One of the health programs encouraged by the United Church of Christ and the Committee on the Healing Ministry of the Vt. Conference is the Parish Nurse program.

At the 21st General Synod in July 1997, a resolution was passed to reclaim the church's ministry of health and healing. It advocated developing a philosophy of health and wholeness as part of the faith community's mission, designating a person or a team to be concerned about health ministry, a commitment to learning about health and wellness issues, Health education and programming according to assessed health needs of the congregation, and promotion of health and wellness celebrations. "Be it resolved that the 21st general Synod encourages local congregations to develop/include in their mission commitment to health and wholeness, engage health and wholeness issues through an ongoing health cabinet/health ministry team, and consider the implementation of a health ministry/parish nurse program."

Under the restructuring of the UCC , Health programs come under the main heading of "Justice and Witness Ministries" and under Economic Justice Ministry, Ms. Barbara T. Baylor is minister for Health and Wellness. She coordinates several groups, one of which is the UCC Mental Health Network, and another is the network of Parish Nurses.

Here in Vermont in Dec. 1999, Jean Britt of Castleton Federated Church was commissioned by her church to be their Parish Nurse. Her ministry includes: "to share in the healing ministry of the church and promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health; to assist with pastoral care, visit the sick, make available resources for and facilitate health care, provide health education; to cooperate with and coordinate the efforts of others who are providing health care for the people for the church and community; within the limits of confidentiality to keep the church informed of the health needs and concerns of the people; and to call upon the members of the church to provide assistance, and the support of their prayers." Jean has written the following description of her work as a Parish Nurse:

Parish Nursing certainly is NOT a new concept. There are many references in the Old and New Testament that reflects health and healing as a central ministry of the faith community. The ancient Greeks and Romans identified healing and ministry as identical. Temples were known as places of sacrifice and healing. Healing is very prevalent in the Gospels. The many miracles and healings that Jesus performed were indeed examples of his focus on the restoration to health of people. We as Christians of today follow the teachings and acts of Jesus as he taught his disciples to follow in his footsteps. In those early times if there was a mission statement for the early congregations it would include: to teach, preach and heal; to conduct worship and promote fellowship; and to perform service.

Today we view Parish Nursing as part of the practice of whole health of the person and the community, and returning them to health. A good definition of health does not only encompass the strong physical applications but also those that are spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and environmental. Without treating all aspects, it is difficult to return a person to total health. Health communities are a good place to practice whole health for we have Jesus Christ as our example. He taught us how to love one another and challenged us to do so; He taught us to minister to each other and those in need; and he was the great example of healing.

In the late 1960s "Wholistic" health centers started to be designed. The W.K.Kellogg Foundation and the Department of Prevention Medicine and Community Health of the University of Illinois College of Medicine started about a dozen of these clinics in churches. The clinic has spiritually oriented family doctors, nurses and ministers all working together to service the needs of the faith community. During the first two years of the Parish Nurse Project, it became clear that there were seven (7) areas of ministry in which the nurses were engaged. The Parish Nurse is:

1. a health educator
2. a personal health counselor
3. a referral agent
4. a coordinator of volunteers
5. a developer of support groups
6. assists people to integrate faith and health
7. is a health advocate

With the seven roles of the Parish Nurse Ministry the Parish Nurse is involved with individuals. families, and communities. The Parish Nurse does not perform "hands-on" nursing care but can refer people where to go. The Parish Nurse must be versed in recent medical advances along with the newest nursing procedures and have a vast knowledge of medications. The Parish Nurse is also very involved in the spiritual life of the church and may find it important to serve on the diaconate, mission or education committee of the local church. The Parish Nurse loves people and is not afraid to speak to clients about spiritual healing.

The twelve (12) beatitudes for the Parish Nurse are:

1. Blessed be the Parish Nurse for being caring
2. available and accessible to most faith communities
3. knowledgeable about community resources and the process of referral, cost effective
4. has a high tolerance for ambiguity
5. has a generalist education and previous employment that have resulted in a broad variety of skills
6. process oriented
7. has a generosity of spirit, both of time and talen
8. focuses on priorities
9. committed
10. dependable
11. persevering
12. a believer in God, clients, nursing, herself, and in a better world here and hereafter.

The Committee on the Healing Ministry can help your church develop a Parish Nurse Program. You can write to us at: Healing Committee, 690 Town Line Road, Rutland, VT 05701-9342, Telephone us at: (802) 773 3057, or e-mail us at rbfrbtwl@sover.net for more information. More information can also be obtained by writing:

Justice & Witness Ministries U.C.C.,
Attn: Ms. Barbara T. Baylor
700 Prospect Ave.,
Cleveland, OH 44115-1100

Telephone (216) 736-3708
e-mail, baylorb@ucc.org

Linda Corey has discovered that funding for the Parish Nurse program is available through grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.