Health and Welfare Committee

Tennessee Annual Conference Report

Murfreesboro First United Methodist Church
June 2008

Ephesians 4:11-12(NIV).

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists,

and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Health and Welfare Committee Check Up!

“Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned”

Author Unknown

The American Red Cross Blood Drive:

The committee planned and sponsored a Blood Drive at the site of the 2007 Tennessee
Annual Conference. The American Red Cross felt it was very successful with
approximate 30-40 individuals donating blood. The American Red Cross has already
scheduled to support a Blood Drive at the 2008 Tennessee Annual Conference. We
encourage all conference participants to “donate the gift of life”. Please go to the
American Red Cross website and review BLOOD DONATION ELIGIBILITY
GUIDELINES. Time and dates for the Blood Drive will be announced later. We also
encourage all local congregations to host a Blood drive in your District. We all can
make a big impact on fulfilling this need.

Parish Nurses:

Parish Nurses are now known as Faith Community Nurses. The Nashville area of Faith
Community Nurses has formed a Chapter of Health Ministries Association, which
supports all areas of Health Ministries. The Health Ministry Association is an
organization of professionals and lay people who encourage and support each other in
the development of programs that integrate care of the body, mind and spirit. The
Scope of Practice for Faith Community Nurses is written by the American Nurses
Association. Faith Community Nurses are Registered Nurses, and serve as health
advocates, counselors, consultants, health educators, resources, and liaisons. We are
inviting and encouraging congregations to establish Faith Community Nurse Ministries.

A subcommittee, Congregational Health, has been coordinated to develop guidelines for

implementing the following programs:

1. Congregational Prescription for Health

2. Power in the Pews
3. Body Recall

These programs address health issues, nutrition, mental health, spiritual health, and
physical fitness. We will be recruiting congregations to participate in the training and
implementation of these programs.

Strength for the Journey:

Funds were allocated from the Health and Welfare budget for Strength for the Journey.
This is a week-long camping experience for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. This is a
very successful program and we encourage your continued support.

Situational Immediacy Services:

A sub-committee has been formed to outline this informational program. The targeted
audience is men and women, ages 25-55, which are living with HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis
C. We encourage local congregations to become involved in prevention education on
the spread of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C.

The Wellness Program:

Through collaboration with Disability Concerns, the Health and Welfare Committee is
requesting permission to offer Health Screenings during Annual Conference. The
screenings will focus on the wholistic approach to wellness – physical, mental, spiritual.

In collaboration with Disability Concerns, Health and Welfare is planning on developing

walking clubs, called “The Wesley Walkers”. Participants will be encouraged to become
involved in walking or some other form of exercise suitable for the individual. Local
congregations and Districts will have an opportunity to promote walking and other types
of exercise and compete with each other on total miles walked and/or time exercised.
Total progress could be reported at Annual Conference. This could be an activity every
year during Annual Conference with incentives awarded.

Networking:

The Health and Welfare Committee is continuing to network with established public
agencies to assist in providing training opportunities for local pastors, church leadership,
and congregations in the previously stated programs. We are encouraging healthy
lifestyles, healthy choices, and prudent heart living for clergy and laity. We encourage
local congregations to provide printed health education resources and exercise classes.
The Health and Welfare Committee has identified a need to meet with and collaborate
with other committees forming health initiatives to determine how we may work together
on various health issues. We would like to be a part of the total Tennessee Conference
healthcare concerns in order to coordinate all of our efforts.

Briefing from McKendree Village:

The Health and Welfare Committee was given a report by Rev. Jim Robinson, on the
concerns at McKendree Village. Rev. Robinson reported that the Health and Welfare
Committee would receive updates on the progress as McKendree works with all entities
to resolve concerns.

Training:

The Health and Welfare Chairperson, Zelma Waller, committee member, Nancy Ray,
and the Chairperson for Disability Concerns, Rev. Marie C. King, attended the Third
Annual Congregational Health Ministries Conference, held in Wichita, Kansas,
September 23-26, 2007. The conference was co-sponsored by the General Board of
Global Ministries – Health and Welfare and the General Board of Pension and Health
Benefits. The next conference will be at Lake Junaluska, N.C., September 21-24, 2008.

Brochures:

The committee continues to work on updating brochures for each program funded by
the Health and Welfare Committee. The brochures will be distributed to local
congregations for informational and educational purposes.
Collaboration:

The Health and Welfare Committee and Disability Concerns Committee decided to
combine our meeting times and join efforts to coordinate our efforts with implementing
and planning ministries and health initiatives that will address whole-person ministry –
body, mind, and spirit.

In closing, the committee’s overall desire is caring for our conference and community
and supporting ministries and opportunities to promote healthy living, feeling good from
the benefits of exercise and healthy living, and making healthy choices for nutrition, and
realizing a healthy balance with body, mind, and spirit.

Respectfully Submitted,

Zelma B. Waller, Chairperson