Our Ministries

The Health Commission is to serve and help the denomination to understand health as an integral part of the faith of the church, to seek to make our denomination a healing faith community, and to promote the health concerns of members of the AME Church and surrounding communities. It advocates health care as a right and not a privilege. It also challenges and works to reform the unjust and underserved structure that is prevalent in health delivery systems. It encourages each organization in our church to include a health component in its life and work.

  

The duties of the Commission are operationalized through the Health Ministry by accomplishing, but not limited to, the following:

• Assess health needs of the congregation
• Provide health education and information 
• Serve as resources for health information
• Collaborate with community agencies and organizations for programs and projects
• Provide first aid as needed during church activities
• Implement activities as directed by the Connectional Health Commission
• Seek resources to improve the worth of our congregation and community

These duties reflect, but not inclusive of, Health Ministry activities such as Health Sunday informational displays, distribution of health materials, immunization clinics, health screenings, health extravaganzas and medical and nursing health education and consultations. 

  

Health care resources and contributors to the Health Ministry  at St. Joseph AME Church include, but limited to, the following:

In partnership with the Old North State Medical Society, the Community Health Coalition, and the Durham Academy of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy, St Joseph sponsored and hosted a COVID-19 testing site on Saturday, November 14, 2020 and Saturday, July 25, 2020. Over 300 COVID-19 tests were administered each day to the community. 

Arnett Coleman, MD