(Re)Claiming the Church's Role in Promoting Health

Abstract

The rapidly changing healthcare environment and burgeoning healthcare costs offer a unique opportunity for the church to reclaim her biblical and historic foundations for ministries of health, healing, and wholeness. This article proposes a framework for those foundations significant to church culture, considered in light of the challenges and opportunities created by the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Practical applications for health ministry based on the framework are provided.

Faith Community Nurses Key to Promoting Health in At-Risk Communities

“…Several of the articles included in this review recognized an opportunity and role for collaborative partnerships between FCNs and faith organizations to improve health outcomes (Harris, 2011; Nam et al, 2019; Rowland & Isaac, 2014; Shackelford et al, 2014). Two articles suggested FCNs be engaged as Ministers of Health in acknowledgment of the significant role played in the support of health education and positive outcomes (Balint & George, 2015; Chase-Ziolek, 2015).…”

“…Additionally, Chase-Ziolek (2015) offered suggestions for the church as a favorable location for the implementation of health initiatives and the distribution of health services. She noted that the church is a clearly recognized site for compassionate care delivery and lends itself to being a credible resource and location to address equitable and culturally supportive care.…”

“…It is well known that nurse-led, more specifically FCN interventions, work for addressing health promotion in at-risk faith settings. However, it is unclear how many FBOs have access to FCNs and what type practitioners is well documented, researchers recognize that the full benefits of the relationships have yet to be realized (Chase-Ziolek, 2015). The role of FCNs within FBOs empowers parishioners to actively participate in the management of their own health by enhancing existing relationships with providers (Ziebarth, 2014).…”

Promoting Healthy Lifestyles in Women Through Faith-Based Outreach

“…Given that 65% of adults in the United States identify with a religion (Pew Charitable Trust, 2019), faith-based organizations (FBOs) offer opportunities to bring people together in a supportive environment and simultaneously reach large audiences (Callaghan, 2015). Faith-based health organizations provide an opportunity to initiate and sustain health prevention and promotion in the community (Aponte et al, 2013; Chase-Ziolek, 2015; DeHaven et al 2004; Whisenant et al, 2014). Improvement in population health and controlling healthcare and hospitalization costs through health promotion and prevention education are other benefits of FBO outreach (Morris, 2015).…”

“…Faith-based health promotion is an effective avenue of intervention because it supports disease prevention through working to improve healthy behaviors. Previous literature indicates that faith-based health promotion is most effective in collaboration with community healthcare professionals, faith-based leaders, public sector resources, and utilization of the social support platform of a faith-based organization (Aponte et al, 2013; Callaghan, 2006; Callaghan, 2015; Chase-Ziolek, 2015; DeHaven et al, 2004). Literature further encourages that development of a health outreach program includes understanding of the culture and population, and that nurses assure program delivery reflects people as complex, holistic individuals (Callaghan, 2006).…”