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Health Fundamentals Newsletter

An online newsletter published by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.

January 2009 Special Healthy Congregations Edition

Healthy Congregations

Working together with local United Methodist churches for a healthier Kansas

Join our webinar on the new Healthy Congregations Program Feb. 2nd or 4th
We are offering webinars about the new Healthy Congregations programs February 2nd and 4th to present the changes which have been made and to answer questions. The webinars are free but pre-registration is required due to size limitations. Topics to be covered include the new Healthy Congregations Report forms, the new Healthy Congregations Covenant program, and the related Healthy Congregations Plan forms. If your church is interested in starting or growing a health ministry program, or if you have participated in past Healthy Congregations activities, we hope you'll join us for one of these informative sessions. Both sessions will cover the same material, and both are scheduled from 7:00-8:00 p.m.

 

New Healthy Congregations Program aims to support and grow health ministries
For 12 years, the Health Fund has sponsored Healthy Congregations efforts including grants, annual retreats, and a recognition program. For 2009, the Fund enthusiastically continues its commitment to health ministry through an all-new Healthy Congregations Covenant program supporting health ministry in Kansas United Methodist churches.

The new program, based on a covenant agreement between a church and the Health Fund, represents a simplified approach to bring greater participation and better results. For 2009, three options are offered to fit differing levels of commitment to health ministries.

Participation options - churches may choose one of the following:

Notes: Churches that completed the earlier Healthy Congregations in Action (HCIA) pilot project are considered to have already completed the core course requirements. For 2009 only, a church may elect to submit a standalone HC Report without signing a Covenant.

Core Courses + Electives

For a church electing Level 2 participation, a health ministry team of at least 3 is expected to complete the "core courses" within 24 months. We have found that the 7 "core courses" have a dramatic positive impact on the ability of the team to deliver high quality programs to the congregation. The 7 core courses are:

In addition to the Core Courses, elective courses are being developed, including among other topics:

There will be at least 3 opportunities each year to attend training events. Events include the HC Annual Retreat and 2 regional training events conducted via video at sites in Garden City, Hays, Pittsburg, Kansas City, and Wichita.

Healthy Congregations Report

The new HC Report fulfills the reporting requirements of the Covenant agreements. If you've submitted an HC Recognition report before, the new form will be familiar but has been greatly simplified. Instead of requesting information on all health ministry activities conducted during the report year, the new form focuses on your church's 3 to 5 most successful health ministry activities/events/projects. We're especially interested in knowing about new and innovative programs so we can share that information with other congregations.

Healthy Congregations Plan

For churches participating at Level 2, development of an annual HC Plan is required. The plan will help to focus health ministry work for the following year, and will feed automatically into the following year's report form. The plan outlines upcoming health ministry projects and the report evaluates the outcomes of those projects after completion.

How to Get Started

At either Covenant level, it is expected that the pastor will strive to visibly support the church's congregational health ministry and model healthy behaviors for the congregation.

  1. Decide which Covenant level is right for your church (need help? use this guide and/or contact Matt Kuzma)
  2. Set up your personal online Healthy Congregations account
  3. Start your HC Report (both Levels) and/or HC Plan (Level 2 only)
  4. When ready to sign the Covenant, contact Matt Kuzma 620-662-8586/800-369-7191
  5. Download the Covenant agreement form, complete, and mail per instructions
  6. Submit your Report and/or Plan by March 1, 2009

Use the following links when you're ready to start a 2008 HC Report, 2009 HC Plan, or enter into an HC Covenant Agreement.

For more details, read the HC Covenant brochure [pdf], the HC Covenant official overview [pdf], or go to the extended details page. Sample report and planning forms are also available (for reference only; don't submit using the sample forms)

The deadline for submitting a 2009 Healthy Congregations Report (and Plan, if applicable) is March 1, 2009

 

Register Today! Don't miss the Healthy Congregations Retreat, May 1-2, 2009
The 2009 Healthy Congregations Annual Retreat for United Methodists will be held May 1-2, 2009. Mark your calendars and look forward to enjoying two days of relaxation, interesting sessions, and networking with friends and peers in the beautiful and peaceful natural setting of Rock Springs 4-H Center, a scenic 735-acre conference site located in the Flint Hills. The retreat is provided free of charge by the Health Fund.

Visit our website to see videos and read comments from participants at this year's retreat as they describe the retreat experience in their own words and encourage others not to miss out on this "best-kept secret."

The Rev. Fred D. Smith, Ph. D. is one of the scheduled keynote speakers for the 2009 Retreat. Smith is the Associate Professor of Urban Ministry and Associate Director of the Practice of Ministry and Mission at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC. Smith presented at last year's annual National Congregational Health Ministries Conference, "Empowering Ministries of Health," sponsored by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries and the UM General Board of Pension and Health Benefits and is again scheduled at this year's national conference in September.

The event brings together United Methodists with shared interests in congregational health ministries and the promotion of holistic health and healthy lifestyles. The retreat features a variety of sessions covering the spiritual, mental, physical, and social components of health.

Who should attend the retreat?

A $25/person refundable deposit is required for registration; the uncashed deposit check will be returned during check-in.

More event information and online registration is available at www.healthfund.org/hcar.php. Retreat sessions are still being finalized; additional details will be posted as they become available.

C 2009 United Methodist Health Ministry Fund
www.healthfund.org – healthfund@healthfund.org – 620.662.8586 – 800.369.7191