UCC WELLNESS MINISTRIES AND FAITH COMMUNITY NURSES Caring Across the Lifespan for Individuals, Families, Groups, and Communities

What is wellness? Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. ...a state of well-being of spirit, mind, and body, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Being at peace.

Resolution adopted by 21st General Synod, June 1997 22 years ago . . . Resolution adopted by 21st General Synod, June 1997 Encouraged local congregations to develop and include in their mission a commitment to health and wholeness, to engage health and wholeness issues through an ongoing health ministry team, and consider implementation of a health ministry/parish nursing program. Called upon UCC Boards, seminaries, CHHSM, Conferences, and local congregations to develop resources that support development and enrichment of health ministry programs in local churches. “Reclaiming The Church’s Ministry of Health and Healing” This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Local Congregation’s Wellness or Health Ministry Team is comprised of members within the congregation who: Explain that caring for our bodies and each other is what we are called to do. Maintain awareness of the ever-changing needs and opportunities of the congregation and the community it serves. Seek to work together to offer coordinated programs that meets the congregation’s common goal. May be led by a lay leader or a Faith Community Nurse (formerly titled “Parish Nurse”).

Faith Community Nursing is: The specialized practice of professional nursing focusing on the intentional care of the spirit as the foundation of the practice. The delivery of care and the relationship established promotes whole-person health and prevention or minimization of illness within the context of the faith community and the wider community. (ANA/HMA, 2017)

UCC Wellness Ministries “Umbrella” The collaborative mechanism that unites many diverse health and healing efforts within congregations Pastoral Care Ministries Health Promotion Ministries UCC Health-Focused Initiatives Community-based Ministries

Community-based ministries: UCC Initiatives: “Widening the Welcome” UCC Mental Health Ministry OWL – “Our Whole Lives” A2A -“Accessible 2 All” UCC Disabilities Ministry ONA – “Open and Affirming” LGBT Ministries “UCAN” – UCC HIV and AIDS Network Wellness Ministries Community -Based Other UCC Ministries Community-based ministries: Disaster Response Refugee & Immigrant support Ministry to the Homeless Meal Kitchens; Food Pantries Clothing Closet AA, NA, Al-Anon, and a variety of other support groups

And just a few more examples . . . Pastoral Care Ministries: Health Promotion Ministries: Visitation Prayer Shawls Cards, Notes, Calls Transportation Meal Deliveries Meditation practice Bereavement Teams Prayer Circles Healing Services – ex. Longest Night Healthy and Safe Eating Walking Programs Meditation, Yoga & Tai Chi Safety Education Support of those with chronic illness, including HIV/AIDS Advance Care Planning CPR, AED, and Naloxone administration Mental Health First Aid and groups provided by National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI)

Addressing social issues to promote health, healing, and wholeness UCC Wellness Ministries and Faith Community Nurses: Expanding the Church’s Vision Integrating health and healing throughout the collective life of the church Engaging in collaborative, multidimensional approaches to health, healing, and wholeness Empowering individuals, families, and communities to achieve health and wholeness in the context of ministry Addressing social issues to promote health, healing, and wholeness

We are called to do this work because… Christ has no body now but ours, no hands, no feet on earth but ours. Ours are the eyes through which Christ looks compassion on this world Ours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Ours are the hands through which Christ blesses all the world. Christ has no body now on earth but ours. Adapted from poem by Theresa of Avila

UCC Wellness Ministries and Faith Community Nurses Reclaiming church’s role in healing of mind, body, spirit, community, and creation. Health Promotion, Education, and Advocacy for persons across the life span. Integrating and coordinating multiple ministries of caring. Caring Connections for Health, Healing, and Wholeness