WCC NEWS: WCC publishes first-of-its-kind handbook to help churches promote good health

A first-of-its-kind handbook has been created by the World Council of Churches (WCC) to help churches across the world promote good health in their communities and beyond. 28 April 2021 “Health-Promoting Churches Volume II: A handbook to accompany churches in establishing and running sustainable health promotion ministries,” edited by Dr Mwai Makoka, WCC programme executive for Health and Healing, maps out a vision for local congregations to act as agents for healing. “At the heart of this publication is a call to the fellowship, and to each individual, to contribute their unique gifts toward sustaining the health of their loved ones, their communities, and their sisters and brothers across the world,” said Makoka. “We hope this helps us all to re-imagine together a better post-COVID world.” The handbook includes guidelines, resources and tools to equip and support local Christian congregations in starting sustainable health ministries, as well as a theological and public health basis for health-promoting churches. Work plans are provided on seven intervention areas: diet, physical exercise, tobacco, alcohol, mental health, tuberculosis, and COVID-19. A monitoring and evaluation framework and guidance on how to address other emerging health issues are also provided. The handbook also guides local churches to opportunities for strengthening existing efforts in health ministry in a coherent and evidence-based manner. Link to Health-Promoting Churches Volume II Other health-related resources “Health-Promoting Churches: Reflections on Health and Healing for Churches on Commemorative World Health Days.” Also written by Makoka, this booklet includes 15 reflections on international commemorative health days to stimulate conversations on health matters in Church congregations. “Health and Hope: The Church in Mission and Unity." A collection of previously published articles, these were chosen to resonate with the worldwide struggle amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ecumenical Global Health COVID-19 Response Framework. Published during 2020, this framework identifies core challenges and response strategies for a global ecumenical response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and also recommends specific actions. Webpage of the Vaccine Champions and COVID-19 resources   See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 350 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland