|
The goal of our program is to promote good health and well-being for our clergy by encouraging and enabling them to assume responsibility for their own physical, emotional and spiritual health. A healthy minister tends to produce healthy church. We hope you will prayerfully consider the possibilities of participating in this program.
Clergy Care is sanctioned by the Board of Ordained Ministry and Board of Pensions. This is underwritten jointly by the Methodist Health Care Ministries and the Board of Pensions. Administration will be overseen by the SWTC Clergy Care Team in cooperation with the health care resources of GPA, Health Care Management, Interface EAP and Quest Diagnostics.
| Healthy Living
|
|
Taking Charge
This program is strictly voluntary and is available to all clergy under full-time appointment
including those appointed as Conference staff. Partipants must be enrolled in the Conference
Health Plan. Results of the four components are strictly confidential between you and
GPA (Group Pensions Administrators, Inc). The Clergy Care Team will only receive
acknowledgments of your continued participation in the program and no personal health
information is shared.
The first opportunity to participate begins February 1st and concludes December 31, 2010.
The blood screening will be available at Annual Conference and the Health Risk Assessment
(HRA) should be completed within three months of the lab screening. Participants have until
December 31, 2010 to have the physical exam and wellness conversation completed.
All component completion cards must be post marked by December 31, 2010.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD COMPONENT COMPLETION CARDS
New Enhanced Program
For 2010 we have added some new and exciting features to enhance our wellness program in an effort to challenge previous participants and encourage new ones. There are now five components to the program, offering a greater variety of actions. The new features include the fifth component called lifestyle, an interactive web-based participation, and an online point and tracking system. The clergy can now chose four of five components that best fit their needs. Though we have increased the number and variety of ways you may complete the program, we have not increased the overall requirements for monetary rewards for clergy or their churches. Three of the original parts of the plan must still be completed, Lab, HRA and Physical, but the fourth component Wellness Conversation may be a kind of elective from the fifth option. It is entirely up to the participant. The five component sheet and “Clergy Care at a Glance” in this packet provide all the detailed information you need. Component cards are provided for those that prefer to use them instead of the online point and and tracking system. The Lifestyle component requires online log on and registration. Therefore, incentives for Lifestyle are for online participants only. See Wellness packet for details.
The Five Components
Health Risk Assessment
A Health Risk Assessment HRA is a tool to help you identify and manage areas for health
improvement and living. If your HRA indicates that you are at high risk you will receive
assistance toward healthier goals and living. Furthermore, if you currently live with a chronic
condition, the wellness program will help you increase your understanding and management
of your condition.
HRA will be available from Feb. 1 - Dec. 31.
Lab Screening
A lab screen is a good way to identify potential health risks.
The Clergy Care program will offer the free lab screening at the Southwest Texas Annual
Conference in Corpus Christi during the month of June, 2010. The screen will include blood
pressure, lipid, CMP, thyroid II, and PSA (men over 50) screening. The testing will be
conducted by Quest Diagnostics.
All participants will need to complete an overnight fast prior to the testing. You will receive your
confidential lab results via mail. Furthermore, a summary will be sent to GPA for integration in
your personal wellness program.
To qualify for the incentive, all lab work must be within three months of HRA.
Lab Screenings will be done during Annual Conference June 3-4, 2010
Wellness Conversation
It is recognized that professional ministry can be very demanding and that clergy often face a
unique combination of challenges and stressors that can lead to a lack of personal health and
well-being. God has created gifted humans with a unique capacity for adapting and thriving
within difficult and challenging situations. Clergy often exemplify this type of adaptive ability.
What is a Wellness Conversation?
The “Wellness Conversation” is one means of supporting the wellness efforts of clergy by
providing an annual opportunity to review one’s personal and professional life through the
“lens of wellness”. The process is to be one of dialogue and exploration focused primarily
upon the interests and concerns of clergy. The conversation will focus on issues of personal
wellness and, as appropriate, develop an action plan for obtaining, maintaining or enhancing
their physical, spiritual, emotional and relational wellness.
The Clergy Care Team and Interface EAP have identified providers including pastoral
counselors for your confidential “wellness conversation.”
To participate in a wellness conversation, clergy may call Interface EAP at 1-800-324-4327..
Physical Exam
The physical exam is another component in the Clergy Care Wellness Program. Cost for your
physical exam will be covered under the current provisions of the Health Benefit Program. The
exam is a time to discuss any health related issues and health goals including exercise
with your doctor.
Physical exams may be completed from January 1 - December 31, 2010.
Lifestyle
The new lifestyle component is to call attention to how we live as part of God’s creation. There are five activities in which we can make a healthy impact in your life and in the world. They cover exercise, diet, community activity, education and relaxation methods, with each activity having their own point total. A combined total of 20 points is needed to complete this component. See Clergy Wellness Packet for details.
Lifestyle may be completed online from February 1 - December 31.
Clergy Wellness: At-a-Glance
Purpose
Promote awareness, encourage, enable and educate Conference clergy to assume personal
responsibility for their physical, emotional and spiritual health.
