I also attended a 54-hour course in parish nursing, sponsored by Indiana University School of Nursing in 1997. During Advent of that year, I began a process to start health ministry as a parish nurse at St. Peter's Church, Louisville. We have blood pressure screenings, quarterly blood drives for the Red Cross, health articles for the newsletter and personal health counseling. We have had a financial planning series and one on family relationships for adults and youth, along with self-esteem classes for the children on Wednesdays and Sundays during Advent. I also joined the Evangelism and Congregational Development Department to start health ministries in congregations across the diocese.
Health ministry reclaims ancient traditions of healing ministry in a faith community.
This ministry bridges the artificial gap between spiritual health and the health of mind and body. Hebrews and the early Christian church did not separate these holistic perceptions of a person. The Greeks were the ones who separated mind, body and spirit. Religious leaders then concentrated on healing the spirit, while medical caregivers concentrated on the mind and body. Parish nurses are registered nurses who have completed training in parish nursing and serve in one or more roles, such as health counseling, coordinating volunteers and visiting the shut-ins and sick.