Posted Oct 5 2009 10:33 AM by Matt Ellis
One of the things we try to do at NEHM is to broaden the definition of health ministry. Let's not think of health ministry as only parish nursing, but instead, what does it really mean to embrace wellness and health in a larger context?
For many, their lives are enriched and made more full by the presence of their companions. These companions are often described as unconditionally loving, grateful, good listeners, and ...slobbery? While many significant others would object to the last part of that description (and hope they lived up to the first part), the pets being spoken of would not object.
This is the time of year when many Episcopal congregations formally welcome their less verbal friends to worship for a special blessing. Fish, camels, tortoises, reindeer, and ponies, among others, all received blessings recently. In at least one community, some believe their pets actually seem to behave a little better after the blessing!
As you consider new directions for your own health ministry, don't forget to be creative in addressing your community's needs. A pet blessing can be a wonderful way to be sure every member of the family is included in worship.
Posted Sep 25 2009 4:41 PM by Matt Ellis
A new H1N1 Flu Guide for Community and Faith-Based Organizations has been released by the Department of Health and Human Services. There's a lot of good information here, although it seems more geared to community organizations than churches.
The Episcopal Church Medical Trust has also released a recent statement on H1N1 and we've placed links to other H1N1 resources more prominently on our own disaster preparedness page.
Whatever you do, don't wait until after it hits to start planning your response to the pandemic flu. How will your church cope if 'social distancing' mandates become necessary?
Will you make sermons available via podcast?
Utilize electronic newsletters to increase communication?
Have a phone tree system to check on members and communicate information?
If one or more of your ministries experience a sudden increase in demand, how will you manage these requests?
Posted Aug 24 2009 9:56 AM by Matt Ellis
Health Care Coverage For All: Discussion Guide For Churches is a free resource provided by the Bioethics Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee. It's an excellent resource and a great way to engage your congregation in the health care debate in a productive, Christ-centered way.
The resource is divided into three sessions:
1. Why health policy is a Christian concern
2. Personal Encounters with the health care system
3. What we can/should do
Included in the guide are links to resources, relevant scripture readings, and more.
Posted Aug 14 2009 9:28 AM by Matt Ellis
Many of you may already receive the Health & Wellness newsletter from our friends at the Medical Trust. If not, I encourage you to check out this month's tips for maintaining your medicine cabinet. The newsletter can be found online here.
Posted Aug 10 2009 12:59 PM by Matt Ellis
The Washington Post's blog on faith today revealed details of a faith-based call-in on health care reform. President Obama will participate in this call sponsored by several religious organizations, including The Episcopal Church.
As noted in the blog Episcopal Chaplain at the Bedside, General Convention Resolution CO71 calls for all members of the Episcopal church to contact elected federal, state and territorial officials encouraging them to:
a) create, with the assistance of experts in related fields, a comprehensive definition of "basic healthcare" to which our nation's citizens have a right,
b) establish a system to provide basic healthcare to all,
c) create an oversight mechanism, separate from the immediate political arena, to audit the delivery of that "basic healthcare,"
d) educate our citizens in the need for limitations on what each person can be expected to receive in the way of medical care under a universal coverage program in order to make the program sustainable financially,
e) educate our citizens in the role of personal responsibility in promoting good health.
President Obama will be listening on August 19. Let's be sure our voices are heard!
Details will be forthcoming from http://faithforhealth.org/.
Posted Aug 5 2009 10:47 AM by Matt Ellis
In all the excitement around General Convention preparation and events, I've been unable to find time to provide an update about an exciting new project: The Anglican Health Network. The first informal meeting of this group took place in Houston in January. That meeting produced the background paper found here.
A follow-up meeting then took place in Geneva, Switzerland in June. I was honored to participate as a voice for parish-based health and healing ministries. I find this working group to be wonderfully engaged in the work and creative in finding solutions. Lee Hogan and Paul Holley have been very proactive conveners of this group and presented us with an exciting opportunity that has the potential to dramatically impact the lives of millions: a microinsurance project to be based principally in Africa.
Microinsurance is based on the principles of microlending or microfinance. As it pertains to insurance, if one provides health insurance that covers only the four or five primary needs, it's then feasible to cover large numbers of people for very little cost. For instance, in Africa coverage might be provided for treatment of malaria, HIV/AIDS, prenatal care/childbirth, and vaccines. It's possible this coverage could be provided to a family for as little as $12-15/year.
A lot of details and conditions have to be met for this to happen, but the members of the Anglican Health Network (AHN) believe it's possible. We're still in the very early planning stages, but it's an exciting project to be sure.
Other goals of the AHN include providing a forum for members to share ideas and resources, as well as a mechanism for hospitals to share outdated yet perfectly functional equipment with developing countries.
These are ambitious projects and I'm honored to be able to participate in this work as a representative of NEHM. I'll continue to keep you updated as we make progress. The background paper linked in the first paragraph has a lot of information about the various players and goals of this network, but if there are further questions please feel free to contact me.
