Congregational Wellness creates ministries in the Greater New Orleans area by educating church members to implement wellness ministries within the congregations and communities they serve. Wellness ministries include programs that faith-based groups administer to promote the health and well-being of its members.
Our Programs
Congregational Wellness, a division of BCM, acts as a source for health and healing through these programs:
Behavioral Health Initiative for Pastors (BHIP)
Addresses the stressors pastors face in their daily ministry
Church Nurse Education Program (CNEP)
Trains registered nurses on how to jumpstart health ministries in their own churches
Congregational Health Promoter Program (CHPP)
Trains health advocates, community leaders and church members without a nursing background on how to begin health ministries
Strategies to Trim and Reduce (STAR) Project
Advocates for improved blood pressure control and weight reduction in congregations
Related Stories
We Are Called to Serve, Despite Weakness or Troubles
Everyone’s a STAR
Helping the Helpers
Working Together to Pay It Forward
Congregational Wellness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Increasing Chances for Survival
Church Members STAR In Initiative For Better Health
BCM Creates Local Church Nurse Movement: Health Outcomes Improve
In collaboration with the pastor and leaders of their congregations, the church nurse and lay health ministers guide the ongoing transformation of the faith community into a source of health and healing. Congregational Wellness assists in sustaining these ministries by providing continuing education, congregational assessments, retreats, quarterly wellness ministry meetings, networking, technical assistance and a host of other program services.
Teaching Aids
In our continuing effort to provide technical assistance to wellness ministry leaders, resources are available. These resources include wellness-related books and other teaching aids. To schedule a time to look at these resources, contact Gretchen Dobbins at 504-593-2363.
Resource Manuals
There are no resource manuals to download at this time.
Technical Assistance
Technical Assistance is offered to qualified churches after training has been completed.
Technical Assistance includes, but is not limited to:
- Establishing and promoting the mission and purpose of the wellness ministry.
- Developing and implementing policy and procedure guidelines for the wellness ministry.
- Developing and engineering a yearly plan.
- Documenting liability and legal issues.
- Implementing strategies to effectively administer health assessment.
- Providing data analysis of health assessments.
- Developing the volunteer health team.
Quarterly Wellness Ministry Meeting (QWMM)
There are four quarterly meetings per year that are free for active Wellness Ministry Leaders. These meetings are designed to assist Wellness Ministry Leaders, share informational resources, celebrate church network achievements, and inform the network on Congregational Wellness programs and fellowship. Additionally, continuing education units may be offered.
- March – Wellness Ministry Leader Workshop
- June – Resource Fair or Program Specific Topic
- September – Nurse Continuing Education
- December – Christmas Celebration and Awards Recognition