bath & wells: mission

The Diocesan Healing Advisory Group

Christian healing is, first and foremost about Christ. It is the whole work of Christ, in a person's body, mind and spirit, designed to bring that person to that wholeness which is God's will for us all.

Welcome | Philosophy | Contacts | Books

Welcome to this section of the website which is dedicated to the Ministry of Healing and wholeness of Christ in and through His Church.

As a Healing Group we seek to offer support to individuals and parishes in various ways recognising we always work in association with the parish priest and, where there is a Parish Healing contact, their support and co-operation.

Through the gifts and ministries of a wide range of experienced practitioners we can currently offer the following resources:

Prayer Ministry:

Training and guidance in Prayer ministry, listening skills, the use of the sacraments in seeking healing and wellbeing in and through times of illness and bereavement.

Reconciliation:

Training and advice in issues of forgiveness and reconciliation, for individuals, groups and communities.

Relationships with the NHS and other agencies:

A commitment to working, and developing relations, with Health Care professionals at a local and institutional level. In the past this has involved work with issues such as drugs awareness, dealing with the seriously ill and dying, and conducting difficult funerals.

Paranormal:

Support and experience in issues to do with the Deliverance Ministry and Ministry of the Paranormal.

Complementary Medicine:

Comment and experience in understanding the field of complementary medicine and therapies.

Healing of past memories, hurts and places:

Support and experience in such issues as Family Tree Ministry and in the healing of places.

Theological reflection:

A willingness to explore the scriptural and practical expressions of this ministry, with both its joys and its mysteries. We therefore have people available and willing to preach, teach, lead discussion groups, or enter into prayerful dialogue.

In addition, as a group we offer a number of events and seminars on a bi-annual basis:

• The Carey Lecture - which this year was given by Ann Morisy on the subject of wellbeing in community.
• Regional Archdeaconry Training Days - which seek to provide at a local level a number of practical workshops to support local churches and individuals in many aspects of the Healing Ministry, as detailed above.
  In 2004 these training days were very well supported and found to be helpful and informative.

Finally, we are more than willing to support and enable parishes to explore any aspect of the Healing Ministry, or to work with them as part of an ongoing journey into how the Healing Ministry of Christ can be relevant within their own unique context.

Philosophy

When people in need see or hear the word 'healing' we don't often hope or yearn for a whole range of outcomes or possibilities; we simply want the person for whom we are concerned, or for ourselves to 'get better', however we understand that to be.

This is God's desire too, for God's primary purpose for us and for His world is to bring us into that state of wellbeing we call 'salvation'; a wholeness, an 'at ease-ness with God, ourselves and others' whereby we are able to be fully human in body, mind and spirit.

The healing ministry of Christ is then always and ever a journey into and towards this wider understanding of healing and salvation, which is only ever partial in and through this life.

This ministry, as exercised by the Church, does not attempt to avoid or decry the very real difficult questions of apparent 'failure', of continued physical suffering and pain - even of death - but seeks to follow a God who was, is, and always will be willing to embrace these and seek to bring about through them their transformation by the willingness of His Son to embrace the Cross.

How to make contact

You may well find your Parish Church has a Healing Contact who seeks to support and enable the Healing Ministry locally. Ask a member of your clergy team if in any doubt.

Alternatively, if no other suitable contact can be made, please contact:

Bishop's Healing Advisor
The Reverend Matthew Thomson
The Vicarage, Station Road, Congresbury, North Somerset BS49 5DX
Tel: 01934 833126
Email: healing.bathwells@hotmail.co.uk

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Helpful recommended books and publications

A Time to Heal

A report for the House of Bishops
Church House Publishing.
Good general dictionary and theological background.
ISBN: 0715138375

The Christian Healing Ministry

Morris Maddocks
SPCK
A little dated now but still a classic in sound teaching.
ISBN: 0281044627

Healing

Francis MacNutt
Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN 03406614402

A heart to listen

Michael Mitton
BRF
As a member and on behalf of Acorn Christian Foundation, a major resource in the Christian Healing Ministry field.
ISBN: 1841012696

The wounded Healer

Henri Nouwen
DLT
ISBN: 0232521026

Healed, Restored, Forgiven: Liturgies, prayers and readings for the Healing Ministry

John Gunstone
Canterbury press
ISBN: 1853115878

Being there: Pastoral Care in the time of Illness

Peter Speck
SPCK
Forms part of the New Library of Pastoral care - very good. Written from point of view of practitioners on the ground, such as Hospital Chaplains.
ISBN: 0281043256

Healing wounded history

Russ Parker
DLT
As a member and on behalf of Acorn Christian Foundation
ISBN: 0232522510

Deliverance

Michael Perry
(further details forthcoming)

Healing the Family Tree

Kenneth McAll
Sheldon Press
ISBN: 0859695328

This list is by no means exhaustive, nor all that we feel we would want to recommend, but is intended as a start. Other books will be added from time to time.