Posted Aug 3 2009 3:58 PM by Matt Ellis
If you'd like to see pictures of NEHM's General Convention booth, please see the link to our Facebook page. This year, NEHM again shared a booth with the Medical Trust. The booth featured massage therapists and giveaways of green 'Well to Serve' bracelets, as well as sunscreen. The booth also offered free water and plush couches to allow GC attendees a few moments of downtime during a hectic couple of weeks.
If you're not already a fan of our Facebook page, you can visit the page at this link: NEHM Facebook. It's my understanding you do not need a Facebook account to see this page.
What will you find on this page? Pictures of our General Convention booth are here, as well as links to stories about health ministries taking place around the country. There's also the opportunity to participate in the conversation and share information about your own ministry. Check it out and become a NEHM fan!
Posted Aug 3 2009 3:00 PM by Matt Ellis
This was my first experience with General Convention. Those who said you really just have to see it to believe it were definitely right! Even though many had tried to explain it to me, I had a hard time envisioning it. Once there, it all clicked into place.
While I had hoped to have some time to settle in and get a feel for the process, it was not to be. AO77, put forth by the Standing Commission on Health, came up the very first night for committee. We were able to quickly round up Diana Marshall (NEHM Diocesan Liaison from Diocese of Bethlehem, PA) and Susan Spencer (parish nurse in San Francisco) to testify in addition to my own testimony. The process was straightforward and the questions were direct. We all left feeling good about the session and hoped for a positive result.
In the meantime, I sprinted across the street to other committee hearings to testify on behalf of a few National Episcopal AIDS Coalition (NEAC) resolutions. Those, too seemed to go well. This was pretty typical for the first week, as I stayed very busy moving between both booths (I also serve as Executive Director of NEAC), testifying in committee hearings, tracking legislation, and meeting with potential partners.
I'm thrilled to say that AO77 was approved! Here is the text of the approved resolution:
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 76th General Convention urges the congregations of The Episcopal Church, which have not already done so, to explore and implement health ministry as an organizing concept or vital component of outreach and pastoral care of the congregations by 2012; and be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention encourages congregations to raise awareness of health ministries and promote the understanding that health includes body, mind and spirit.
EXPLANATION
Health ministries play a unique and critical role in facilitating the overall health of clergy, staff and congregation. Health ministry looks different from congregation to congregation, reflecting the unique needs, interests and resources of the faith community.
National Episcopal Health Ministries (NEHM) educates leaders for Episcopal health ministry and parish nursing, supports those engaged in health ministry in Episcopal congregations and provides resources to local congregations, dioceses and provinces. NEHM is a valuable resource for those seeking assistance in the development of faith ministries.
Posted May 6 2009 8:58 AM by Matt Ellis
Please do not forget to check out NEHM's Disaster Preparedness page here.
The Episcopal Church has issued the following statement concerning the current swine flu outbreak.
The Episcopal Church recommends that its dioceses actively review the most current information about swine flu in order to make decisions based on local practices and safety concerns in our church communities.
Episcopal Relief & Development is closely monitoring the needs related to swine flu by remaining in regular contact with public health officials and authorities on both national and local levels. Episcopal Relief & Development is also reaching out to potential collaborative responders through the network of agencies affiliated with the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters.
In addition, extensive information about preparing for the swine flu and other potential pandemic influenza outbreaks is available to our dioceses and all faith communities on the Episcopal Relief & Development’s web site www.er-d.org. This site links to strong examples of pandemic preparedness plans and offers resources that can help people to provide for congregational gathering needs should an outbreak occur.
In anxious times, the Episcopal Church remains a welcoming presence and offers comfort to all.
Posted Mar 30 2009 9:57 AM by Matt Ellis
I really like this article. This sums up so much about the impact I believe health ministries can have on a congregation, not only increasing physical health, but spiritual as well. A great read!
“We have three services, one at 8 a.m. on Sunday, one at 10:30 and one at 6 p.m., and some of the people from different congregations don’t know each other very well,” says Father Paul McClain, curate at Trinity Episcopal, 1011 Vt. “So it’s been a wonderful opportunity to do that. For many of these congregates, the first time they met was shaking hands before Pump ‘N’ Pray.”
Posted Mar 26 2009 3:05 PM by Matt Ellis
One of the things I hope to be able to do in this blog is to highlight stories of health ministry in the Episcopal Church. Here is a terrific story about a new health clinic supported in part by the The Parish Church of St. Helena in Beaufort, SC.
"The credit really goes to the Lord," said the Rev. Jeffrey Miller of St. Helena's Episcopal Church, whose parishioners have been among the most active supporters of the clinic.
The nonprofit, faith-based clinic provides primary and preventive health care at no cost to residents of Beaufort County who have limited income and cannot afford or cannot qualify for health insurance or Medicaid.
Estimates place the uninsured in Beaufort County at 20 percent to 25 percent of the population.
The clinic's services include family medical practice, internal medicine and prescription assistance. The clinic's physicians, physician assistants and nurses all are volunteers. Its medical providers are licensed by the state. Its doors at 1402 King St. will open to medical patients April 1.
