Health is on the tip of the nation’s tongue these days. Health insurance reform, influenza, depression, childhood obesity, the plight of the uninsured — these top a long list of challenging, health-related topics.
But there’s a bright spot. Each of us Christians is a steward of gifts given. As a new creation in Christ, we can take steps, today, to change our lifestyle. As individuals, family members, neighbors and congregational leaders, we can work — to the best of our ability — to be healthier in mind, body and spirit.
This attention to health has a positive impact, not just on our own lives, but on the lives of those around us. There’s a reason why we at the ELCA Board of Pensions are always saying, “Healthy leaders enhance lives.”
Good health enables each of us, as leaders, to minister more effectively for the sake of the world. And that’s not a message reserved just for rostered leaders and others in leadership positions. ELCA congregations and their pastors shape ministry together — which makes their collective health so important.
A pastor will find it difficult to be healthy in an unhealthy congregation and vice versa. What can congregational leaders do to begin work on their collective health? Try these no-cost first steps. The “Live Well” website provides a tour of the ELCA’s conversation about living well as whole people in Christ.
Improve your understanding of what wellness in the ELCA is all about.
- Find the list of 10 reasons to live well in the ELCA.
- Learn about the Wholeness Wheel, an assessment tool and representation of whole-person health.
- Consider the “Live Well” five powerful questions, starting with “Who is your wellness hero?”
- Explore what members of the ELCA community are saying about wellness. In addition to the sizable collection of Wellness Voices, read articles, book reviews, small steps and ministry tools shared by members of the ELCA community. Pass on what you like to your congregation via Web link or reprint. Some highlights are:
- Parish Nurse Becky Elsbernd’s Wellness Voices posting, “Walking the planet together,” describes the many benefits her congregation, Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa, realized by using a walking tool during Lent.
- The article “Congregation pieces together wholeness,” was submitted by Elizabeth Liggett, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Clinton, Iowa, and Bob Hoffman, the then-vicar, describes how they introduced the Wholeness Wheel to their congregation during Lent. By clicking on Wellness resources, then on Ministry tools, you can find the sermons they delivered as part of this series.
- Check out the “Small Steps” contributions. Working on your health doesn’t have to be complicated. Subscribe to “Healthy Leaders” e-newsletter. Working to encourage wellness in your community or congregation can be an uphill process. It’s easy to begin to wonder, “Are my efforts making a difference?” This free monthly e-newsletter published by the Board of Pensions lets you know you’re not alone.
- Parish Nurse Becky Elsbernd’s Wellness Voices posting, “Walking the planet together,” describes the many benefits her congregation, Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa, realized by using a walking tool during Lent.
You get a heads-up whenever a new wellness tool or resource is available on “Live Well.” Subscribe while on the “Live Well” site.
Kathy Shea is the ELCA Board of Pensions’ health and wellness engagement strategist and editor of its “Healthy Leaders” e-newsletter.
I suspect that few of our readers are familiar with the sport of Bodybuilding. In recent years (partly popularized by actors and stars, i.e. Arnold S) and an offspring of the fitness lifestyle Competitive Bodybuilding is a bigger sport than many realize. What is more, it grows in popularity among Seniors (not just spectators but participants). I worked out with weights and fitness regimes much of my adult life...it started when I was in Seminary and would visit the local YMCA, but while I kept relatively toned, never pursued the sport to a competitve level of growth and muscularity. At retirement from active ministry in 2000, I re-discovered the sport and its openness to older men and women. I committed myself to much use of the local gym and in 2002 competed for the first time in the "Masters" class. To date have competed in 22 contests in the U.S. and Canada and even now aT AGE 75 am preparing for my next event, the Emerald Cup, held in Seattle April 2011.
I have taken quite a few 1st place trophies.
But trophies are not my goal. Health and continued strength are. An interesting side benefit: I have been approached by hundreds of younger (and older) men and women saying they are inspired by my example and motivate themselves to a healhy body. It also raises quite a few eyebrows when people note that I am a Lutheran Pastor!
I am looking for the Wholeness Wheel. There are a couple references to this-- but not an explanation or description.
Where do I go to find out what this is?
Thanks
Gigi,
You can find the Wholeness Wheel at
http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Vocation/Rostered-Leadership/Leadership-Support/Health/Wholeness-Wheel.aspx