17 Jan 2025, 08:09Sharon Platt-McDonald
Health Ministries Workshop Clarifies and Affirms the Health Message
Sharon Platt-McDonald, British Union Conference (BUC) Director for Health, Women’s Ministries, and Adventist Community Services, was invited to share Shalom’s new global health focus, led by General Conference (GC) Health Ministries Director Dr Zeno Charles-Marcel.
On Sunday, 12 January, at the South England Conference (SEC) Evangelism Expo held at Newbold College, the Health Ministries Department ran 2 workshops for newly elected leaders. Edith Samambwa, SEC Health Ministries Director, in her segment of the training, focused on reclaiming the power and joy of the Health Message. She led the attendees through an overview of the vision for Health Ministries in their territory, the support they could expect to receive, and an incentive gift for their ministry.
Sharon Platt-McDonald, British Union Conference (BUC) Director for Health, Women’s Ministries, and Adventist Community Services, was invited to share Shalom’s new global health focus, led by General Conference (GC) Health Ministries Director Dr Zeno Charles-Marcel.
Platt-McDonald’s presentation captioned: ‘Shalom – Wellbeing in Balance’ included:
1) The holistic aspect of Shalom
2) Reaffirming health guidelines
3) Avoiding the dangers of health extremes
4) Addressing areas of conflict
5) Evidence-based herbal remedies
Why Shalom?
A statement from Dr Zeno Charles-Marcel states:
“As we embark on a new season of ministry and witness, it is with great joy and renewed purpose that we re-envision Health Ministries within the global Church. Rooted in the biblical concept of Shalom, we stand at the threshold of hope and healing; Health Ministries emerges with a transformative vision rooted in the profound biblical concept of Shalom – a holistic understanding of wellness that transcends mere physical health and embraces complete wholeness, peace, and restoration.” Embracing Biblical Shalom - Adventist Health Ministries
The ‘Shalom’ approach to Health Ministries is a grace-filled and compassionate application of our Health Message, reflecting the love and gentleness of Christ and drawing souls to Him.
The Shalom approach upholds the following:
Inspired writings
We continue to embrace Ellen Gould White’s inspired counsel on health by promoting her publications on wellbeing. We seek to present her advice accurately, contextually, and with balance.
Our General Conference (GC) Health Ministries department states:
“We are blessed as a church to have had inspired health instruction from the Scriptures and from the pen of Ellen White – sound principles that have been confirmed again and again by health research and science… Our hope and salvation are in Christ. His will is that we enjoy shalom – life to the full – even in our brokenness. We’ve been given the holistic health message and even the evidence that it’s effective. By His grace, let’s live it!” Adventist Health Studies | Adventist World
Health guidelines
The General Conference (GC) voted in 2007 at the Autumn Council to reaffirm the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s health guidelines. This included upholding the list of unauthorised alternative/complementary health practices, providing guidance against tea and coffee, and serving and preparing flesh foods on church premises, Adventist institutions, and events. A letter to this effect was sent out to all BUC pastors and Health Ministries leaders in January 2008, which is still valid.
Dietary guidance
At Creation, God instituted the original plant-based diet for humanity, which was His prescription for optimal health. Scientific evidence continues to demonstrate the benefits of a plant-based diet to overall health and longevity. Research on specific aspects of health, such as the Stanford Medicine-led trial of identical twins comparing vegan and omnivore diets, found the vegan diet improves overall cardiovascular health: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2023/11/twin-diet-vegan-cardiovascular.html.
We are grateful for the evidence-based research undertaken in studies such as the following, which demonstrates positive outcomes of our Adventist teaching on nutrition:
· Adventist Health Study-2 | Adventist Health Study
· Vegetarian diets in the Adventist Health Study 2: a review of initial published findings - PubMed
Whilst we acknowledge the evidence pointing to a plant-based diet as most advantageous to general wellbeing, we respect the choices of individuals who do not choose to be vegans.
Herbal remedies
When offering health advice, we encourage individuals to have up-to-date knowledge in their specialist areas. For example, if individuals request information on the use of herbal remedies, referring them to evidence-based publications enables them to make informed choices about the efficacy, cautions, contraindications, and therapeutic effects of specific herbs.
For example, one publication that provides information on these aspects is a book entitled Phytopharmacy – an Evidence-Based Guide to Herbal Medicinal Products by Sarah E Edwards, Ines da Costa Rocha, Elizabeth M Williamson, and Michael Heinrich.
Therapeutic diagnostics and interventions
We encourage members to seek medical help for elective or emergency surgery medication and other medical interventions to treat serious or life-threatening conditions.
Individuals should not feel pressured or coerced to make uncomfortable decisions regarding interventions such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery. The uptake of therapeutic diagnostics lies solely within everyone’s remit to choose for themselves without feeling judged.
We encourage every individual to make prayerful decisions after consulting with health professionals and care providers about which course of action they should take regarding treatment or interventions for themselves or their loved ones.
Quackery
· Inaccurately representing our Health Message, we aim to safeguard against the pitfalls of extremism and misinformation by upholding the teaching of a holistic model of evidence-based healthful living.
· Our BUC Health Ministries department aims to safeguard its members against unproven health theories, unregulated health interventions, and unqualified individuals offering treatments and promoting health practices void of evidence-based research.
· We encourage all practitioners to be qualified in their chosen field of work and to be members of a professional regulatory body whose code of conduct they adhere to.
In conclusion:
Charles-Marcel states:
“Health Ministries will be a bridge – connecting people to Jesus through practical, loving care that addresses their deepest needs. We are not merely providing health information but introducing people to a loving Saviour who offers something better: a restoration that brings joy, purpose, and ultimate healing in harmony with Him. May God’s Shalom – a complete, profound, life-giving message of health – guide our steps and illuminate our path.”*1
Sharon Platt-McDonald, British Union Conference (BUC) Director for Health, Women’s Ministries, and Adventist Community Services, was invited to share Shalom’s new global health focus, led by General Conference (GC) Health Ministries Director Dr Zeno Charles-Marcel.
