Tne innovative way in which churches can develop this ministry within and through their communities is by appointing a Parish nurse. This may be a member of their congregation, or another nearby one, who is both a registered nurse and a committed Christian believer. S/he combines health with faith by working with the church. These may be voluntary hours with expenses and/or even paid hours. S/he seeks to work with the church and its ministry team on promotional health activities, advocacy, health advice, self care, volunteer training and coordination, all integrated with prayer ministry. This latter is of course entirely optional for clients, but sincerely offered as a part of whole person health care through the local church. Many of these nurses work for the church in a voluntary capacity for a given number of hours a week and then for the NHS for the remaining part of the week. Church pastoral workers and health professionals may be part of a local team, and together they help to reach out to the community around them. All this is done wherever possible in cooperation with the local GP practice: enhancing, not competing with the care that can be given through the NHS.

Parish nursing is not new of course; in some Christian denominations deaconesses had to train as nurses before they could do their theological courses and much of their ministry was health related. That was before the NHS came into being. In its contemporary form parish nursing started in 1986 in Chicago, with 6 nurses in Lutheran churches and there are now over 12,000 around the world in 23 countries. It began in England and Wales in 2004 and soon after that an interdenominational, not-for-profit company was formed to develop, promote and resource the ministry: Parish Nursing Ministries UK. The 5 day basic preparation course is available in a UK contextualised form twice a year for registered nurses through P.N.M, UK. A masters level module is also being developed. Parish nurses are now working with 45 churches from several denominations, 16 of these being Anglican in 9 dioceses. We have regional coordinators available to talk to Chapter meetings or individual churches about this concept. How about investigating this to complement or start your healing ministry locally?

You can find out more by visiting our stand at the York Synod in July. Our website will give you stories of care and much more: www.parishnursing.org.uk

The Revd. Helen Wordsworth, RGN,RM. RHV (tutor) RNT,MTh.