Abstract
Public health professionals are often surprised at how ubiquitously and actively congregations already engage in work relevant to the health of communities. Congregational leaders are equally as often surprised to learn how much of what they “naturally” do is relevant to the health of the public. As their activity in caring for individuals is so common, reflecting deeply held historical norms, they do not think of their work as advancing or sustaining community systems of health that they can deliberately improve.
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© 2012 Gary R. Gunderson and James R. Cochrane
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Gunderson, G.R., Cochrane, J.R. (2012). People Who Congregate: Building on Strengths. In: Religion and the Health of the Public. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137015259_6
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