On Sunday, 12 January, at the South England Conference (SEC) Evangelism Expo held at Newbold College, the Health Ministries Department ran 2 workshops for newly elected leaders. Edith Samambwa, SEC Health Ministries Director, in her segment of the training, focused on reclaiming the power and joy of the Health Message. She led the attendees through an overview of the vision for Health Ministries in their territory, the support they could expect to receive, and an incentive gift for their ministry.
Sharon Platt-McDonald, British Union Conference (BUC) Director for Health, Women’s Ministries, and Adventist Community Services, was invited to share Shalom’s new global health focus, led by General Conference (GC) Health Ministries Director Dr Zeno Charles-Marcel.
Platt-McDonald’s presentation captioned: ‘Shalom – Wellbeing in Balance’ included:
1) The holistic aspect of Shalom
2) Reaffirming health guidelines
3) Avoiding the dangers of health extremes
4) Addressing areas of conflict
5) Evidence-based herbal remedies
Why Shalom?
A statement from Dr Zeno Charles-Marcel states:
“As we embark on a new season of ministry and witness, it is with great joy and renewed purpose that we re-envision Health Ministries within the global Church. Rooted in the biblical concept of Shalom, we stand at the threshold of hope and healing; Health Ministries emerges with a transformative vision rooted in the profound biblical concept of Shalom – a holistic understanding of wellness that transcends mere physical health and embraces complete wholeness, peace, and restoration.” Embracing Biblical Shalom - Adventist Health Ministries
The ‘Shalom’ approach to Health Ministries is a grace-filled and compassionate application of our Health Message, reflecting the love and gentleness of Christ and drawing souls to Him.
The Shalom approach upholds the following:
Inspired writings
We continue to embrace Ellen Gould White’s inspired counsel on health by promoting her publications on wellbeing. We seek to present her advice accurately, contextually, and with balance.
Our General Conference (GC) Health Ministries department states:
“We are blessed as a church to have had inspired health instruction from the Scriptures and from the pen of Ellen White – sound principles that have been confirmed again and again by health research and science… Our hope and salvation are in Christ. His will is that we enjoy shalom – life to the full – even in our brokenness. We’ve been given the holistic health message and even the evidence that it’s effective. By His grace, let’s live it!” Adventist Health Studies | Adventist World
Health guidelines
The General Conference (GC) voted in 2007 at the Autumn Council to reaffirm the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s health guidelines. This included upholding the list of unauthorised alternative/complementary health practices, providing guidance against tea and coffee, and serving and preparing flesh foods on church premises, Adventist institutions, and events. A letter to this effect was sent out to all BUC pastors and Health Ministries leaders in January 2008, which is still valid.
Dietary guidance
At Creation, God instituted the original plant-based diet for humanity, which was His prescription for optimal health. Scientific evidence continues to demonstrate the benefits of a plant-based diet to overall health and longevity. Research on specific aspects of health, such as the Stanford Medicine-led trial of identical twins comparing vegan and omnivore diets, found the vegan diet improves overall cardiovascular health: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2023/11/twin-diet-vegan-cardiovascular.html.
We are grateful for the evidence-based research undertaken in studies such as the following, which demonstrates positive outcomes of our Adventist teaching on nutrition:
· Adventist Health Study-2 | Adventist Health Study
· Vegetarian diets in the Adventist Health Study 2: a review of initial published findings - PubMed
Whilst we acknowledge the evidence pointing to a plant-based diet as most advantageous to general wellbeing, we respect the choices of individuals who do not choose to be vegans.
Herbal remedies
When offering health advice, we encourage individuals to have up-to-date knowledge in their specialist areas. For example, if individuals request information on the use of herbal remedies, referring them to evidence-based publications enables them to make informed choices about the efficacy, cautions, contraindications, and therapeutic effects of specific herbs.
For example, one publication that provides information on these aspects is a book entitled Phytopharmacy – an Evidence-Based Guide to Herbal Medicinal Products by Sarah E Edwards, Ines da Costa Rocha, Elizabeth M Williamson, and Michael Heinrich.
Therapeutic diagnostics and interventions
We encourage members to seek medical help for elective or emergency surgery medication and other medical interventions to treat serious or life-threatening conditions.
Individuals should not feel pressured or coerced to make uncomfortable decisions regarding interventions such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery. The uptake of therapeutic diagnostics lies solely within everyone’s remit to choose for themselves without feeling judged.
We encourage every individual to make prayerful decisions after consulting with health professionals and care providers about which course of action they should take regarding treatment or interventions for themselves or their loved ones.
Quackery
· Inaccurately representing our Health Message, we aim to safeguard against the pitfalls of extremism and misinformation by upholding the teaching of a holistic model of evidence-based healthful living.
· Our BUC Health Ministries department aims to safeguard its members against unproven health theories, unregulated health interventions, and unqualified individuals offering treatments and promoting health practices void of evidence-based research.
· We encourage all practitioners to be qualified in their chosen field of work and to be members of a professional regulatory body whose code of conduct they adhere to.
In conclusion:
Charles-Marcel states:
“Health Ministries will be a bridge – connecting people to Jesus through practical, loving care that addresses their deepest needs. We are not merely providing health information but introducing people to a loving Saviour who offers something better: a restoration that brings joy, purpose, and ultimate healing in harmony with Him. May God’s Shalom – a complete, profound, life-giving message of health – guide our steps and illuminate our path.”*1
