Center for Health

The Center for Health will be taking steps to address the importance of the short- and long-term consequences of the health of our clergy and lay workers—physical, emotional, spiritual, social and financial.

John Wesley had strong views on health and the connections between faith, health and community. Through his teachings, we witness a close link between health and healing and the theological idea of a good creation. The body is essentially a good and natural creation with a soul—body and soul are meant to work in harmony and they are able to influence one another. Therefore, as the soul opens more and more to the salvific action of God, the body benefits.

The mission and ministry of the Center for Health:

• supports the health of the workers of the Church as witnesses in society,
• acts in full connection to strengthen the health of the denomination, and
• encourages each individual to act as a steward of his or her own mind, body and spirit, through practice of spiritual and health disciplines.

The results of our Fit to Lead seminary pilot workshops and assessments will combine with the health-related data shared and reported by annual conferences, a health impact study of UMC employment systems, and health promotions for annual conferences to provide results to be delivered to General Conference 2012. This examination will help us see the importance of the health of our workers—physical, emotional, spiritual, social, financial—in the short-term, and the consequences health has on the vitality of ministry for the future of the Church itself.

Question or comments? E-mail us at umc-centerforhealthinfo@gbop.org.