UMC Health Ministry Network

Connecting Parish/Faith Community Nurses, Health Advocates and Others with a Passion for Health Across the Denomination

Churches play a significant role in the lives of their congregants and the community. They have a unique ability to impact individuals’ health and well-being directly, in many different ways. The church can also promote health in a more wholistic* way than modern medical establishments—embracing wellness in all its forms—and serving as strategic place where all elements of health can be discussed. Essential to flourishing churches, health ministry describes the variety of ways that churches can become involved in promoting health to their clergy, congregants and communities.

To help build and sustain your ministry efforts, the Center for Health has partnered with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR Health) to establish the UMC Health Ministry Network. This unique initiative connects and educates individuals with existing health ministries or those interested in creating health ministries in congregations across the United States.

The resources below will help you create, implement and grow a health ministry initiative in your congregation. Resources are also available for ministries to support and improve the health and well-being of your pastor. A healthy clergyperson benefits the congregation and vice versa.

News

• Article—Care for the Whole Person: Faith Community Nursing from UMCOR.org
• Article—Training for Parish Nurse Leaders from United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) from UMCOR.org

Resources

• Introductory Booklet—Health Ministry for United Methodist Clergy and Congregations: Concepts of Health, Healing and Wholeness (PDF)
• New! Stress Reduction Toolkit— How-to information and documents for reducing stress at home, church and the workplace. (PDF)
• New! AED Toolkit—How-to information and documents for establishing an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program in your church. (PDF)
• New! Faith and Mental Health Flyer—How to Create Caring and Sharing Communities (PDF)
• The Health Ministry Toolkit that contains:
  

  Use Toolkit materials at your Annual Conference!

  • A Welcome Letter
  • Article—Health Ministry in The United Methodist Church
  • A Fact Sheet
  • A Needs Assessment for Congregations
  • A Health Ministry—What's In It For Me? Sheet
  • A Editable Print Collateral Request Form
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Other materials
• Information and resources on the Center for Health Website
• Coming soon! Health Ministries Success Stories—Share your organization’s Health Ministry success stories.
• Join Our Network! Click here to subscribe to the UMC Health Ministry newsletter and e-mail announcements. Read the May 2013 UMC Health Ministry Network Newsletter or view the archive of prior newsletters.

Let Us Know

Our website, programs and offerings are constantly evolving. Let us know what you think is working, what isn’t and what new content you would like to see on the site at umc-centerforhealthinfo@gbophb.org. Thank you for your feedback and continued support of initiatives that promote healthy clergy, church leaders and congregations.

The UMC Health Ministry Network is providing information in this publication as an educational service to illustrate some practices that may have positive impact on well-being. The Network's sharing of this general information should not be construed as, does not constitute, and should not be relied upon as medical advice nor legal, counseling, accounting, tax, or other professional advice or services on any specific matter.