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Health Fundamentals Newsletter

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

Special Issue, February 2007

Healthy Congregations

Working together with local United Methodist churches for a healthy Kansas

Healthy Congregations Recognition Reports Due March 1

The Healthy Congregations Recognition program, now in its eleventh year, highlights what Kansas United Methodist churches are doing to nurture, reach out, and educate through ministries of health, healing, and wholeness. Healthy Congregations Recognition also provides a way for churches to share their health work with others, encouraging and inspiring the growth of congregational health programs.

All congregations meeting the basic requirements of the Healthy Congregations Recognition Program receive a free health resource and recognition at the Healthy Congregations Annual Retreat and at the Kansas East and Kansas West Annual Conferences. Six congregations are selected to receive $1,500 Healthy Congregations of the Year awards for outstanding health and wellness ministries. For 2005, 81 churches participated in Healthy Congregations Recognition. Healthy Congregations also receive recognition in the Healthy Congregations Hall of Fame on the Health Fund website. See below article for more information.

Report forms are available online, with new features designed to make reporting easy and simple. Churches that submitted an online 2005 report can now roll-over recurring activities to their 2006 report with a few mouse clicks. Start your report today and work on it throughout the year as activities are completed.

More information about Healthy Congregations Recognition, including online or printable report forms, is available on the Health Fund website at http://www.healthfund.org/hc.php. Completed reports must be submitted online or mailed by March 1, 2007.

Completed reports must be submitted online or mailed by March 1, 2007.

 

Register Today! 6th Annual Healthy Congregations Retreat, April 13-14

The 2007 Healthy Congregations Annual Retreat for United Methodists will be held April 13-14 at Rock Springs 4-H Center.

Keynote speakers featured at this year’s retreat include Larry Hollon, General Secretary of United Methodist Communications (UMCOM) and Rod Bremby, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).

Register online or call today to reserve your place at the retreat and look forward to enjoying two days of relaxation, interesting and informational sessions, and networking with friends and peers in a beautiful and peaceful natural setting. The retreat is provided entirely free of charge by the Health Fund; the $25 per person deposit, which is required to finalize registration, will be returned at the retreat. The retreat offers CEUs for health professionals through Hutchinson Community College. CEUs are also available for clergy.

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 dimensions of health.

Who should attend the retreat?

A full schedule, additional event information, and online registration forms are available at www.healthfund.org/hcar.php. Available space is limited; register early to ensure your place at the retreat! Please note that pets are not allowed at the Rock Springs center.

 

Healthy Congregations Grants Request for Proposals Renewed

The Health Fund has again extended its Healthy Congregations Grants Request for Proposals (RFP).

The Healthy Congregations Grants RFP makes one-time grants of up to $5,000 available to Kansas United Methodist churches to stimulate comprehensive ministries of health and wellness. Projects funded will emphasize wellness, prevention, volunteer caregiving, social support, and congregational health education and awareness. Examples of such ministries include parish nursing and health promotion projects. Grant funding is not intended for projects focused on a single disease, disability, or health issue.

See the grant application procedure article below or visit the Health Fund website for application information.

Healthy Congregations Recognition Hall of Fame now available; is your church listed?

The Health Fund has just launched a new website feature to recognize the health ministry efforts of the 218 Kansas United Methodist churches which have participated in the Fund's Healthy Congregations Recognition program over the past 11 years.

The HC Hall of Fame contains a searchable listing of all churches which have received Healthy Congregations awards over the years. A list of highlighted health ministry activities which have appeared in Healthy Congregations brochures is also available in the Hall of Fame. The highlights list is still under construction but is growing each day. View the full list of highlighted activities and you may find inspiration for new health-related activities in your church!

We invite you to search the Hall of Fame for your church or community. If your congregation isn't listed, there is still time to participate in Healthy Congregations Recognition for 2006. We hope to be able to add your church to next year's Hall of Fame listing!

The Healthy Congregations Hall of Fame is available at: http://www.healthfund.org/hc/hc_designated.php