Congregational life
By Candice Hill Buchbinder Pastors embrace call to live healthier lives When asked what she did for fun outside of
church, Karol Hendricks-McCracken, pastor of New Salem Lutheran Church, Turtle River, Minn., couldn’t answer. “Well, teach confirmation,” was her response
to the question from a health coach provided by Portico Benefit Services. According to the coach, teaching confirmation wasn’t an acceptable answer. Portico provides benefits for ELCA rostered
and lay employees. Every year Portico invites plan members to complete a health assessment, which provides financial incentives for plan members who participate in healthy lifestyle activities. The 2014 Portico health self-assessment (the
most recent results available) found that ELCA clergy and rostered laypeople are at risk for high blood pressure (56 percent), poor emotional health (59 percent), poor nutrition (71 percent) and being overweight (72 percent). It also found that 58 percent aren’t getting enough exercise. After taking the assessment in 2014, Hendricks-
McCracken realized she and her husband needed to pay closer attention to their health. “We became very serious about it, and over about a year’s time we both lost 30 pounds,” she said. So when the health coach asked about taking
time for herself, Hendricks-McCracken realized that, although she was paying attention to her eating habits and exercise, she had ignored an important aspect of her health. She started making time to knit, which helped reduce stress. “Keeping my stress level down means taking
time for myself,” she said. “I have time to center myself. Before I was just running on adrenaline.” To address these health concerns, Portico launched the ELCA wellness reformation to invite ELCA rostered and lay employees to pursue healthier lifestyles in 2016. But long, stressful days aren’t the only culprit
affecting pastors’ health. Church events often feature an abundance of food. Erika Uthe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Ely, Iowa, suffers from an autoimmune disorder so
34 APRIL 2016
Patricia Decker, a pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, works out in a Zumba class that occurs weekly at the church. The class helps her and members stay on top of their fitness goals.
staying healthy is a must. “I know that on Sunday mornings there will be sweets. I know that at annual meetings there will be a lot of casseroles filled with potatoes and cheese, so I choose to bring something green, like Brussels sprouts or kale salad, to introduce something new to the table,” she said. In addition to bringing new items to the table,
Uthe has learned how to remove things from her plate. The mother of two realized after the birth of her first child that she couldn’t do everything. By relying more on her congregation, Uthe discovered that she could achieve more balance in her life. “I really think of it as taking something off my
plate for the sake of the greater mission. By making room for other people to use their strengths, we’re all healthier and better,” Uthe said.
Leading by example “There is a high level of stress that our leaders are carrying,” said Tammy Devine, ELCA wellness manager. “There’s also the sense that their schedules don’t allow them the opportunity for the amount of lifestyle changes or good choices they would like.”
Photo: Footprints and Glitter Photography
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52