Health Ministry is a collaborative effort of the Parish Nurse, Pastor, and Health Ministers to integrate faith and health in their church. Each congregation has unique needs and resources; therefore, Health Ministry is different in every church.

Parish Nurses are experienced registered nurses with spiritual maturity who commit to leadership in promoting health and healing in their own church. Parish Nurses work closely with Pastors in identifying and addressing individual and congregational concerns and the resources to address them.

Health Ministers are health professionals or lay people who understand the importance of caring for the whole person. They act as a source of influence in the life of the church. This ensures that the stewardship of health is expressed in worship, education, networks of support and recreation.

 
The role is to enhance, not duplicate, holistic health services available in the health care system and /or the congregation. These services do not include invasive hands-on procedures.

The Parish Nurse/Health Minister is an advocate and facilitator of the whole person concept and has the potential to serve in many roles within the church:

• As a health educator or counselor
• As health resource or referral guide
• As an advocate
• As a provider of programs that focus on wellness with consideration for the spiritual aspect of a person.

• Identify nurses and volunteers for individual churches or synagogues.
• Guide identified nurses and volunteers in their role of Health Ministry volunteers.
• Assist the Health Ministry volunteers with special events and educational in-services in their congregation.
• Provide meetings and educational programs for Health Ministry volunteers.
• Provide a platform for Health Ministry volunteers to network and share ideas.
• Provide this services in a manner that respects all faiths and religious traditions.

Congregations are assisted in developing and implementing their own Parish Nurse/Health Ministry Programs.
Some suggested activities include:

• Health Fairs
• Blood Pressure Screenings
• Blood sugar screening
• Classes on holistic health & disease prevention
• Hospital & home visitation
• Healing services
• CPR instruction

Hospital services provided to health ministers:
(Click the links below for more information about these services.)

1. Valley Baptist Mobile Health Clinic
2. Valley Baptist Diabetes Education
3. Valley Baptist Speakers Bureau

The web site below offers a calendar of events of interest to nurses working within faith communities in Texas; selected Internet web sites; names and contact information of persons who have agreed to serve as expert resources from around the country; and bibliographic citations that describe parish nursing/health ministry or would be of use to nurses practicing within faith communities, whether the communities be called parishes, congregations or other forms of faith practice.

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/library/nursing.shtm