Every major religion in the United States accepts eye, organ and tissue donation as a good and charitable thing, but not everybody knows that.
“Some people are uninformed; they’re not sure how their faith feels about eye, organ and tissue donation,” says Lisa Langley, Community Engagement Manager for Midwest Eye-Banks.
To help people better understand where their religion stands on the issue of donation, the transplant community teams up with the religious community every year for National Donor Sabbath. This year, National Donor Sabbath will be recognized November 14-16.
In preparation for National Donor Sabbath, the Michigan Eye-Bank is among the organizations sponsoring a program on October 3, called Bringing Organ Donation Awareness to Our Faith Communities.
The program, which will be held in Grand Rapids, is for faith leaders, parish nurses, social workers, pastoral care providers, lay health ministers and medical staff.
Additionally, as it has in past years, the Michigan Eye-Bank has created a resource guide for clergy to use during National Donor Sabbath to address eye, organ and tissue donation. The guide includes sample sermons, scriptures, texts, inspirations, different theological viewpoints on donation, frequently asked questions and facts about donation. It is part of a joint effort between the Michigan Eye-Bank, Gift of Life Michigan and the Donate Life Coalition of Michigan to raise awareness about National Donor Sabbath.
To request a copy of An Organ, Tissue and Eye Donor Resource Guide for Faith Leaders for your faith leader, contact Lisa Langley at (800) 247-7250, ext. 135, or lisa@midwesteyebanks.org.
