Parish Nursing & Health Ministry

God is life giving, and the Church is called to share Christ’s ministry of calling God’s people to wholeness.  We are called to preach, teach, and heal – to bring hope for healing and well being for the whole people of God as spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical and social beings.” 

The Essential Parish Nurse – D. Patterson

What is the Health Ministry?
Ministry is the giving of care or service to others.  The purpose of Health Ministry is to provide resources that help the congregation in their care and service for one another and in learning to be good stewards of the gift of life.  Health Ministry actualizes Trinity’s Mission Statement

The Health Ministry Group is made up of members who have an interest in advocating for members of the congregation.  The Health Ministry Group provides oversight and direction, along with the pastor, to the ministry.  Members do not have to be health professionals in order to participate in the group.  The viewpoint of non-health professionals is essential to ensuring that all of the congregation is represented.  Many of the Health Ministry Group “meetings” are conducted via email.
If you are interested in participating in the Health Ministry Group, please call Carol Burhenn,RN at 423-413-4474  or  email: parishnurse@lutherantrinity.com.

What is a Parish Nurse?
The Parish Nurse is a Tennessee licensed, experienced registered nurse who believes the spiritual dimension of health is closely linked to the physical, psychological and social aspects of health.  The Parish Nurse is a member of Trinity.  This is a volunteer staff position.

Carol Burhenn, RN is the Parish Nurse at Trinity. 

What is the role of a Parish Nurse in the congregation?
The role of the Parish Nurse within Trinity’s congregation is determined by the needs and desires of the congregation.  
The Parish Nurse works closely with the pastor and the Health Ministry Group.  Roles may include:

• Health educator.
• Hospital and home visitor.
• Blood pressure screener.
• Health advocate.
• Assisting with arrangements for the care of family members.
• Helping members to decide what to ask their doctor.

The Parish Nurse is available to all members and there is no charge.  If you want to talk with the Parish Nurse, please contact her at 423-413-4474 or parishnurse@lutherantrinity.com.

The Parish Nurse:

• Is not a physician or therapist. 
• Does not diagnose or treat members of the congregation. 
• Is not a home health care nurse.
• Does not give medications or provide treatments. 

What is the History of modern Parish Nursing?
In the early 1980’s, Rev. Granger Westberg, a Lutheran minister working in the Chicago area hospitals, envisioned the concept of nurses working within congregations to promote health and wellness encompassing the body, the mind and the spirit. 

Do other churches have a Parish Nurse?
There are about 10,000 Parish Nurses nationwide with interest growing in some foreign countries.  Locally Memorial Health Care Systems provide the 33 hour training program for Parish Nursing.  There are 68 Parish Nurses in the greater Chattanooga area serving 45 congregations and representing 11 denominations.   In recent years, other faith communities (Jewish, Muslim and others) have embraced the idea of having a Registered Nurse available to members.  The new name for Parish Nursing is Faith Community Nursing.   Trinity has chosen to continue using the name Parish Nursing.

Is Parish Nursing really nursing?
Definitely yes!  Parish Nursing (Faith Community Nursing) is a specialty nursing practice recognized by the American Nurses Association and as such is guided by a Code of Ethics and published practice standards.
More about the Health Ministry Group…
3 John 2: Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.

The Health Ministry members selected this Bible verse to be part of the foundation for developing the activities and focus of the group.  The verse is from a letter that was probably written about 100 A.D perhaps at Ephesus. The author is unknown although the words, written hundreds of years ago, are relevant for us today.  What a comforting greeting!

The group uses the ELCA Social Statement: Caring for Health: Our Shared Endeavor for defining the group’s purpose and direction at Trinity.  The document was first written in 1991 but later amended and adopted by more than two-thirds majority vote as a social statement of the ELCA.  The document is available on this website. 

The key positions of the document are as follows:

• We of the ELCA have an enduring commitment to work for and support health care for all people as a shared endeavor.
• Health is good for its own sake; it is also good for living abundantly in relationship with God and in loving service to our neighbor in the vocations to which God has called us.
• Our calling to be faithful stewards of our own health and to fulfill our obligations for the health of others comes from the God who heals and redeems the whole creation.
• Each of us has responsibility to be a good steward of our own health out of thankfulness for the gift of life and in order to serve God and the neighbor.
• A ministry of healing is integral to the life and mission of the Church.
• Health care as a shared endeavor entails a comprehensive and coherent set of services of good quality care throughout one’s life span.
• Health as a shared endeavor makes public health services, which focus on the population as a whole, the foundation for any health care system.
• Any person seeking health care ought to be treated and respected as a whole person, not merely as a site of disease or injury.
• We can always care, even when we cannot cure.
• Health care research first should address those medical interventions that are likely to improve substantially the overall health of the general population. We urge all people to advocate for access to basic health care for all and to participate vigorously and responsibly in the public discussion of how best to fulfill this obligation.
• The Gospel offers the world the hope of abundant and everlasting life that liberates us from idolatry of health and fear of death.

Copyright © September 1991 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Produced by the Department for Studies, Division for Church in Society. Permission is granted to reproduce this document as needed, providing each copy displays the copyright as printed above.

BODY * MIND * SPIRIT

".and He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Luke 9:2