Building Healthy Communities through Medical-Religious Partnerships

2. Addressing Challenges through Medical-Religious Partnerships

2 Addressing Challenges through Medical-Religious Partnerships The Body, Mind, and Soul health ministry of Westminster by-the-Sea Presbyterian Church (chapter 1) is an example of how a religious congregation can effectively address serious health challenges by working in partnership with health care organizations, but it is only one of many such programs throughout the country. We have worked with congregations of all sizes and faiths, some in large cities and others in suburban communities and small towns. Despite differences in size and religious beliefs and practices, these congregations share several features that make them ideal partners for health care organizations interested in reaching out into the community. One of the most important features is that houses of worship are the only place in our society where older adults, the age group with the greatest prevalence of chronic conditions, gather regularly in large numbers. The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, a nationwide survey of a representative sample of more than 35,000 adults, found that 54 percent of adults in the 65 or older age group reported attending religious services at least once a week, with another 11 percent attending at least once or twice a month (Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life 2008). Another important feature, especially given the increasing diversity of the U.S. population, is that regular attendance is even higher among African American and Hispanic adults (Gallup and Newport 2006). Religious congregations bring several other important aspects to partnerships with health care organizations: 24 the religious congregation and health care • There are more than 330,000 religious congregations in the United States (Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, 2008), or approximately 65 congregations for each of the country’s 5,000 community hospitals (Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2008). These congregations are generally spread throughout the various neighborhoods of a community and thus are accessible and familiar to residents. • Religious congregations are not only located in the community but also generally established and governed in large measure by residents of the community. Thus, they are likely to reflect the traditions and values of community residents and to be trusted as well. • Most religious institutions have excellent facilities and equipment for educational programs, with ample parking and seating and a good sound system. • Religious congregations generally have well-established communication networks that allow them to stay in touch with their members . Information can be disseminated by announcements during congregational gatherings, bulletins distributed at worship services, newsletters and other mailings sent to members at their home, Web sites, e-mails, and volunteer phone networks. • Perhaps most important is the human capital found within religious congregations. This term embraces the rich human resources within most religious institutions. Churches, synagogues, and mosques have established traditions of volunteerism and civic engagement. In every congregation there are members, especially among those who are older, who are willing not only to volunteer their time but also to participate in congregational training programs that enhance their ability to step into leadership roles and to be of service to others in their congregations and communities. Many are retirees with rich experience able to bring incredible energy to a task. These communication networks and volunteer activities usually reach well beyond the membership of a congregation. Robert Putnam, in his acclaimed analysis of American society Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, describes faith communities as “arguably addressing challenges 25 the single most important repository of social capital in America” (2000, 66). He cites a number of studies and surveys to support this claim. For example, “In one survey of twenty-two different types of voluntary associations , from hobby groups to professional associations to veterans groups to self-help groups to sports clubs to service clubs, it was membership in religious groups that was most closely associated with other forms of civic involvement, like voting, jury service, community projects, talking with neighbors, and giving to charity” (67). And he reports that “religiously involved people seem simply to know more people. One intriguing survey that asked people to enumerate all individuals with whom they had had a face-to-face conversation in the course of the day found that religious attendance was the most powerful predictor of the number of one’s daily personal encounters. Regular church attendees reported talking with 40 percent more people in the course of the day” (67). These features of religious congregations certainly suggest that they...