The Health Ministries Association (HMA) (n.d.) defines a health ministry as the "many ministries of a faith community that promote wholistic health."  A Health Ministry is a group of health professionals and volunteers from the congregation using the tenets of faith-based beliefs and spirituality to promote member and congregational health.  The Health Ministry Coordinator can be a Parish Nurse, Faith Community Nurse, minister, or health advocate.  The number of members and activities of a Health Ministry are dependent upon the size and interest of the congregation.

Many faith organizations or agencies have developed guidelines for the development and operation of a Health Ministry.  Therefore,
when starting a Health Ministry in your congregation, it is important to determine if pertinent recommendations are available. 
Examples include:

• Care Ministry Network -- a network of care ministry leaders for support and sharing in providing the best possible care to older adults.  Provides standardized training for volunteers and volunteer leaders, including communication strategies, risk management, volunteer recruitment, volunteer driver training, etc.  Based in MN (check local/state laws) and supported in part by Lyngblomsten Foundation and a grant from the Lutheran Services for Elderly Endowment at the ELCA Foundation. Contact Becky Hulden, RN, Faith Community Nurse at mailto:CMNetwork@lyngblomsten.org
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• Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Oklahoma City -- Parish Nurse and Health Ministry Advocacy Guidelines

• Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi -- 10 Steps to beginning a health ministry    

•  Health Ministries Association-- Health Ministry is considered as one of the 4 Constituency Groups

• Ministry Matters -- Health, wellness, and shalom.

• United Methodist Church -- UMC Health Ministry Network

If you should have pertinent resources that you would like to share, please contact the Technology Committee at mailto:contact@FCNInternational.org and put Technology Committee in the subject line!