HEALTH, HEALING AND WHOLENESS IN THE ECUMENICAL DISCUSSION

Abstract

CHRISTOPH BENN [*] ERLINDA SENTURIAS [**] Introduction Many Christians worldwide are concerned about the questions of health and healing, the involvement of the churches in the provision of health care services, and about the relationship of health and faith in Jesus Christ. Healing movements are part of the Christian witness not only in charismatic communities but also in many mainline churches. These movements are most prominent in the churches of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Nevertheless, churches in other areas of the world such as North America and Europe cannot afford to neglect the scores of people who desire concrete experiences of the gospel and seek a church that responds in an holistic way to their physical, mental and spiritual needs. This Christian concern about health raises many theological, medical and cultural questions that require clarification. A review of the rich ecumenical discussion on health and wholeness can clarify some of these questions. One of the most significant developments in this discussion was the consultation organized by the German Institute for Medical Mission in Tubingen in 1964. This consultation led to the creation of the Christian Medical Commission (CMC) of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva. Following this consultation, several studies on the relationship between health, faith and the Christian understanding of healing have been conducted. The CMC also generated a number of conferences and study groups all over the world. The present article provides a review of the ecumenical discussion on health, healing and wholeness and gives an overview of the most relevant conferences and publications of the last decades. Historical developments in the ecumenical discussion Historical developments prior to 1964 Healing was a central feature of Jesus' ministry. The apostles and the early church continued the ministry of healing but the practice of healing and its theological interpretation within the churches changed after a few centuries. The church and its monasteries concentrated more on charity, and care for pilgrims and the sick rather than on healing in a medical sense. The most fundamental change occurred with the ascent of science, technology and medicine in the 19th century. New discoveries and developments equipped medicine with effective means to cure diseases, and the church with new possibilities for rediscovering its healing ministry. As the knowledge about effective healing methods increased, Christians felt a moral duty to make available these opportunities to all people in need. In the same way, many of the newly founded missionary societies felt that there was a duty to provide healing for the sick in the countries where they were operating. Before the middle of the 20th century, the societies had founded hospitals, dispensaries and leprosariums all over the world. These establishments supplied scientifically based medicine and contributed significantly to the health care systems of many countries. At present, church-related institutions provide up to one half of the hospital beds in some African countries. Several motivations led to the Christian engagement in health care. [1] First, the strategy of the missionary societies encouraged the founding of hospitals. These societies perceived that health care institutions could reach many people for the gospel. The effectiveness of the healing methods supported the credibility of the proclamation of the word. Second, Christian charity contributed to the construction of hospitals. Healing of the sick was seen as a sign of charity and of personal commitment to help the people most in need. Third, the health of the missionaries themselves prompted the creation of hospitals. Especially at the beginning of the history of medical missions, an important motivation to create health care institutions was the need to protect the health of the missionaries who suffered from many diseases unknown in their countries of origin. …