Mammogram Screening (Mobile Mammography Van)
Last chance to sign up for a mammogram provided by Providence Health Care during Annual Conference!
For average-risk individuals, major health organizations recommend beginning regular breast cancer screenings at age 40. Screenings are generally recommended every 1–2 years through age 74, after which you should discuss the benefits and timing with your doctor.
If you are due for this important preventative care, we encourage you to take the 20 minutes pause from our meetings to care for your sacred body. This is an easy and accessible opportunity to prioritize your health while we gather together.
Please note: we need at least 18 participants in order to keep the mobile mammography appointment scheduled during Annual Conference. If we do not reach the minimum number of signups, we will work to reschedule this opportunity for another time with greater participation.
The Alaska Conference is partnering with DexaFit to offer an important opportunity for clergy and conference leaders to invest in their long-term health and well-being during the 2026–2027 appointive year. Please sign up!
Through this partnership, 10 leaders will receive a series of three DEXA scans at no cost (one during Annual Conference, one during the Fall Learning Event, and one during the Spring Learning Event). These scans provide a meaningful way to track health over time and make informed decisions that support vitality, strength, and longevity in ministry.
A DEXA scan is a quick, non-invasive assessment that provides detailed information about:
- Bone density
- Lean muscle mass
- Body fat composition
- Visceral fat patterns
- Overall body composition in relation to height and age
Unlike a traditional scale, a DEXA scan helps us understand what is happening inside the body. A person can appear thin and still be at significant risk for health concerns related to bone loss, muscle decline, or metabolic health. The scan offers a fuller picture of wellness and can help identify concerns long before symptoms appear.
This is particularly important for women. In the United States, approximately 80% of people diagnosed with osteoporosis are women, and nearly half of all women over the age of 50 will experience a bone fracture in their lifetime. One of the primary reasons is the decline of estrogen during menopause, which accelerates bone loss. Early awareness and intervention can make an enormous difference in preserving mobility, strength, and independence.
Physician and longevity researcher Peter Attia considers DEXA scans one of the core tools for extending healthspan. This is not simply lifespan, and includes the ability to remain strong, active, and engaged throughout life and ministry. He highlights three measurements in particular:
- Lean Muscle Mass
DEXA scans measure muscle mass relative to height through metrics such as Lean Mass Index (LMI) and Appendicular Lean Mass Index (ALMI). Lower muscle mass is strongly associated with increased risk of injury, frailty, and all-cause mortality as we age. - Visceral Fat and Metabolic Health
DEXA scans help identify patterns of fat distribution, including the Android/Gynoid fat ratio, which can reveal elevated risks related to inflammation and metabolic disease. - Bone Mineral Density (BMD)
DEXA is considered the gold standard for assessing bone health and fracture risk. Strong bones are foundational to maintaining independence, mobility, and resilience throughout the aging process.
As people entrusted with ministry, service, and care for others, we are also called to care for our own sacred bodies. This opportunity is an invitation to practice stewardship of health with wisdom, compassion, and intentionality.
We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and sign up for one of the available DEXA scan series during the 2026–2027 conference year.
The 2027 healthcare budget of the Alaska Conference recommended by the Leadership Team, in its role as the Conference Board of Pensions, is increasing by $49,000, bringing the total budgeted support to $105,000 in order to help offset rising healthcare costs for local churches.
To assist local churches with these increased costs, the Leadership Team, through the Pension Fund, will continue offering a $1,000 credit toward a church’s 2027 health charge for each eligible participant who completes all three well-being incentives during 2026.
In 2025, only 60% of eligible participants completed all three incentives. We need your cooperation to improve participation in 2026 and help reduce costs for your local church.
If you are appointed full-time and receive benefits through Wespath Benefits and Investments, you can help your church save $1,000 simply by participating in the wellness programs.
We recognize that completing the requirements in Alaska can be challenging, especially since there are only three Quest Diagnostics locations in the state — in Fairbanks, Wasilla, and Anchorage. If traveling to a Quest location is impossible, your local doctor can complete the necessary physician paperwork if you have the tests completed in a lab near you.
If you have not yet completed your blood work this year, Annual Conference is an excellent opportunity to do so — especially for those traveling from outside Anchorage. We will help connect you with Quest services while you are in the Anchorage area. The lab is only a mile from our Annual Conference at 4120 Laurel St STE 103, Anchorage.
To schedule your screening, search online for the “Quest Blueprint for Wellness Screening” or call 1-855-623-9355. The employer group is Wespath2026.
Rev. Lisa Smith Fiegel will offer yoga for all levels in the Sanctuary on Thursday, June 11, at 10:00 a.m., following our opening devotional. This is an opportunity for us to begin our time together by honoring our sacred bodies and taking time to care for them as we enter into our holy conferencing session. If you live in the Anchorage area and have a spare mat to share, please bring it. Whether you are an experienced practitioner or completely new to yoga, all are welcome.
Workshop: Clinical Pastoral Education & Mental Health Ministry
Rev. Mary Ann Oman Dumalang-Vallente will offer a workshop on Clinical Pastoral Education and mental health ministry as part of the wellness offerings during Annual Conference on Thursday, July 11th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Tongan Room at Anchor Park.
In this session, Rev. Mary Ann Oman Dumalang-Vallente will draw from her pastoral experience in Mindanao, Philippines, to explore the life-giving practices of Clinical Pastoral Education and its vital role in responding to mental health needs within congregations and communities. Grounded in the conference theme, “Loving Boldly” (Matthew 22:37–39), she will reflect on how compassionate presence, attentive listening, and spiritually integrated care can equip leaders to respond faithfully in contexts where mental health challenges are increasingly present.
At a time when mental health concerns are significant in Alaska, this workshop offers both practical tools and theological depth for clergy and lay leaders seeking to expand their capacity for pastoral care and embodied love.
Rev. Nico Reijns, Benefits and Pensions Representative for the Alaska Conference of The United Methodist Church, will lead an informative two-part session focused on helping clergy better understand and access the benefits available through Wespath.
The first phase of the session will provide an overview of the Compass Retirement Plan for all clergy appointed at least half-time. Participants will learn about retirement contributions, investment and savings opportunities, and tools available for long-term financial wellness and retirement planning. The session is designed to help clergy better understand how the Compass plan supports both present financial health and future retirement security.
The second phase will focus specifically on participants enrolled in HealthFlex. This portion will explore the health and wellness resources available through Wespath, including healthcare coverage, wellbeing incentives, mental and emotional health supports, and other benefits connected to HealthFlex participation.
Participants are highly encouraged to check before the workshop that they can log into Benefits Access and bring a laptop or tablet to the workshop. New users can register at https://my.benefitsaccess.org/login. Both phases of the session will include hands-on opportunities for becoming more familiar with navigating Benefits Access, locating important resources, updating information, and utilizing the many planning and wellness tools available to them through Wespath.
Rev. Nico is also happy to meet 1-1 to offer additional support. Please contact him directly to set this up.
Alaska United Methodist Conference 