Health

   The United Methodist Church understands health as:

• A dynamic state of well-being of the individual and society.
• Holistic wellness, which is physical, mental, spiritual, economic, political, and social.
• Being in harmony with each other, with the natural environment, and with God.

   John Wesley, in his book Primitive Physick and in his sermons, established for today's United Methodists the interconnectedness of health with spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. As a church, we continue to claim and build on that understanding. Today, the Health and Welfare Ministries of the General Board of Global Ministries resources the promotion and development of holistic congregational health ministries.

   Most health problems are related to lifestyle and are preventable. Research on the immune system and other studies on what keeps people healthy have identified the following important factors:

• Hope (a spiritual energy that activates the human will).
• Religious belief and faith in a higher power.
• Meditation and prayer.
• A sense of meaning and purpose in life.
• Belonging, a sense of connectedness to others (individuals and small groups) and community.
• A sense of responsibility.
• A positive self-image.
• Touch and love.

   These are spiritual factors and traditional areas for church involvement in the lives of its members and community. The church can empower people to take responsibility for their health by making positive lifestyle changes. A transformation that is deeply rooted in an enduring spirituality will lead to healthy behavior and thinking.

   We believe the human body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, a sacred place consecrated by God's presence. People who believe that the body is a gift and the dwelling place of God will treat it with great care.

   Holistically healthy people become other-directed rather than self-serving. Loving and serving others are close to the heart of the United Methodists and our Christian understanding of wellness. Churches have an historic tradition of caring and reaching out, especially to the hurting and the marginalized.

The Congregation

   Local churches can help address the need for more appropriate and accessible health care services and the inadequacy of our health care system. More importantly, the church can bring a holistic perspective to a community's understanding of health: one that integrates body, mind, and spirit in congregations and communities, promoting prevention and wellness. The church, therefore, is a strategic place where all elements of health and healing can be discussed. Here people can learn and be nurtured.

   The church is the only community-based organization that is found in virtually every community in this country. It is able to reach people of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds, and it can strongly influence people's values and personal life choices. Because the church is generally more integrated into the life of individuals and communities than our modern medical establishment, it can better enable people to assume responsiblity for their own health.

Models of Congregation-Based Health Ministries

   Four basic models of congregation-based health ministries have emerged over the past 15 years. They have provided effective structures for the development of congregation-based health ministries. Each emphasizes holistic health for the individual as well as the community. The models are not mutually exclusive. They are presented here separately for ease of description.

• Health Minister:
  A professional health caregiver on the church staff who provides services to individuals and groups
  
• Lay Counselor:
  A trained volunteer who serves as an advisor on health education and promotion for individuals and groups
  
• Healing Congregations:
  Congregations that engage in a holistic health program
  
• Participatory Health:
  A group in need that analyzes its problems and develops its own solutions

   While each model performs a different function and requires various resources and structures, all four models follow a similar pattern of development:

• Initial interest can come from a variety of sources--the Health and Welfare Committee, the pastor, individuals who have professional interest or who were inspired at a conference.
• A committee is established for developing and assisting with programs, promoting the congregational ministries, and supporting personnel.
• A needs assessment is performed, using input from the persons to be served.
• A strategy is developed.
• An assessment of resources (funds, materials, personnel, partners) is completed.
• Key leaders are identified to implement the program.
• An event is held to enlist congregational support and participation.

   These ministries can also be carried out cooperatively with other churches, health agencies, and institutions in the community.