About Us

Introduction
At its May 2007, meeting the NCC Governing Board received a report from an initial meeting of a Health Care Task Force Exploratory Meeting which it had authorized in February 2007. That report described the meeting and recommended that the Task Force development be continued and that a further report be made to the Governing Board at its September 2007, meeting. The Governing Board approved that recommendation and stipulated that the September report should be comprised of recommendations including; program focus, membership, staffing, financial support and institutional placement. This document approved on August 13, by the Health Care Task Force Exploratory Committee is offered as that report and contains its recommendations.

Recommendations
Name: It is recommended that the group be known as, “The NCC Health Task Force”.

Foci: This task force is established to provide a venue through which the member communions work together in a variety of ways to support congregations and others in their health care ministries, equip the member communions to: participate fully in the current debates on health care policy at state and federal levels, equip congregations to be responsive to health emergencies such as natural disasters, flu epidemics and terrorist attacks, provide health education to their membership and others and provide the NCC with a multifaceted approach to questions of mental, physical and spiritual health.

Membership: Membership on the Task Force is open to representatives of member communions and councils of churches and may be named by the respective communion from staff or constituency related to their respective health offices, children’s office, women’s organization, public policy office or other offices as each may find best suits the need of the respective communion. In addition non-NCC communions may be invited to be represented on the Task Force by a majority vote of the Task Force. Also, at the discretion of the Task Force, members from health related networks (e.g. Parish Nurses associations, etc.) may be invited to be members. Health Care advocacy organizations may be invited to meet with the Task Force at its discretion. The Chair of the Task Force will initially be named by the NCC Governing Board. Provision for governance will be developed by the Task Force as it formulates Standing Rules.

Staffing: At the present time staff support for the work of the Task Force is provided by the Associate General Secretary for Education and Leadership Ministries Commission and the Deputy General Secretary for Research and Planning in consultation with the Associate General Secretary for Justice and Advocacy. It is anticipated that as the program and project work develops within the Task Force, funds will be available for project staff to be engaged for the duration of the respective projects. Moreover, as the Task Force further develops, it may well call upon other NCC for staffing, for example in the area of disabilities (for which the NCC retains the services of a consultant) or with regard to environmental health hazards which would require co-ordination through the Director of Eco-Justice.

Schedule and Member Support: Ordinarily the Task Force would meet face to face once per year. During this start up phase a second meeting within the first year is possible. Other meetings take place via conference call or in conjunction with funded projects. Ordinarily members of the Task Force will provide their own support to attend meetings. Some means of enabling participation from member communions unable to support their representative’s participation will be explored.

Budget and Support: At the outset of its work the Task Force has $15,000 available to it from a small planning grant and a portion of the Congregational Health Ministries Survey dissemination budget. The Task Force likewise has access to a $25,000 fund provided by the Centers for Disease Control which it will utilize in conjunction with the Faith and Health Project of Emory University in the development of emergency health preparedness materials for congregations. Finally, the Task Force is in consultation with other potential partners to identify funding for the development of an ecumenical health care network and for work in policy advocacy activities. It is well and clearly understood that the expenses of this Task Force may not, at any time, exceed the resources available. It is also agreed that the submission of budget changes will precede the receipt and expenditure of any project funding for the Task Force.

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