The staff will attend a Self-Care Covenant Workshop on Feb. 1.

The workshop is the Oklahoma debut for a new denominational program about healthful living choices. Clergy who attend the upcoming Bishop’s Retreats will also get an overview of the program.

Several members of the Conference Wellness Committee recently completed the program at Mount Sequoyah, a UM conference and retreat center in Arkansas. The committee, chaired by Tony Caro, is part of the Conference Pension and Health Benefits ministry.

The workshop was developed by the General Board on Health and Welfare Ministries. Its implementation is being urged at all levels of the denomination.

Judy Johnston will teach the Feb. 1 event, assisted by Jill Cherry. They are from the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.  

According to leaders, a Self-Care Covenant Workshop provides a structured opportunity for participants to:

* Examine their choices in the areas of mental/emotional health, physical health, spiritual health, and social health.

* Understand the health challenges today that increase the importance of the role of faith communities in addressing health issues.

* Experience stress management techniques.

* Learn to deal with guilt, shame, forgiveness, time management, and how to say "No."

* Discuss knowledge and recommendations relative to nutrition, physical activity, water and sleep, and how to implement that.

* Self-access health behaviors and choices.

* Develop a personal self-care covenant with an accountability plan and connect with individual spiritual well-being.