Field Work

The healing ministry of the church is a wide field.

You know, if you attended our class^  at St. Timothy's two years ago on the healing ministry of Jesus and the Church that our approach, within the Episcopal Tradition, differs significantly from the approach of other evangelical and protestant churches in quite a few ways. What we emphasize is the holistic nature of the healing ministry. We are sacramental in our approach, carrying on the ancient traditions established by the early church. We provide an “outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace”. Within the context of worship we anoint and offer prayers which speak of wellness for body, mind, and spirit. All that transpires after that is God’s work.

No one on our team claims a special spiritual gift of the performance of miracles. Each person does have the gift of intercession. Also, each of the members could tell you an experience of experiencing God’s healing. Yet, I believe each of team members also recognizes limitations, most frequently physical limitations. In our conditions of weakness, we are learning to accept, as the Apostle Paul wrote of his own struggle, that we are made complete by the power of God. “In our weakness, we are made strong.” We aren't the "healers", God is. We offer ourselves to the community to serve as hands of the church to offer presence on Christ's behalf.  

I delight every time I hear a member of the team offer up words of thanksgiving to God as that member rightly recognizes that God is the active force in their improved state of being. It is heartwarming when members of the parish later give an update after having come to the Lady Altar. It brings out my inner evangelical each time I hear a positive report....

"Thanks be to God"

^Three Lecture papers are accessible here