What does a Parish Nurse bring to a congregation?
"There has been a rapid rise in the number of parish nurses in the congregations of our church. I believe that is because their value has touched a nerve – the intersection of physical care and spiritual care has shown us that these are not separate arenas, but are integrated in the care of the whole person our Lord calls us to practice. We have people of faith, trained in nursing care, who are well equipped to bring this ministry into the life of the church."
- Bishop Peter Rogness, Former ECLA St. Paul Area Synod
"A parish nurse program complements and fills out a comprehensive pastoral care strategy for a congregation and its community."
- Rev. Craig Johnson
Evangelical Lutheran Parish Nurse Association (ELPNA) of Region 3 Awards Yearly Start-up Grants
The ELPNA will provide start-up funds for Lutheran congregations in Region 3 (MN, SD, ND). Congregations can request up to $500.00 as a start-up grant. The target is 2-3 congregations who would like to start or develop a parish nurse program within their faith community. The grant applications are due in early December via an electronic submission process. The awards will be announced in mid- January with funds issued early February.
Attached you will find the grant application form. Carefully read through the grant application and fully complete the form. Please download the form, complete the grant application and return to Beth Hansen at elpna.region3@gmail.com. Grant Application
Currently the 2017 grants have been awarded to the following Congregations: South Santiago Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, MN, and Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead, MN. Grants available for 2018 will announced in the Fall of 2017.
Helpful articles from Living Lutheran
A Different Kind of Nursing
Here is a link to a story that gives a wonderful example about what Parish/Faith Community Nursing is all about: The story about parish/faith community nurses -- “A different kind of nursing” -- is now posted on Living Lutheran at: http://www.elca.org/en/Living-Lutheran/Stories/2014/08/140820-A-different-kind-of-nursing
Holistic healing:
Parish Nurses Care for Body, Mind and Spirit
(https://www.livinglutheran.
Leading a Congregation Through Change
This is very helpful article, written by Carol DeSchepper, our ELPNA National Board of Directors Chairperson. A must read for any congregation considering introducing a Parish/Faith Community Nurse Program. Click here to read the article
Contact ...
For information about parish nursing:
Find your ELCA Region and contact the Regional Preresentative(s). (Go to "News from the Regions", select Find your Region)
Contact Carol Deschepper, National Chair: cjdeschepper@gmail.com
For speakers on beginning a health ministry in your church, E-mail: elpna.national@gmail.com
For further info, Click here to download our ELPNA Brochure
Video Available ...
The Evangelical Lutheran Parish Nurse Association has a DVD available titled "The Healing Ministry of Jesus Christ: The Parish Nurse". The DVD gives a unique look at who we are as children of God and what we believe to be the healing ministry of Christ. In the DVD, we begin to understand how parish nursing has an integral role in carrying out Christ's call to the ministry of health and wholeness.
Cost of the video is $15 and can be ordered through June Sand, djsand@comcast.net.
Books for Assistance ...
- The Parish Nurse: Providing a Minister of Health for Your Congregation, Granger E. Westberg and Jill Westberg McNamara, Augsburg Fortress, 1990 — Although this book is 15 years old, it remains a classic for outlining the theory behind the development of the idea of parish nursing.
- Parish Nurse - Promoting Whole Person Health Within Faith Communities, Phyllis Ann Solari-Twadell and Mary Ann McDermott, eds., Sage, 1999
- The Essential Parish Nurse: ABCs for Congregational Health Ministry, Deborah L. Patterson, The Pilgrim Press, 2003
- Parish Nursing: Stories of Service and Care, Verna Brenner Carson and Harold G. Koenig, Templeton Press, 2011
Other Resources ...
- Church Health Center, Faith Community Nurse Program: https://westberginstitute.org/faith-community-nursing/.
- Health Ministries Association
- Lutheran Parish Nurses International
- Faith Community Nurse Network
- Portico Benefit Services: www.porticobenefits.org
- Lutheran Global Health Volunteers. The Lutheran Global Health Volunteer program is all about creating sustainable relationships between volunteers and companion hospital staff in an effort for mutual learning experiences, be that medical or spiritual growth experiences. Furthermore, these service opportunities in Liberia, Tanzania, and India are fantastic ways to share the wonderful experiences of the ELPNA with companion hospitals. Most companion hospitals have extensive palliative and home care programs which parish nurses would be well-equipped to support.
Updated 7/17