Is there really a connection between health care and
spiritual care?*
The Bible says a lot about the importance of the
interrelationship of body and soul. Almost one-fifth of the material in
the Gospels is devoted to stories of Christ's healing and the
discussions that resulted from them. Jesus sent His disciples out not
only to preach the kingdom of God, but also to heal the sick (Luke
9:2). And Jesus promised that we would do even greater works than He
did (John 14:12). The Book of Acts tells how the early church attempted
to carry out his commission to care for whole persons, not souls or
bodies alone.
As recently as 100 years ago, Christian churches were
leaders in the health field, building the finest hospitals the world
has ever known and educating thousands of religiously motivated women
as nurses. But during this past century, communication between health
care specialists and spiritual care specialists has decreased. Having
become aware of its limitations, scientific medicine today is looking
for assistance in preventive medicine, in health education, and in
helping to motivate people to care for their own health. And it is
faith that motivates people to examine themselves and to ask serious
questions such as, "Why am I so dissatisfied that I want o change
something about my life?"
At this moment in history, the church can help motivate
people to put body, mind and spirit together and to convince them that
the integration of all three can lead to true health and wholeness.
We look forward to joining together with you as we focus
on the miraculous connectedness of "body, mind and spirit."
*Thanks to the Parish Nursing Church Resource Manual,
Adventist Health System/West, Roseville, CA
Click Here for a list of Parish Nurse Congregations
in South Dakota.
What is a Parish Nurse?
A Parish Nurse is a registered nurse committed to the
healing missions of the church working to help fellow parishioners find
support in crisis or with day-to-day struggles. They work directly with
parish staff to assist parishioners in their search for wellness and a
better quality of life. As members of the parish staff, Parish Nurses
help to bring healthcare and related services to the church family in a
number of ways.
Why is a Parish Nurse Necessary?
Before the advent of modern medical technology, churches
were actively involved in tending to the needs of the sick as part of
their ministry.
The Parish Nurse Program revitalizes that function while
taking advantage of the advances in knowledge and skills that have
taken place in scientific medicine in recent years. The program helps
reclaim for the church its role of ministering to the sick. Our
Savior's Lutheran Church recognizes the important relationship the
body, mid and spirit have on the healing process. The Parish Nurse
Program reflects this relationship and helps the church fulfill its
mission of meeting the needs of its community in spirit of Christian
concern for others.
What Do Parish Nurses Do?
The Parish Nurse promotes the healing ministries of the
church and a sense of community by serving in the following capacities:
Health Counselor – The Parish Nurse meets with parishioners to discuss
and listen to concerns that are troublesome whether physical,
relational or spiritual.
Health Resource/Referral Source - A Parish Nurse serves
as a referral source to other agencies in the community and supplies
information about healing and wellness.
Health Educator - The Parish Nurse present and arranges
educational programs dealing with health topics and may organize
screenings for hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, etc.
Health Support Facilitator – The Parish Nurse can form
and support discussion groups dealing with topics related to the
parishioners' physical, emotional and/or spiritual health and
coordinates or works with related volunteer programs within the church.
When is the Parish Nurse Available?
Due to parish needs, the Parish Nurse hours are flexible
and vary slightly from week to week. You can contact the Parish Nurse
by calling the church office during office hours, 336-2942, ext. 28.
The Parish Nurse works in concert with the Caring
Ministry team to support the listed programs.
