This time of year many people get sick with the flu. You should guard yourself against getting sick so you can continue to minister to others

The Universal Life Church (ULC) welcomes people from all kinds of spiritual traditions. There is no requirement to subscribe to any particular dogma or creed before being ordained as a minister in the church. Because of this, the ULC only proclaims tenets that are necessary for the basic well being of all.

One such tenet is the central importance of taking care of one’s health. As people living in this physical world, all our spiritual aspirations ultimately rest on the foundation of our bodies. When our physical health is threatened, so is our capacity to serve others.

We encourage our ministers to devote time and attention to their own physical health. This may require a commitment to both long-term lifestyle changes and immediate self-care. We suggest that all people who feel called to minister to others should first learn to minister to themselves. In order to do so, you may need to make eating healthier, exercising regularly and engaging in stress-relieving activities a higher priority in your lives.

The basics of a healthy lifestyle are well known. Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables promotes wellness, equips the body with the nutrition it needs and helps prevent many types of diseases. Regular exercise keeps the body fit and energized. Relieving stress is also crucial to maintaining physical health; more and more research demonstrates that emotional turmoil takes a toll on the body.

The matter of physical health is especially important as flu season arrives. This is an excellent time of year for our ministers to schedule a check-up with a doctor. Doing so will allow you to get a status report on your overall health. You can also ask your physician if you should get a flu vaccination.

We are aware of the growing controversy surrounding vaccines, in particular the fear that being vaccinated may cause children to develop autism. The National Autism Association (NAA), with whom the ULC partnered for a fundraiser this year, tentatively discourages the use of vaccines for children. However, all our ministers our adults. The developmental processes in question have already occurred. The NAA does not have any concerns about a potential link between vaccination and autism in adults. Pregnant women are an exception to this rule. Because of this, we feel comfortable advocating for our ministers to consider flu vaccination.

When you undergo the process of being ordained, you are committing to being an example of someone who lives out his or her values. As ministers, we can demonstrate to others that it is possible to live a healthy lifestyle and to take care of ourselves. We can also demonstrate our commitment to the health of those we come into contact with by doing what we can to ensure that we do not contract or spread illnesses. This is especially important for ministers who regularly visit people with compromised or weaker immune systems, such as children, people living with chronic diseases and the elderly. Do what you can to promote health, in yourself and your communities.