Memphis Annual Conference
of the United Methodist Church

This site is currently under construction.  If you have any suggestions, please send comments to:   John Bonson

The following document will be presented to the Memphis Annual Conference next week in Paducah.  We plan to meet Monday morning at the
Conference Prayer Center for Holy Communion and then to discuss ways that we can keep this before the conference.  -  John Bonson

Challenge to the Memphis Annual Conference of 2006
Church Health Awareness

Jesus Christ healed the whole person.  Our heritage, as a Christian people, has continued that focus on the wholeness as spiritual disciplines have brought about renewal across the centuries.

John Wesley knew the value of a lifestyle that included a healthy mind, body, and spirit.

Following in The Wesleyan heritage, our church has established schools, free health clinics, hospitals, and covenantal relationships for mutual support and healing as a key element in the spreading of the Gospel throughout the world.

To continue an effective ministry, healthy churches require healthy pastors.  Healthy pastors need the support of churches and colleagues.

Recent studies have shown that time and resources spent in prevention are effective methods to reduce the rising cost of healthcare, and to assist in providing for a more vital witness in our world.

The Orders and Fellowship, in our annual Spiritual Life Retreat in March 2006, created a covenant group to assist one another in exploring a healthier life style as a spiritual discipline.  In consultation with one another, we challenge the lay and clergy membership of the Memphis Annual Conference

To establish regional Wesleyan Covenant Groups who incorporate - at a minimum - the following suggestions for the establishment of their covenant:

1. To pray for the health of each of our congregations and pastors, and each other daily;
2. To set aside money that we would have spent on an activity that prevents healthy living.  Such items could include, but are not limited to food, walking to work rather than driving, turning off the television, or other activity that prevents our focus on the needs of others;
3. To seek medical advice to set individual goals and techniques to accomplish the following:
   1. To identify and reach your ideal weight – whether over or under weight.
   2. Set a goal to be within 10% of your ideal by the next meeting of the annual conference.
   3. Collectively walk or run the equivalent of the square mileage of the annual conference – 13,700 miles - by the next annual conference session.

Helpful links

Visits to this site