Meeting Notes from June 17, 2008

Health Care & Wellness Work Group

People Present  (my apologies if I missed anyone!  Let me know if I did!)

Joannie Wiolliams-Atonement Racine

Cathi Anderson-Redemption-Tosa

Kathy Kunde-Redemption

Ruth Ellen Nauertz-Redemption

Jerry Anderson-Redemption

Lynn Hooper-Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Racine

Loren (missed last name)- Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

Susie Hilgart-Cross of Life Brookfield

Sheila Schrieber-Cross of Life

Mary Alice Peterson-Bethania Racine

Sam Kramer-Cross of Life

Kathy Kramer-Cross of Life

Sandy Alioto-Mount Hope West Allis

Barb Estrada-Whitnall Park Hales Corners

Prue Smith-Luther Manor

Ellen Weller-Luther Memorial Glendale

Pat Vandehey-Mount Olive Mukwonago

Judy Kolstadt-Atonement Muskego

Carol Eschman-Emmaus Racine

Barb Horner-Ibler, Bread of Healing,

John Horner-Ibler, Cross of Life

Sherrie  Lorbeck, Cross of Life

1.  Tour Bread of Healing Clinic. 

Thanks to Barb Horner-Ibler for giving us a tour of the Bread of Clinic at Cross Lutheran. 

2.  Review of Synod Assembly Workshops and Resolution Presentation

Here’s a few of the comments as we reflected on the workshops or floor time at the assembly

-The workshops were well attended

-People were engaged, with good questions.

-The blessing of the hands was powerful, some people had tears as it took place.

-There seemed to be more interest than in past times in doing healing services.

-We tend to dance around some of the differences between western medicine and easter traditions......how might we push forward with a synergy of the two.....a more holistic approach to healing?

We then talked about this group as a whole......what is our ongoing purpose?  What are our challenges and opportunities?   Some comments included:

-Don’t’ we need to reach out to churches not present here?

-There are 21 parish nurses in the synod and many more congregations have health ministries

-If we wanted more congregations involved, what would we have them do?

-The “church shouldn’t be involved in politics” line of thinking works against us in some places.   It’s hard to get past that, but once people begin to see the work of the nurses, clinics or other ministries they begin to see it’s what they need to be doing.

-Advanced Directives.  A simple event congregations could do would be to invite people to a “witnessing party” to get the directives signed.

3.  Weekend of October 18-19

Goals....we have to get people from this group out to other congregations to encourage their involvement and spread the word.

Secondarily, what can we do to support what’s happening in our own congregations so that our home congregations continue to grow in these ministries.

Ideas on the above....

Develop a bullet-point sheet of talking points, following a simple Q & A format.  Questions to answer should start with....”why should I be involved?”

People willing to work on this were Jerry Anderson, Carol Eschman and Pat Vandehey

Use the format to share simple ideas for starting points....healing services, home communion ministries, blood drives, etc.

Develop a list of available speakers.  Either they or a contact clearning house could be listed on the Synod web side......sort of a speakers and topics list.

We should try to nail down all nurses, doctors, other providers, pastors, and others interested in speaking by our September meeting so that we can start promoting their availability for October 18 and 19.

We could consider linking up in some way  with the people developing the resources or the Health Care Revolution Sunday.....these were developed by a doctor in Wisconsin.  We should make sure we have a common liturgy available for use on that weekend.

For the Synod Webside.....see if it’s possible to post a map showing the location of the:

            -free clinics

            -congregations with parish nurses

            -congregations with health care ministries.

Also, for our September 16 meeting, it might be nice to recreate the Synod Assembly workshop for those who weren’t able to attend.   Also, we should recap the resolution itself, so we all know what it said as October approaches! 

HEALTH CARE AND ACCESS

WHEREAS the 2007 Assembly of the Greater Milwaukee Synod, through the passage of Resolution 7,  encouraged congregations to assess their resources and needs with respect to health care and wellness ministries; and
 

WHEREAS a work group within the Synod has subsequently gathered interested congregations to further our cooperative work in the area of health care and wellness ministries; and
 

WHEREAS access to health care continues to be a major societal problem and ministries of health and wellness continue to be a major expression of our Christian faith; and
 

WHEREAS we as Lutherans have a long history of leadership in health care ministries and advocacy on behalf of the underserved; therefore be it
 

RESOLVED that the 2008 Assembly of the Greater Milwaukee Synod encourage its congregations to utilize the weekend of October 18 and 19 (the Feast of St. Luke the Physician) to utilize resources available to us in common on the Synod website to:

            -Raise awareness of the needs and volunteer opportunities at the three free medical clinics operating within Synod congregations and of medical delegations traveling to our international companion churches.

            -Organize collections of prescription medicine samples and over-the-counter medicines listed on the “Top Ten List” of greatest needs within the Free Clinics and/or medical missions.

            -Promote health and wellness topics addressed in bulletin-newsletter-web friendly materials developed by Parish Nurses within the Synod.

            -Celebrate healing and wholeness within the context of worship, utilizing sample liturgies and prayers.  And, be it further

RESOLVED that the Greater Milwaukee Synod encourage its congregations and members to play an active role advocating for universal access to quality health care for all living within the boundaries of our country. This encouragement should not be confused with advocacy for a particular funding mechanism for universal access. What is a matter of faith and binding on our conscience is this:  No child of God should be denied access to the best available medical care and services for any reason related to employment, coverage, preexisting condition, income level, or citizenship.