|
Have you ever thought about how your church demonstrates the Wesleyan belief that taking care of our health is part of our stewardship of our body? The beginning of the calendar year makes a natural opportunity to do a self analysis of lifestyle habits but also to have a group evaluate the current implementation of programs in a church. This program can be led by anyone with a belief in the relationship of our health and faith and does not require a health care provider. As the group looks at opportunities for improvement, a health ministry can begin or grow.
The General Board of Global Ministries offers the following thoughts as a healing congregation is described:
"Within all congregations are people longing for mutual caring and support. When we stand by each other in bad times and good, health is promoted. When we create a safe place to tell each other our stories of pain and brokenness, we become healing communities.
In promoting health, education is not enough. People must also be given motivation to practice what is learned. This requires individual transformation, which is a role of the church. People need to be empowered to assume responsibility for their own health. The real healer is the healer within--God, who created our bodies." (http://gbgm-umc.org/health/congmin/index2.html)
This creation of a healing congregation happens when there is an intentional awareness of this goal. The Board of Global Ministries describes the role of a health and wellness committee and different options for health ministry including how to start a parish nursing program at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/health/congregational/starting-a-health-ministry/ An early priority of a Health and Wellness Committee is to assess the overall health of their own congregations, both as a collective body and also the health of individuals that make it up.
Nutrition and activity are two major areas that impact our health. A congregational health index that can be downloaded from http://www.faithandwellness.org/?ref=nf allows for surveying and then prioritizing new efforts based on the total picture of needs and resources in an individual church. Items analyzed include items such as the food at fellowship times and congregational meals. The church can be a catalyst to improve the health of the community. Are we supporting people in trying to make healthy choices or are we providing temptations that make it more difficult for them to make optimal health choices?
Once there is an awareness of the current level of focus on health in the church, then steps can be taken to improve the health practices. This journey toward health becomes a process just like spiritual growth and is not something that is ever “achieved” and then forgotten. The beginning of a calendar year makes a great opportunity to begin this journey.
|
