During the summer of 2005 the four Parish Nurse Regional Coordinators of the Presbyterian Health Network (PHN) continued to reach out with information and encouragement about the significance of health ministry and parish nursing within presbyteries and their constituent churches. The coordinators, who were already at work in their own presbyteries, extended their outreach to a neighboring presbytery. The presbyteries reached thus far are:

Tampa Bay and Peace River: Deb Carney
Charlotte and Salem: Lois Bazhaw
James and National Capital: Joanie Friend
Albany and Hudson River: Beverly Taylor

Objectives of this outreach were to inquire about existing activities of a health ministry/parish nurse nature; identify needs or interest regarding the development and/or growth potential of new health ministry/parish nurse programs; and provide information/resources that might assist the presbyteries and congregations in their pursuit of health ministry/parish nursing programs. A number of exciting discoveries about health ministry were unearthed:

• 40 churches in the Tampa Bay Presbytery already have a health ministry. They’re interested in connecting with other Presbyterians to enhance these ministries.
• Invitations were given to three regional coordinators to prepare information about health ministry/parish nursing to place on the presbytery’s Web site.
• One presbytery staff member expressed interest in developing a caring and nurturing ministry within the presbytery and believes that the health ministry/parish nurse ministry might be an asset to such development. Further contacts are planned.
• Contact with individual parish nurses in these presbyteries has created interest in exploration and/or expansion of health ministry/parish nurse ministry at both the presbytery level and the churches within those presbyteries.

Expansion of health ministry/parish nursing also continues in the regional coordinators’ own presbyteries and churches:

• A presbytery office now has a defibrillator and all staff are trained to use it through the efforts of one of the regional coordinators.
  One presbytery has nine parish nurse programs and one health ministry program through the awareness provided by the regional coordinator.
• Health ministry programs are now offered at the Peace River Presbytery annual teaching event — the Leaderfest!
• A day-long conference on health ministry was sponsored by the Presbytery of Hudson River with five churches participating.
• A presbytery-wide healing service was held with three healing stations (a pastor and a parish nurse at each) with 50 persons attending. More services are planned.
• Blood pressure screening is done at almost all of these presbytery meetings.
• A workshop on Parish Nursing/Health Ministry is being held during National Capital’s presbytery meeting including the report ,“Parish Nursing from a Pastor’s Viewpoint.” The Rev. Susan Andrews, pastor of Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Md. and Moderator of the 215th General Assembly (2003) will present.