Congregational Health Ministry

(Parish Nurse)

What is Congregational Health Ministry?

The purpose of health ministry is to help the congregation care for one another…to help attain, maintain and/or regain the best possible whole person health – wellness of body, mind, and spirit – that can be experienced.  This is done with the help of health professionals and other interested lay members: the ministers of health.  These health ministers – forming a health ministry committee or cabinet – combine their knowledge and experience with their willingness to serve to respond to the unique needs of the congregation and the community.

The health ministry team may include the Parish Nurse.  He/she works with the members of the health ministries committee or health cabinet, in helping and enabling people of the congregation and community attain, maintain, and/or regain health.

Parish Nursing is a unique blending of professional nursing and spiritual caregiving.  The LCMS provides a special preparation program for parish nursing and continuing education at the Concordia Universities at Wisconsin, Ann Arbor and Portland.

The Minnesota North District provides the opportunity for Parish Nurses to meet and support one another in the congregational parish nurse ministry twice each year.

Presently the Minnesota North District has a listing of 34 Parish Nurses serving our congregations.

Parish Nurse Council

Mary Scott, RN – Sauk Centre  (Chair)

Arrowhead Region:

Margaret Erickson, RN – Albany

Park Region:

Genevieve Keranen, RN – Ottertail

Lake-Land Region:

Darlene Pasche, RN – Morris