In an article authored by David Chasey entitled Body and Soul, he briefly traced the history of Parish Nursing. The paragraph that caught my eye speaks of the change that has taken place in the model for parish nursing over the time since 1984.
The reader is reminded that "the first parish nurse network allowed nurses to be paid for their work, serving as employees of the hospital contracted out to the churches. The churches reimbursed the institution for the salary of the nurse,..." The reason this caught my eye is that in our first WELS Health and Wellness Committee meeting one of the pieces of discussion brought up was the matter of compensation for those who serve as parish nurses.
It occurs to this writer that there must be more than an unwillingness to pay the worker, simply because its a church related activity, that makes it hard for a congregation to have a line item in the budget for "parish nursing". It may be that the value is not recognized. It may be that other service positions are unfunded. It may be that leadership has not personally needed health care such as brought through the parish nurse. The list goes on...
I do acknowledge that we have scores of faithful and reliable individuals dedicated to serving the Lord and his people who volunteer in various capacities in our churches. But, I also believe that the training, responsibility, and the blessings that are accrued to the individuals and the congregation itself through a parish nurse program are more than worthy of support, and should become an essential part of the church staffing budget.
To make that statement and have it be accepted requires agreement on several presuppositions. The most important one would seem to be the proposition set forth in the Bible that views caring for one another in physical need as an extension of the heart of Jesus. (Luke 10:33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins {35 Greek <two denarii>} and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise.")
Whatever else you may draw from this passage, of this you can be sure, there was a real cost to caring for the wounded man's physical care, and it was born by the good Samaritan. The example given by the story was then enjoined, as a way of life, upon those who would choose to call themselves Jesus' disciples.
In further articles on this subject I will express how congregations, or individual benefactors, should step forward and understand that privilege and the opportunity to have a parish nursing program, not only costs. but pays!
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