"God brought all these churches together": Issues in developing religion-health partnerships in an Appalachian community

This study explored health-related and organizational religious activities in an Appalachian community and identified cultural issues in the developme nt of religion-health partnerships. partnerships between religious groups a nd health providers are a channel for health promotion efforts to vulnerabl e populations and must be approached from the culture of the community. An ethnographic, exploratory study of health-related and organizational activi ties in nonmainline religious groups yielded the use of prayer requests, an ointing, testimonial, and denominational links as potential health resource s. Organizational decisions were by congregational consensus and rheologica l interpretation. The communal setting of worship as an informal resource t o a community of believers, especially the vulnerable, was a viable model f or religion-health partnerships in central Appalachia. Implications for nur sing practice, education, and research also are addressed.