WHO ARE YOU Resource Center
Step 1:
WHO ARE YOU?
What the Initiative Means to You
Step 3:
Individual/Clergy Health
Step 4:
Congregational Health
Step 3: Congregations
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INDIVIDUAL / CLERGY HEALTH
CONFERENCE WELLNESS RESOURCE FOR INDIVIDUALS: Healthy Changes
Healthy Changes is a resource for individuals that utilizes a step-by-step approach to personal health and wellness, emphasizing the importance of "total health". The four main steps in Healthy Changes, (Understanding Your Total Health, Make the Commitment, Assessment/Goal Setting and the Action Tool Resource Center) give any individual important tools in achieving total health. Resources in the Action Tool Resource center are broken into four main categories:
- Mental / Emotional Health
- Social Health
- Spiritual Health
- Physical Health
We recognize the health of a person cannot be divided, as humans by nature are indivisible, but for simplicity sake of providing further information we do make the distinction of mental & emotional health, social health, spiritual health and physical health. Follow the steps to find Healthy Changes, and then come back to the Healthy Changes center as often as needed from any page on this website by clicking the Healthy Changes icon (Step 3) located in the top menu.
PROMOTING
HOLY HEALTHY UMC IN YOUR LOCAL CHURCH
This tool can be of great value to those that find and use it, but the responsibility of introducing and promoting it to the individuals around the conference falls upon the local church. Every church is called to help spread the word about this new resource!
Sunday, January 27th, 2008 is officially designated as Holy Healthy Sunday for the Arkansas Conference. CLICK HERE for more information, and watch for instructions on promoting the resource in the packets arriving in November.
Every clergy and local church will be provided with a sampling of marketing materials in the form of posters, bulletin inserts, newsletter articles and announcements, PowerPoint graphics, press releases and more. Each of these pieces will serve to educate and remind your members to visit the website and follow the steps. It is up to the church to utilize these materials, though, as a first step in meeting the Vision Initiative in the local church.
CREATING SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR "HEALTHY CHANGES"
Healthy Changes is designed as a resource of information for individuals who wish to make "HolyHealthy" changes in their lives. These changes can be difficult, though, and a support system for persons making the changes is often vital to their success. The local church can offer this support in numerous ways.
Your Health and Wellness Committee is encouraged to address this need, and work towards developing support programs. Some examples of programs are:
- A health fair
- Regular exercise classes
- A "HolyHealthy" potluck
- Family PlayDay at the church or park
- Bike Hikes
- Educational seminars/meetings
For
more ideas and suggestions, visit the General Board of Global Ministries'
Health and Welfare Ministries site!
SUPPORT YOUR PASTOR IN THE "HEALTHY CHANGES" PROGRAM
Here are some startling statistics:
- Two major studies found that Protestant clergy had the highest overall work-related stress of religious professionals, and (even more frighteningly), the highest death rates from heart disease of any occupation.
- According to a 2003 Pulpit and Pew survey, over 76% of Protestant ministers are either overweight or obese (compared to 61% of the general population).
- 40% of pastors indicate that they are at times depressed, or worn out “some or most of the time".
It is evident from these frightening trends that those in ministry also need to be ministered to. The conference is gravely concerned about these trends, and strongly encourages all clergy in the conference to take advantage of the resources offered in the Holy Healthy UMC program. But just like the members in your congregation, the clergy need a support system too.
HOW CAN A CHURCH HELP A PASTOR’S HEALTH?
When a pastor first arrives at a church, the congregation makes a special effort to help the pastor and the family feel welcome. Special treats are brought over and individuals stop by just to welcome the family. While everyone is excited about this change in the life of the church, sometimes the honeymoon is over too soon.
Ministry in our time is one of the most stressful jobs in America. Only the truly committed are willing to go through all the hoops of candidacy, seminary, and probation to become an Elder in the United Methodist Church. Research has proven that stress can contribute to a whole host of health problems.
How can a congregation help reduce the stress of the ministry and enable our pastors to be healthier and more effective? Here are just a few suggestions.
- Give an encouraging word or send a card when the pastor has helped you through a difficult time.
- Remember and celebrate milestones such as the anniversary of the pastor’s arrival or birthdays. Taking up a collection for a check for Christmas is a tradition of some churches that is greatly appreciated.
- Allow the pastor to have “quiet time” during the week and respect the need for uninterrupted opportunities for prayer and sermon preparation. Encourage the pastor to take the vacation time they have earned.
- Volunteer. One of the greatest things a congregation can do is to help the church move forward through volunteerism. There are literally hundreds of opportunities to help the church and they can be tailored to your availability, gifts, and graces.
- Organize the Pastor Parish Relations Committee into a pastor’s and pastor’s family support group. The PPR can enable the pastor and lessen stress or the committee can contribute to an already stressful situation. If your pastor is doing well, the members of the committee can fan out into the organizational structure to create a multitude of support efforts on behalf of the pastor.
- Practice random acts of kindness with the pastor and their family. The next time you bake a pie, make two and give one to the pastor. If your garden is bountiful, share with the pastor.
- Think of everyone in the church as a pastor beyond the walls of the church. The Body of Christ can be a caring witness to the world in thousands of ways. Creating a successful, loving, growing, mission-minded church is the job of all the members, not just the pastor. Inviting a friend or neighbor to church, visiting new arrivals in your community or making hospital visits are just a few ways in which you can assist the pastor and create a stronger church.
- When the pastor has a problem such as dependency, depression, or health issues encourage the pastor to seek an appropriate solution.
