An educational model for preparing Christian nurses and church congregations to offer local whole-person health programmes

Helen Wordsworth

doi:10.15566/cjgh.v3i2.141

Abstract

The implications of the Tübingen declarations for congregational involvement in health provide the setting for this commentary. Using an example from the United Kingdom, where government health provision has become economically challenging and largely disease focused, the author demonstrates how it is possible to introduce the kind of education for nurses and congregations that will lead to them becoming important sources of whole-person health promotion. In this way, parish nurses and church congregations may make a distinctive contribution that will complement state and private health provision. This model has relevance across all Christian denominations. It is already being followed in 28 different countries, and with appropriate respect to culture, language and health policy, could be globally transferable.

Highlights

The article by Professor Flessa in the May 2016 edition of the Christian Journal for Global Health reviews the declarations of Tübingen in the 1960s, in the light of the subsequent development of contemporary global health provision.[1]
Flessa suggests that even in the Christian hospitals and clinics, care has moved away from the whole person approach advocated by the Tübingen papers, and focuses largely on the cure or prevention of specific physical or mental conditions
Flessa challenges the churches to review their role in global health; to decide “what criteria make them special,” and to consider, “how they can find their place in the health care market.”

Summary

Introduction

The article by Professor Flessa in the May 2016 edition of the Christian Journal for Global Health reviews the declarations of Tübingen in the 1960s, in the light of the subsequent development of contemporary global health provision.[1]. Flessa challenges the churches to review their role in global health; to decide “what criteria make them special,” and to consider, “how they can find their place in the health care market.” He suggests that if Christian influence in health and healing is to survive, the church must have something distinctive to offer.[2]. Wordsworth purpose, identity, the ability to give as well as receive, to use one’s gifts, to be able to pray and to worship God, to choose good and to resist evil, to care for the environment, and enjoy God’s creation This is whole-person health, or “wholistic health” (the w differentiates it from the new age concept of holism), and should underlie and direct the Christian approach to health provision. It will describe how Christian nurses who have no opportunity to offer wholeperson care in a secular environment can be educated to combine their nursing experience with Christian spiritual care and to work with the church, encouraging the congregation to reach out to the community in health promotional ways

Background

Conclusion