To promote the understanding, practice and study of Christian ministries of healing in the parishes and communities of the Diocese of Rochester

The Council will work towards its aim by:

• Researching issues relevant to Christian ministries of healing such as those set out in the report A Time to Heal
• Developing guidelines and other resources to commend best practice
• Designing and delivering small and larger scale conferences
• Arranging for small study groups and seminars on particular issues
• Actively encouraging churches to take initiatives in the healing ministry and offering, advice, resources and help if needed
• Liaising with Diocesan and other groups concerned with the ministry of healing
• Promoting interdisciplinary engagement with healing ministries
• Recommending strategies for integration of theology, spirituality and practice in relation to healing ministries

The Diocesan Council for Health and Healing will be located in the Department of Ministry and Training and the chair of the Council will arrange for an annual report of its work to be presented for discussion at the Advisory Council for Ministry and Training.

The Council will make every effort to involve people in its work from the medical, nursing and allied professions, as well as those who have a church-based engagement with the healing ministry.

The Council will have a budget agreed with the Department of Ministry and Training to cover the costs of meetings and the necessary expenses of members.

Events organised by the Council would normally need to be self-funding or dependent on low levels of subsidy from the Ministry and Training department.

The Council aims to meet at least four times a year.

When necessary, subgroups will be set up at council meetings and will report back at subsequent meetings.

Meetings may have two parts. The first could be a study led by or presented by one of the members of the group or a visiting speaker concerning a particular aspect of Christian engagement with the healing ministry. The second would generally be consultation and planning for particular pieces of work to be taken forward by the Council.

At every meeting the Council will need to be attentive to issues of Christian theology and spirituality. This includes engaging together in prayer and seeking the grace and guidance of God.

The Council will seek to hold a short residential ‘working retreat’ once every three years in order to take its work a significant step forward. When this happens the agreement of the Director of Ministry and Training would be needed to ensure that the costs could be under-written.

The Council should aim to do a small number of things well rather than spread itself too thinly.

In terms of day conferences etc., one or two such events per year should be offered and care taken to ensure co-ordination with other diocesan sponsored training and educational activities.

The Council may engage with the existing training and development structures for ordained and lay ministers in the diocese.

The Council will encourage Diocesan Groups and parishes to keep it informed of their activities when these relate to the healing ministry. It will also ensure that its own activities are communicated to the Director of Training and the Diocesan Renewal Group.

It will also promote the healing ministry within the diocese through its Website.