Abstract
Congregations are involved in health care, but they don't know it. They have seldom examined how they do what they do to encourage healthy ways of living. A three-year action research model in the Chicago area incorporates a parish nurse on the staff of six large suburban churches. These nurses are essentially health educators and personal health counselors. A weekly intensive half-day continuing education seminar provides these six nurses with opportunities for interchange among themselves and a selected faculty. Perhaps a new specialty within nursing is being born—a minister of health to work alongside parish clergy.
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Granger Westberg, a Lutheran clergyman, has served for twenty-five years on the medical faculties of the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois. He was the founder of Wholistic Health Centers, Inc.
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Westberg, G. The role of congregations in preventive medicine. J Relig Health 25, 193–197 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01534015
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01534015