The vision of the Parish Health Ministry is to share the love of Christ through promoting safety, health, and wellness in the lives of the Church Street United Methodist Church family.

The material contained on this webpage is for informational purposes and for use as a guide to assist you. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional to address concerns specific to your situation.

For more information about Parish Health Ministry, please contact Jo Terry.

ASSEMBLE YOUR TOOLKIT:

Members of the Parish Health Ministry Team have assembled items you should have as part of your tool kit for navigating changes in health and stages of life. We encourage you to review the information linked below and complete the documents sooner rather than later. What an amazing gift this will be for your family!

1. GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR HEALTHCARE VISIT
2. MEDICATION LIST
3. TAKING EXPIRED MEDICATIONS
4. NAVIGATING THROUGH HOSPITAL SYSTEMS (c/o of Franklin & Kyle Elder Law)
5. NAVIGATING TRANSITIONS OF CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONE
6. ELDER & SPECIAL NEEDS LAW: CONSIDERATIONS FOR CAREGIVERS (c/o of Franklin & Kyle Elder Law)
7. INFORMATION SOMEONE NEEDS TO KNOW IN AN EMERGENCY
8. TIMELINE FOR WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE UPON DEATH
9. FINAL WISHES

MISSION, GOAL, & OBJECTIVES:

The mission of this ministry is to provide supportive health related and spiritual care to the CSUMC family by the Parish Health Team (PHT). The Parish Health Team (PHT) is a group of trained volunteers from a variety of healthcare backgrounds and experiences (e.g., nurses, dietitians, social workers and other mental health professionals, pharmacists, and others).

The goal of the Parish Health ministry is to enable CSUMC to respond more fully to the health needs of the CSUMC family through organized programs and visitation designed to extend a positive, Christ-centered response to those who are dealing with their own health issues or those of a loved one.

PHT’s objectives are:

1. Promote the ability of the CSUMC family to care for one another.
2. Provide advocacy, education, and support while promoting safety and well-informed decisions for health care needs.
3. Assist individuals in navigating complex medical care systems.
4. Empower individuals to be good stewards of their health. Encourage and support spiritual growth and well being, to include spiritual resources for health and healing.

Parish Health Ministry Upcoming Events

Church Street UMC Parish Health Ministry Team and Stephen Ministry present “Options for Paying for Care: Navigating Long Term Insurance, VA Benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, and White Card” on Sunday, October 19.

The event begins with guest speaker Glen Kyle, CELA (certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation). Glen is the owner of the Knoxville law office of Franklin & Kyle Elder Law, LLC, winner of the Knox Stars Award for the Best Law Firm in Knoxville for the last five years. He focuses his practice in the specialized field of elder care law, which includes Life Care Planning, Medicaid planning and advocacy, estate planning, special needs trusts, as well as probate and trust administration. He will be speaking on “Means-Tested Public Benefits: TennCare CHOICES and VA Aid and Attendance.”

A panel of healthcare programs and insurance experts will follow the speaker. The panel includes:

• Gabe Blake is moderating.
• Nancy Hertwig of New York Life will cover Long Term Care Insurance.
• Brooke Thurman from Core Insurance Advisors will cover Medicare.
• Bryce Terry from Maxim Healthcare will cover Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) “White Card”.
• Glen Kyle will cover CHOICES and Aid and Attendance

When: Sunday, October 19, 2025, 12:30 – 3:30 PM

Where: Parish Hall

Cost: $15 per person registration. Your registration includes lunch of your choice.

Register here! If you need help with your registration, please call the church office at 865-524-3048.

Parish Health Ministry Team Events

Watch the Educational Lectures from the September 2022 Living Forward: A Toolkit for Caregivers Event:

On October 22, 2023, the Parish Health Ministry Team welcomed guests Cheryl Blanchard and Dr. Cynthia Pearmen. They covered topics such as coping with chronic illness, our quality of life as we age, palliative care, mental health and chronic illness, and supporting caregivers of those with chronic illness.

You may watch the presentation using the YouTube video below.

The PowerPoints may be viewed below. 

Cheryl Blanchard’s Powerpoint

Dr. Cynthia Pearman’s PowerPoint

Additional Resources PowerPoint