Eligibility
All full-time clergy appointed to a local church and Conference staff in the Southwest Texas
Conference. Participants must be in the conference health plan.
Five Components
Health Risk Assessment Feb 1 - Dec 31
Lab Screening June 3 - 4
Physical Exam Jan 1 - Dec 31
Wellness Conversations Feb 1 - Dec 31
Lifestyle Feb 1 - Dec 31
Important Dates
Feb 1 Clergy Care Launch for 2010
Feb 1 - Dec 31 Health Risk Assessment
June 3 - 4 Lab Screening
Dec 31 End of Program 2010
Lab Screening Locations
June 3 - 4 Corpus Christi – Annual Conference
Incentives
$20 for each completed component (Total $80)
$10 discount for pedometer for Lifestyle component
$160 stipend for personal retreat
$200 health insurance premium rebate to your church after completion on all four components.
Note: If you received a $160 stipend for 2009 you must send in a brief report on its use before
receiving stipend for 2010.
Continued Care
Further assistance is available, from wellness tools, lifestyle coaching for those that have been
identified as high risk for developing a chronic disease and management for those clergy
who are living with chronic disease.
Who to Contact
Sharon Freeto
830-613-1007 / 210-382-4586 cell
sfreeto@satx.rr.com
Eve Albert
210-408-4500 ext. 551 / 888-349-4194
clergywellness@umcswtx.org
Isabel Munoz
210-408-4500 ext.526 /888-349-4194
imunoz@umcswtx.org
Retreats
Why a retreat?
The idea of a retreat was created to augment the new Clergy Care Program in encouraging
healthier lifestyles. We offer several retreat possibilities in an effort to provide a spiritual
renewal opportunity for you and your family. Included are other wellness options to help
encourage clergy to pursue a healthy life style. This ministry is made possible by a grant from
Methodist Healthcare Ministries and endorsed by the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
Other options
In addition to retreats a pastor may use the $160 stipend for any reasonable form of wellness
pursuit such as fitness club membership, nutritional supplements, excerise clothing and/or
equipment, therapuetic messages, etc. Please remember to qualify for the $160 stipend
in the coming year you are required to send a brief paragraph report on your use of the 2009
stipend. Send your report to:
Eve Albert
Clergy Wellness Administrator
Southwest Texas Conference
16400 Huebner Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78248
888-349-4191 Ext. 551
210-408-4551
210-408-4515 Fax
Clergywellness@umcswtx.org
|
| Mount Wesley Conference Center is available
year-round for individual private retreats
to groups of 200
|
Mount Wesley Conference Center
Kerrville, Texas
Located in the heart of the beautiful Texas Hill Country, the Mount Wesley Conference Center is situated on 64 acres of woodland. From individual private retreats to groups of 200, this year-round South Texas retreat center is dedicated to enabling individuals to experience the love, grace, and joy of God in a Christian retreat setting.
Costs: $25/single; $26/ Couple
Meals: $6 Breakfast; $7 Lunch;
$8 Dinner (meals served in MHM Dining Hall)
Contact: Patti Zaiontz, Administrator
Address: 610 Methodist Encampment Rd.
Kerrville, Texas 78028
Phone: 830-895-5700
Fax: 830-895-4664
Website: www.mountwesley.org
Email: pattiz@mountwesley.org
Note: Rates are for Wellness Clergy Retreats only.
Otherwise other rates apply.
|
| The Haven River Inn has a special place in
its heart for ministers and Christian workers
|
The Haven River Inn
Comfort, Texas
The Haven River Inn is a refuge of peace in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Guests enjoy walking along the Guadalupe River through pecan trees and rolling meadows on this 23-acre estate or merely relaxing in a “rocker” on our spacious wraparound porches. With a special place in its heart for ministers and Christian workers, over 260 Christian leaders stayed at the Haven last year.
Costs: Clergy and spouse may stay
2 nights free once per year
Sunday - Thursday
Rates otherwise: $75-110/night
Address: The Haven River Inn
105 Highway 473
P.O. Box 899
Comfort, TX 78013
Phone: 830.995.3834
Fax: 830.995.4335
|
| Lebh Shomea stresses the silent listening
of the heart - contemplative prayer
|
Lebh Shomea House of Prayer
Sarita, Texas
Lebh Shomea, House of Prayer, at La Parra Ranch located in Wild Horse Desert, six miles due east of the small South Texas town of Sarita.
The purpose of the House of Prayer is to assure a milieu and to furnish a place where a person may retreat at any time in order to be alone and pray. Lebh Shomea stresses the silent listening of the heart - contemplative prayer.
Costs: $25/day only including meals
$42/night per person including meals
Address: Lebh Shomea House of Prayer
La Parra Ranch
P.O. Box 9
Sarita, TX 78385-0009
Phone: 361-294-5369
Website: www.lebhshomea.org
Email: info@lebhshomea.org
|
|
|
|
