As Presbyterians we are taught to be good stewards of the gifts we have been given. Among those gifts is our body and to be good stewards in the eyes of our Creator, we are called to treat our bodies with respect, dignity and care. The call to work for justice and equity challenges us to advocate that all people are included in the safety net of health coverage and access to good health care. Thus, the responsibility is two-fold.

The Bible describes Christ's healing ministry extensively in the Gospel of Mark. The gospel employs the Greek word sodzo which can be translated:

• "to save,"
• "to heal," and
• "to make whole."

Healing was an important part of the early church's ministry. As described in the Bible and lived in the ministry of the early church, health is seen as something basic and important in its physical, mental and spiritual dimensions.

Paul describes healing as one of the gifts of the spirit (I Corinthians 12:9),

In the Letter of James we are told to have the church leaders pray over the sick and anoint the person with oil in the name of God, and God "will raise them up." (James 5:14-15).

It is in this context that National Health Ministries promotes and supports healing ministries and challenges all Presbyterians to become involved.

Why health and wholeness awareness concerns

As health and wholeness awareness concerns are addressed—for each other and for ourselves, it is important to remember the following:

• people often shift responsibility from themselves to the medical care system for their health, when in fact, 50 percent of their health status is a result of lifestyle choices

• almost 33 percent of the poor have no health coverage; access to health care is denied to more than 43 million people of whom one-third are children
• of the $500 billion or more spent annually on health care, only 3 percent is spent for prevention

PC(USA) Policy

In its 1988 Policy Statement, Life Abundant (200th General Assembly), the church recognized health and wholeness as vital church issues and identified several levels for church involvement: 

• On the individual level, the General Assembly indicated that as followers of Christ, and having been created and named by God and set in community, we have an obligation as individuals to accept responsibility and stewardship for our own health and the health of others. 
• On the level of the corporate church, the General Assembly recognized that the church should be concerned about health and healing, and these should be central dimensions of the church's life and witness. The General Assembly therefore challenged sessions and congregations, middle governing bodies and the General Assembly units to promote all aspects of health in the life of the church, to advocate for health in the social order, and to be responsible stewards of both health and health resources. 
• On the level of society, the General Assembly acknowledged that community life requires a just order, and further acknowledged that as Reformed Christians, we have an important role "to hold governments accountable for their actions and engage in the task of civil reform that promises better results." 

The General Assembly adopted a number of affirmations in making its recommendations, including: 

• Health has a fundamental importance: Good health (physical, mental and spiritual) is both a God-given gift and a social good with special moral importance. 
• Health has many determinants: There are many determining factors of health. Birth, nurture, living conditions, income, education, personal health choices and availability of medical care are among the many elements which determine our health.
• Personal responsibility: Each one of us has a personal responsibility for health. 
• Society's duty: Society has a duty to promote a healthful environment and to assure availability of health care resources for all. 
• Preventive care: Individual and societal responsibility requires a major focus on preventive health care. 
• Healthy living and working environments: Healthy living and working environments are essential to health. 
• Equal access: All individuals must have equal access to appropriate and necessary care. 
• Responsible limits: Society is justified in placing limits on health care expenditures beyond the basics and in balancing these expenditures against other needs of society. 
• Health care reform: Out of concern for justice, the church must encourage new health care financing and delivery systems that better meet the needs of all people. (Life Abundant, page 16-18).

Raising Awareness of Health Issues

(1) Hold a Health Fair

Many Presbyterian congregations work with local health care providers to hold "on-site " Health Fairs. Local hospitals, universities and other providers often do this a free community service. Fairs are a wonderful opportunity to raise general awareness and to encourage simple health screenings for elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, vision irregularities and to distribute health related information.

Some churches choose to hold fairs for their own congregation while others hold them as interfaith ventures and invite churches from other faith traditions to join with them.

Health Care Professionals who are members of congregations often take the lead and utilize community contacts they might have.

(2) Presbyterian Health Awareness Week
Presbyterian congregations are encouraged to establish a special time to observe Presbyterian Health Awareness Week. Suggested times coincide with several nationwide and community awareness events, including an awareness week in April.

Suggestions for Observing Presbyterian Health Awareness Week:

1. Establish a special Sunday morning worship service around the issue of health, healing and wholeness.
2. Consider conducting a Commissioning Service for Health Care Workers in your congregation and/or community (for additional information, call (888) 728-7228 x5550 
3. Order Health Awareness bulletin inserts (See Resource section).
4. Order "The Congregation: A Community of Care and Healing (Health and Wholeness Awareness Resource)" for worship, study and sermon ideas.
5. Use the video, "Life Abundant: Celebrating Health, Healing and Wholeness," to assist congregation members to understand and celebrate health ministries accomplished and to motivate them to start their own health ministry program. 
6. Encourage your congregation or presbytery to form a Health Task Force to assist members in understanding health, healing and wholeness.
7. Create a health, healing and wholeness section in your church library

Resources

Resources created to educate about health awareness and to be in ministry with those with health needs include the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) policy, Life Abundant, and a video and health ministries booklet on ministries of health, healing and wholeness of the same name. There are also videos and curriculum for older youth, as well as educational tools for the congregation and worship resources. Please refer to the Resources section for general resources on health, healing and wholeness. Also, look for resources on specific health issues in the areas of addictions, HIV/AIDS and serious mental illness.