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/180/story/741872.html#none
Posted Mar 20 2009 3:42 PM by Matt Ellis
This is a terrific segment from NPR's 'All Things Considered' about a local community sharing fellowship and helping each other to get more healthy:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102048542&ps=cprs
With only one grocery store in town, it's hard to cheat. And both the owners and the clerks at The Mercantile count calories for customers.
Co-owner Betty McNeil says some cash-register conversations go like this: "Two hundred thirty calories in that cupcake. Do you know what you're doing? Do you really want that?" she says, laughing. Then she notes that townspeople have to leave town to cheat. "It's 20 miles to the next Twinkie," she adds, laughing again.
"The Merc," as the locals call it, also aims for positive reinforcement with more fruit, vegetables and yogurt in its coolers. Demand for the good stuff has skyrocketed. And there are the signs in the storefront window charting the town's thinning waistlines. Many thanks to the Rev. Barbara Thrall of St. Paul's in Holyoke, MA for letting me know about this inspiring story!
Posted Mar 19 2009 1:27 PM by Matt Ellis
If you want to do something special to celebrate "Brain Awareness Week” take the Brain Wiz Quiz at: www.brainwealth.org
Brain Awareness Week is March 16-22, 2009 and is sponsored by the Dana Alliance (www.dana.org), a non-profit group of 240 neuroscientists. This international campaign was launched in 1996, and is designed to promote the public's brain literacy amidst the avalanche of good news from researchers about the brain's ability to change and grow at any age.
Don't miss Phyllis Strupp's workshops on brain fitness at NEHM's conference in Omaha, April 16-18!
Posted Mar 9 2009 1:54 PM by Matt Ellis
I Am Episcopalian is an interesting new site where Episcopalians can upload a short video with their thoughts on the Episcopal church, what it means to them, and why they worship here.
Have you contributed your video?
Posted Mar 3 2009 3:57 PM by Matt Ellis
Lifehack.org offers some thoughts on thinking differently:
In 1954 the British Government held an auction for commercial television regions. Many companies were interested in bidding for the franchises. They analysed the demographics of the regions to identify which were the wealthiest regions that would produce the most advertising revenues. The result was that they focused on London and the South-East of England. Sydney Bernstein was Managing Director of a small chain of cinemas, Granada Cinemas. He wanted to compete in the auction. He told his people, ‘Don’t look for the richest region, look for the wettest. Find me the region with highest rainfall.’ This turned out to be the North-West of England. Granada bid for this and won it. Bernstein’s idea was that it was better to have a region where it rained so much that people stayed in and watched TV. He succeeded by approaching the problem from a different point of view. He thought what no-one else thought.
...How can we force ourselves to take a different view of a situation? Instead of looking at the scene from your view try looking at it from the perspective of a customer, a product, a supplier, a child, an alien, a lunatic, a comedian, a dictator, an anarchist, an architect, Salvador Dali, Leonardo da Vinci and so on. Challenge all the common assumptions. If everyone else is looking for the richest region, look for the wettest. If everyone else is facing the bar then turn your back on it.
I've been thinking about this in terms of ministry. What would we do differently if we approached our ministry entirely from the point of view of someone who needs a ride to the doctor? Someone without health insurance? Someone with limited mobility?
While it's true we often consider these needs, I think this goes one step further. What if we designed a program only from their point of view, without any other considerations? Would we do things the same? Are there ways we can incorporate these ideas into our existing programs? Think different! Who knows what will come of it?
Posted Feb 25 2009 11:06 AM by Matt Ellis
In the Small Membership Churches blog, Bob Honeychurch states:
Vital communities of faith are asking themselves, “How do we offer the ‘faith once delivered’ in a way that will make a difference in the lives of those around us?” The question needs to be asked in churches of all sizes, in all locations, and of every theological or ecclesiological bent. Those who ask the question – and then are willing to embrace the reality of the answer – are those who will make a difference in the days to come.
While his post is asks churches to re-examine their goals for membership size, the question intrigues me in the context of faith and health. How do we use our faith to make a difference in the lives of those around us?
I believe one way we can answer that question is to address the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of our faith communities. Can you ease the loneliness of an elderly parishioner and provide them a valuable service by helping them get to a doctor's appointment? Can you form a support group for those who have lost their job?
How can your health ministry identify the needs of your congregation or community and rise to meet these challenges? How do you offer the 'faith once delivered' in a way that will make a difference in the lives of those around you?
Posted Jan 21 2009 10:42 AM by Matt Ellis
Take women’s health to heart on National Wear Red Day—Friday, February 6, 2009—a day when Americans nationwide wear red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. The Red Dress is the centerpiece of The Heart Truth—a campaign that urges women take heart disease seriously, know their risk, and act to protect their heart health. Show your support by showing off a favorite red dress, shirt, or tie, or Red Dress Pin.
Order your materials now so you can be prepared for National Wear Red Day 2009 on February 6th.
|
|
Archive  Subscribe |
email
permalink
comments (0)
