the Anglican divines already donated their extras?
Over half of the 98,000 Americans on the national transplant waiting list will die before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate about 20,000 transplantable organs every year. Over 6,000 of our neighbors suffer and die needlessly every year as a result.
There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage -- give organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.
Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren't willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.
Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition.
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