Congregational Nurse
From the beginning, often without knowing it, churches have been involved as agencies of health, healing and keeping people well. But as chaos surrounds us, as life fragments rather than integrates, there are signs that we are being asked to do even more. The idea, of Congregational Nursing, is intended to serve the congregation and the surrounding community. It is to help people understand that the body tends to respond to what is going on in the heart, mind and spirit; to help pick up signs of small problems early and find appropriate resources; to discover and help natural care-givers and health care professionals in congregations to do even better what they are already doing well, and finally to share the work of caring with others in the health field.
The mandate to heal as well as preach the Gospel is the ongoing mission of the local congregation to this day. Like the four friends in Mark’s Gospel, the congregation carries, bears, upholds, loves, supports and brings the sick, the broken, and the despairing to the healing Christ, the source of all health and healing.