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Congregational Health Ministry Offers Wholeness within Faith Communities By Peggy S. Matteson, RN, PhD |
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A woman we will call "Janice" slipped on the steps of her back porch. Usually agile, she had been stiff with a flare-up of arthritis, causing her fall to be traumatic; she broke her hip and wrist, leaving her unable to care for herself or her home. Janice's insurance provided for three days of hospital care after her surgery and a week in a rehabilitation facility. After that she was discharged home. Although the fall was unfortunate, Janice had the good fortune to be a member of a congregation - which she considered her extended family - with a health ministry. When alerted to her medical crises, the Health Ministry Committee in Janice's church, with the leadership of a Health Minister (in this case a faith community nurse), responded to both her immediate and long-term needs. The Health Minister notified the blood bank at the hospital that if during surgery a blood transfusion was needed, Janice would be covered by donations which church members had made to church's blood bank account. A member was sent to Janice's home to ensure that it would be secure while she was hospitalized and to care for her cats. Both issues had been of immediate concern to Janice and were the first step in reducing her anxiety. A member of the Health Ministry Volunteer Team was assigned to meet daily with Janice to support and encourage her efforts toward recovery and to determine with her, her abilities, needs and desires as she prepared to return home. This lay volunteer, trained as a Health Visitor, continued periodic contacts and let the church know of any further needs. In response to Janice's wishes, the church family was notified of her fall and she was added to the prayer line. The Health Minister coordinated hospital visits so periods of rest would occur between visitors. The pastor and a member of the Diaconate visited and offered spiritual support, prayer and communion. In preparation for Janice's discharge home the Health Minister contacted volunteers listed on the church's Time and Talents stewardship list. Two volunteers built a ramp and put up railings so she could get into her home. Others provided for her safety by arranging the furniture to accommodate the now necessary walker, obtained equipment for the bathroom, and installed a portable phone. These supplies came from a collection stored by the church for such a purpose. The Health Minister also arranged for a schedule of volunteers to provide transportation to physical therapy and doctor's appointments. Church members brought meals and shared them with her, providing both physical sustenance and companionship. As Janice's bones healed, the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health interventions evolved. Today, after receiving the care and support of her church family through the actions of the Health Ministry Team, Janice once again considers herself healthy even though full movement of her wrist has not returned. This more positive outcome was made possible by the congregation's dedication to an active health ministry - which can be formed in faith communities of all sizes and types. What is a health ministry? A health ministry focuses on the promotion of health and healing as part of the mission and ministry of that faith group to its members and the wider community. Each program is unique, due to the beliefs and spiritual practices as well as the assets and needs of the congregation and the community it serves (Evans, 1999). Health is defined as wholeness, salvation, shalom. A person is healthy when the physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of life are in harmony with self, others, the environment, and God. The process of healing integrates the body, mind, and spirit to achieve wholeness, health, and a sense of well being, even when the curing of disease may not occur (HMA/ANA, 1998). Begin with a Health Ministry Committee To begin a health ministry, the faith community calls a meeting of members concerned about health and committed to seeing that a healing ministry is carried out. They write a mission statement, which may include plans to educate the parishioners about the connection between faith, spiritual practices and wellness. The Health Committee integrates caring programs that are already in place, such as home visitation or meals to the sick, with new initiatives to create a holistic response, such as educational events focusing on prevention of disease and injury, or screening and appropriate interventions in illness or brokenness. These are designed to foster well-being, regardless of whether the illness or injury is cured. A 'faith based' or a 'faith placed' program? A faith-based health ministry arises from within the congregation, giving opportunities for the members to respond to one another's needs. It integrates spiritual and physical health throughout the activities and programs of the church, within the faith traditions of that congregation. Many denominations have developed faith-based lay health education programs, so individual congregations have tools to assist them. "Called to Care: A Notebook for Lay Caregivers" published by the United Church of Christ is one example of a training tool that gives lay people the ability to reach out from their faith perspective. A faith-placed program recognizes that "at risk" people may be encouraged to make lifestyle changes while being supported within their faith community, Such programs are developed around a specific health issue by health experts and then made available to congregations. An example of a faith-placed program is the American Heart Association's initiative to reduce hypertension among African-Americans. Although incorporating scripture into the educational interventions, the program is targeted to a specific population and is not based on any particular spiritual practices. A program such as this aims to reduce the risks of high blood pressure, not to attain health in the broadest sense. How does a faith community nurse participate in a health ministry? Parish nursing is a unique, specialized practice of professional nursing in which the spiritual dimension is central. Expert in health promotion and community resources, a faith community nurse focuses on health within a faith community. By incorporating the spiritual beliefs of the client into the nursing process, the client's faith perspective becomes an intrinsic part of the health and healing process. A faith community nurse works within the interdisciplinary framework of clergy and other church staff members. The position may be full- or part-time, volunteer or paid, faith-based or faith-placed. The faith-based faith community nurse is obtained through the Health Ministry Committee to assist in developing the health ministry. A faith-placed faith community nurse is placed by an agency or hospital to provide outreach services within one or more congregations. This position may be paid in part or full by the hospital and is therefore influenced by the financing of the supporting agency. What does a faith community nurse do? A faith community nurse collaborates with and is supported by the Health Ministry Committee in the expansion of this ministry within the faith community. She or he brings to the program an expertise in health promotion combined with the ability to assess individuals and families, develop appropriate interventions, and conduct ongoing evaluation. The roles fulfilled by a faith community nurse are many: health educator and counselor, advocate for health services, referral agent, coordinator of volunteer health ministers, developer of support groups, and integrator or spiritual practices and health. References Evans, A. R. (1999), The Healing Church. Cleveland, OH: United Church Press. Health Ministries Association/American Nurses Association. (1998). Scope and Standards of Parish Nursing Practice.Washington, DC: ANA. |