Health Fundamentals Newsletter
An online newsletter published by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.
Special Issue, February 2005
Congregational Health Partnership
Working together with local United Methodist churches for a healthy Kansas
Healthy Congregations Recognition reports deadline is March 1
The Healthy Congregations Recognition program,
now in its ninth year, recognizes what Kansas United Methodist
congregations
are
doing to nurture, reach out and educate through ministries of
health, healing and wholeness. In addition to recognition, Healthy
Congregations Recognition shares information about what is being
done with the ultimate goal being to encourage more health ministries
in
Kansas United Methodist Churches.
Congregations are invited annually to submit reports about their health ministries throughout the year. Congregations reporting at least the minimum required number of these activities for their membership size are selected as "Healthy Congregations." These congregations are recognized at Annual Conference and receive a choice of free health resource to further their work. Three congregations in both the Kansas West and Kansas East Conferences receive $1,000 honorariums for exceptional health ministry.
Filling out the Healthy Congregations Recognition report is simple using our online form, or download the forms to print and mail in.
Changes for 2004 include:
-
Completely revised and simplified report forms focusing on four key dimensions of holistic health (spiritual health, physical health, mental/emotional health, and social health).
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A new Special Recognition Award will be presented to one church in each Conference with narrative highlights best exemplifying the connection between spiritual health and the three other holistic health dimensions. A $1,500 honorarium is included with each Special Recognition Award.
For more information, visit the Healthy Congregations area of our website
Register Today! 4th Healthy Congregations Annual Retreat, April 8-9, 2005
The 2005 Healthy Congregations Annual Retreat
will be April 8-9 at Rock Springs 4-H Center. Register
today to reserve your place - attendance is free, but spaces
are limited.
Dr. Richard Swenson will deliver the keynote address at the event. Swenson, the author of Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives, has worked to alert people to the dangers of overextending and overloading, taking on so many activities and responsibilities that quality of life is diminished. Dr. Swenson spoke earlier this year at the Kansas East and Kansas West Annual Conferences about ways to “restore the margin to our overloaded lives” and to restore our physical and emotional energy.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available to clergy and health professionals. To view the retreat schedule or download a pdf version of the retreat brochure, click here.
The conference is designed to provide participants with a number of benefits, including:
- Information about what local churches are doing to encourage healthy lifestyles through healthy physical activity and healthy food choices, one of the Health Fund's strategic focus areas;
- Renewed personal energy through shared spiritual activities in a scenic retreat setting;
- Useful information about current health ministries in Kansas United Methodist congregations; and,
- Networking opportunities with others having shared interests and motivations toward congregational health ministries
Find out more about the 2005 Healthy Congregations
Annual Retreat on our website.