Ecumenical Center For Religion And Health
We are an ecumenical force for hope, dedicated to alleviating suffering and facilitating spiritual, physical and emotional healing and growth for our community and God's World through services of counseling, education and consultation.
Description:
The Ecumenical Center is a San Antonio-based nonprofit organization that is dedicated to alleviating suffering and facilitating spiritual, physical and emotional healing and growth. Founded in 1967, the Center offers counseling within a faith context, education, consulting and a variety of special outreach programs.
Our counselors and educators are people of personal faith with an openness and understanding of other faith expressions, trained to incorporate, when requested by clients, the understandings and traditions of their faith in the healing process.
History:
In the late 1960's, as the San Antonio Medical Center Area was undergoing development, Retired Bishop Everett Jones of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas believed deeply that there should be a visible, physical presence in the midst of the growing medical complex that would embody and promote the vital integration of physical, emotional and spiritual well-being in health and wholeness.
Bishop Jones, with his dear friend, Rabbi David Jacobson of Temple Beth-El, brought together Bishop Eugene Slater of the Southwest Texas and Rio Grande Conferences of the United Methodist Church, the Medical School Dean Carter Pannill, other leaders of the UT Health Science Center, and other religious and civic leaders of San Antonio, to launch the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health.
Committed to providing a non-sectarian witness, in the midst of the emerging South Texas Medical Center, to the role and importance of religious and spiritual values in Health Care and Health Care Education, the Ecumenical Center was chartered in 1967. In 1968, under the leadership of the first executive director, Rev. Frank M. Bockus, Ph.D., the Center began offering counseling and education services to health care, religious and community groups, with continued active guidance from the founders.
University Hospital, then Bexar County Hospital, provided three offices in their Education area for the Center's first location until the first building was constructed under the leadership of second Director Rev. Donald L. Anderson, Ph.D. During Dr. Anderson's long tenure from 1972 to 1997 the Center grew to be a significant area institution. The Center moved from its first building to an expanded facility that enabled its continued growth as a place of service and hospitality. The diverse programs of the Center were developed. A board and volunteer core of strong community leaders came into being.
The Center has had three executive directors over its thirty-five year history: Rev. Frank Bockus, Ph.D. from 1968-1971, Rev. Donald L. Anderson, Ph.D., from 1972 -1997, and Rev. Paul Parks, D.Min, from 1998 to present.
Today the Center builds upon its historic foundation with the expansion of its program of counseling and education services to San Antonio and South Texas. Led by an able team of professionals headed by Dr. Paul Parks, D.Min., and an outstanding Board of Directors, the Center continues to enjoy strong support from individuals, congregations, organizations and foundations.
Contact person: Bryan Chase, Director Of Development And Marketing, (210) 616-0885 ,, (email)
Office fax number: (210) 616-0845
Address:
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8310 Ewing HalsellSan Antonio, TX 78229(See a map) |
Web Site: http://ecrh.org
Directions:
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South Texas Medical Center office at 8310 Ewing Halsell Drive.
From 410: Exit Babcock Rd and go North. Stay on Babcock until you reach Wurzbach. Turn right on Wurzbach. Wurzbach will intersect with Ewing Halsell Drive. Turn Left onto Ewing Halsell.. . . (more)
Nearest Bus Stop: corner of Ewing Halsell/Wurzbach, 0 minute walk |
| Last updated on July 28, 2009 |
