Resolution Recognizing Sickle Cell Disease-2024

Title: Recognition of Sickle Cell Disease in our UMC Communities

 Budget Implications: None

 Rationale: Sickle Cell, first discovered in Sub Saharan Africa centuries ago, currently affects mostly persons of African descent in the United States, however, other ethnic groups from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, Spanish-speaking regions of South & Central America, and parts of the Caribbean are also affected.[i] Globally– about 300,000 babies are born world-wide each year with sickle cell disease (SCD). In the US – about 120,000 individuals live with SCD.[ii] In and around the DMV (District, Maryland, Virginia) area there are about 2500- 5000 individuals. (Maryland is one of the top ten states in the country with the highest occurrence of SCD patients).[iii] Sickle Cell Disease affects normal round blood cells to become sickle shaped as they try to move along in the vein causing pain and long- term organ damage to brain, heart, liver, kidneys, lungs – anywhere where blood flows through the body. However, while individuals identified with sickle cell trait (SCT) do not have disease, there is an on-going need for education regarding “breaking the sickle cycle.”

 Submitted By:

  • Dr. R. Lorraine Brown, DMin, RN, Elder, Founder and Executive Director of Extension Ministry, Project SPIRIT Sickle Cell (PSSC), Inc., email: or
  • Cynthia Gipson, Outreach, Health & Welfare Chairperson, Macedonia UMC, and Founder of the Christopher Gipson Sickle Cell Moya-Moya Foundation, email:

RESOLUTION:

Whereas “God created all living things in God’s image,[iv] and God said that God’s creation was good!”[v] we celebrate each person with and without health and physical disabilities as unique and wonderfully made;

Whereas Jesus reached out to people with physical disabilities and illness to help them be welcomed members of their communities, so too individuals living with sickle cell disease, aka ‘warriors’, and others who live with a blood disorder are to be welcomed with empathy, and compassion into church communities;

Whereas the majority of individuals living with sickle cell disease are considered to have a so- called “black disease” and experience more discrimination, health disparities, racial injustices, and bias in both their community and in medical settings;

Whereas more awareness and education is needed throughout our society particularly churches to provide essential disease education that can save lives and dispel harmful myths.[vi] The life of a sickle cell warrior involves a battle that never ends as they fight their own bodies, hospital workers who doubt their pain and the public and family who just do not understand the disease[vii]; and

Whereas greater awareness of sickle cell disease can save lives. SCD should no longer be a secret as too many individuals who live with the disease and family/caregivers have been negatively affected - living in isolation because it has been a misunderstood secret for far too long; now

Therefore, be it resolved, that the local churches and congregations of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church:

  1. Become more informed and aware of this disease and its impact on individuals, their families and/or caregivers;
  2. Provide or seek ways to offer spiritual support that conveys God’s message of unconditional love; and 
  3. Be a place of community for affected individuals and family/caregivers who are too often isolated. Further guidance can be sought from sickle cell community-based organizations who provide education and awareness for individuals and their families living with sickle cell disease and/or sickle trait regarding how to assist persons with how they can navigate life and health challenges, consider the best methods for managing their SCD, and discover their own sense of spirituality;

Be it further resolved, that each year churches recognize June 19 as World Sickle Cell Day and September as Sickle Cell Awareness Month through announcements and other ways to increase SCD awareness. These days could include the telling and hearing of individuals, families/caregiver’s shared stories and testimonies; an informative message; distribution of educational materials at exhibit tables, information sessions or food giveaways; observation of the Shine the Light annual awareness campaign, lighting all BWC-UMC churches in red on June 19th for 24 hours; and other events to raise awareness as recognized by impacted people. Through the sharing of God’s truth and love about sickle cell disease, we can provide individuals and families/caregivers living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) to be transformed by seeing and enjoying God in their own lives; 

Be it further resolved, that individuals are encouraged to partner with their local American Red Cross Blood Services to schedule and promote blood drives. Blood from these drives can support transfusion needs of patients, reduce pain crisis, reduce stroke risk, and reduce organ damage; and

Be it further Resolved, that members are urged to request educational information and resources for promotional ideas from national SCD agencies such as:

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately upon completion of Annual Conference

CO-SPONSORS:

  • Dr. Cynthia Belt, Retired Elder, Harwood Park UMC
  • Rev Jalene Chase, Elder Goshen UMC -
  • Keya Robinson, M.S, Chairperson of Christopher Gipson Sickle Cell Moya-Moya Foundation,
  • Dorothea Stroman, Elder Clinton UMC –
  • Kim Walker, United Women in Faith –

 Citations:

[i] Hassell KL. Population estimates of sickle cell disease in the U.S. Am J Prev Med. 2010;38(4S):S512-S521.

[ii] https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/data.html

[iii] Cummings, Maya Rockeymoore, (2022). Maya Rockeymoore Cummings: The suffering of sickle cell disease. Maryland Matters. (Nov 2022).

[iv] Genesis 1:27; Genesis 1:31; Mark 5:19 & Luke 18: 35-43.

   https://umcdmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/das-God-created-all-living-things-good-1.docx

[v] Ibid.

[vi] Power-Hays, A., & McGann, P. T. (2020). When actions speak louder than words—racism and sickle cell disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 383(20), 1902-1903 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2022125

[vii] Wakefield, E. O., Ashley Pantaleao, et al. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Describing Perceived Racial Bias Among Youth with Sickle Cell Disease, jsy015, 17-Mar-2018, https://doi-

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

As per Baltimore-Washington Conference Rule Para. 3006.2.c., this resolution was reviewed by the Conference Secretary and found consistent with the current Book of Discipline.