February 17, 2005
By Amy Green

United Methodist health care advocates provide these tips for organizing a health ministry.

• Determine what parishioners need-whether it's care for the elderly or for the baby boomer children grieving their ailing parents, says Dr. G. Scott Morris, executive director of the ecumenical Church Health Center in Memphis, Tenn. Then make health changes at church, such as serving baked instead of fried chicken at church dinners.

• Preach on health from the pulpit. "A health ministry ought to be as important as having a choir on Sunday or a Sunday school,'‘ Morris says.

• Consider employing a health care practitioner, or parish nurse, to care for parishioners and make referrals when necessary. A parish nurse can nurture parishioners recovering from surgery or illness and make regular visits to the elderly or those suffering ongoing illnesses, says the Rev. Mearle Griffith, president and chief executive officer of the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries.

• Organize a wellness committee with parishioners who are professionally trained medical providers.

• Work with other religious and medical groups in the community. Ben Hill United Methodist Church in Atlanta has partnered with Emory University Hospital and Morehouse School of Medicine to offer health and mental services, says the Rev. Nancy Long, associate pastor of the 10,000-member church and a chaplain to staff and patients at Emory hospital. "It doesn't put the burden on just one person, and everybody can be helped," she says.

• Advertise, advertise, advertise, says the Rev. Geniese Stanford of New Covenant United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kan. Churches there posted fliers in the schools about their health fairs. And don't be shy about asking for contributions, she says. Dentists donated toothbrushes, hotels gave soap, and hospitals and Walgreens stores contributed sacks to put it all in. Businesses gave stuffed animals, pens, pencils and other things for prizes. "Get to know your community,'‘ she says.

United Methodist News Service
Amy Green is a freelance journalist in Nashville, Tenn.