2005-2008 Ecumenical Health Care Ministry Ebook

this Ministry. We were pleased therefore, that the then Minister of Health, Senator Hon. Marcus C. Bethel joined hands with the Diocese and launched Parish Nursing and Health Care Ministries in The Bahamas on 4th February 2005 at the opening service held at St. Margaret’s Parish, Kemp Road, Nassau, The Bahamas. HEALTH CARE MINISTRY IN THE BAHAMAS

The initial course spanned a three-week period and brought together nurses from various denominations and they were commissioned on 27th February 2005 at Holy Cross Parish, Soldier Road. In attendance were the following officials holding office at that time: Director of Nursing - Ms. Mary Johnson Chairman of Nurses Council - Mrs. Philabertha Carter Provost, School of Nursing - Ms. Ernestine Douglas President, Nurses Association - Mrs. Ampusam Symonette

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.”

The ministry of Parish Nursing has its roots in the New Testament [Romans 16:1-2] beginning with Phoebe. Church historians trace the ministry to the Lutheran church in Germany and the concept of Parish Nursing spread throughout Europe in the 1800’s Including, the United Kingdom. In North America, the Parish Nursing Ministry began with then Lutheran Pastor and Hospital Chaplain, Rev. Granger Westberg, who founded the movement in the United States in 1983. Since then the movement moved to Canada in 1992 and Australia in 1996. The Ministry of Health Care has a simple beginning in Germany with the establishment of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in the late 1800’s and was led by Amalia Streitel. This group was made up of women who ordinarily visited the poor and sick of their congregations and communities. On 17th September 1885 the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother received approval as a Papal Institute in the Roman Catholic Church. It was taken to the United States in 1890. Today this ministry is continuing to live on not only in the Roman Catholic Church but other denominations as well. As this ministry is a collaborative effort between church and state, the Minister of Health, Director of Nursing and other relevant authorities and agencies were invited to assist with the launching of

ECUMENICAL HEALTH CARE MINISTRY As outlined previously the ministries of Parish Nursing and Health Care Ministry were launched together in The Bahamas as Health Care Ministry [Parish Nursing] recognising that both trained nurses and professionals from other disciplines were all involved in “caring ministry” and wanted to be included. Initially, the Canadian and Australian models of Parish Nursing were introduced to The Bahamas as an extension of the Pastoral Care Ministries of Diocese 2000 & Beyond, a programme of the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands. With the approval of His Grace, Archbishop Drexel Gomez and the Coordinator of Diocese 2000 & Beyond, Rev. Angela Palacious, the Pastoral Care Coordinator, Mrs. Cecilia Askew along with Mrs. Lily Mae Major, a retired Nurse and former lecturer at the School of Nursing designed a course for The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. To date, we have over sixty persons trained and actively engaged in the ministry as either Parish Nurses or Health & Wellness Carers. Since the ministry began in 2005 it has grown steadily and was known as the Anglican Diocesan Health Care Ministry [Parish Nursing] Council. As of the 7th March 2008 the name changed to the Ecumenical Health Care Ministry Council. It is intended that there will be continued training and that the programme will spread throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Caribbean. To this end, the ministry will be

recognised by the Bahamas Christian Council and by extension the Caribbean Council of Churches. As of 2006 the curriculum was not only based on modified aspects of the Canadian Parish Nurses Association, the Australian Faith Community Nurses Ministry, but also the Health Care Ministry as outlined by Wayne Oates Pastoral Institute, USA.

i.

Complete the full 18 Continuing Education Units [CEU’s] for the Certificate and/or 36 units for the Diploma;

ii.

Consideration for appropriate CEU’s will be given to persons who have completed the following ministry training and have proof of the same: a. b. c. d. e.

Ecumenical Health Care Ministry Covenant [2008] Health Care Ministry in The Bahamas seeks to integrate faith and health concerns offering holistic care [spiritual, mental, physical] to congregations and the wider community. Persons who engage in this ministry should be trained clinical nurses and persons trained in various other professions/vocations involved in caring ministry in their respective churches. The make-up of a health care ministry in any church should ensure that members of the team be trained in spiritual care and educated in healthy lifestyles.

iii.

Samaritan Ministry CPR & AED Health & Wellness Seminars/Retreats School of Pastoral Care International Order of St. Luke Healing Ministry

Persons joining the Council in their respective fields [HIV/AIDS, Physicians, Educators from School of Nursing and, clergypersons] will be welcomed as Associates of the Ministry.

Further Training and Education Formation & Designations: Trained nurses will be known as Parish Nurse[s] and function as Health Counsellors and Educators to provide personal assistance to parish members for specific health concerns and, where necessary arrange for the clergy to visit with sick and shut-ins who are terminally ill. Organise regular health screenings, health related activities and seminars. This is especially true of persons with HIV/AIDS. They should also be the initiators of healing services and quiet day retreats for their members, the congregation and wider community. Lay professionals trained in other disciplines and who have completed the course function in the same manner as the Parish Nurse however they are known as Health & Wellness Carers.

Persons who complete 40 Continuing Education Units are eligible for The Diploma. It should be noted that the programme is for volunteers and, individuals should already be trained in their respective disciplines. New modules were added in 2008. In February 2009 we will partner with the Roman Catholic Church and persons will be trained in the Samaritan Ministry, which is specific to the prevention of HIV/AIDS and, caring ministry to persons living with HIV/AIDS. To enhance spiritual development and growth the following books have been suggested and can be ordered from Amazon.com:

Health Care Ministry Cabinets/Councils This body is made up of Parish Nurses and Health and Wellness Carers who have done the Certificate Course in Health Care Ministry. Each Faith Group [Denomination] is to have a cabinet/council to address the needs of their own respective congregations and communities. Establishing a Health Care Ministry in your Church Individuals are welcome to become members of Health Care Ministry in the following ways:

Healthcare Ministry Called to Care Prayer in Nursing The Wounded Healer Out of Solitude The Way of St. Francis

Author: Gerald A. Arbuckle Author[s]: Judith Allen Shelly & Arlene B. Miller Author: Mary Elizabeth O’Brien Author: Henri J. M. Nouwen Author: Henri J. M. Nouwen Author: Murray Bodo

We encourage persons who have already completed the course and received their certificates and diplomas to consider taking the next step and begin training in “Clinical Pastoral Education” with the College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy [Bahamas/Caribbean] chapter.

Administrative Council Members Nurse Glendina Minus, PN - Chairman Ms. Brenda Duvalier, HWC - Vice-Chairman Ms. Natasha Mackey, HWC – Secretary Rt. Nurse Mary Johnson, PN – Executive Council Member Nurse Kathleen Johnson, PN – Executive Council Member Division Heads Education Division Nurse Sandra Johnson, PN Rt. Nurse Lily Mae Major, PN Spiritual Formation Division Rev. Angela Palacious, HWC Mrs. Cecilia Askew, HWC Special Division Mrs. Lynette Deveaux Project Director Ministry of Health, HIV/AIDS Centre Nurse Ampusam Symonette Adolescent Health Centre, PMH Social Outreach/Hospitality Ministry Minister Doris Barry, HWC Deaconess Nina Phillips, HWC Public Relations Pastor Jarenda Rahming, HWC As a body we will make ourselves available to work with other ministries. “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”. [Matt.25:40]

Churches interested in the formation of this ministry can contact the following: Ecumenical Health Care Ministry Council c/o Shirley Street Post 6889 Nassau, New Providence The Bahamas Email: [email protected]