The Trinity: Mind, Body & Spirit

A lifelong student of religion, philosophy, meditation, parapsychology and quantum physics, Larry Dossey, M.D. is one of an increasing number of medical professionals who do not believe that science and spirituality are irreconcilably separated. Author of Healing Words, The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine (Harper, San Francisco), he writes:

"As we ponder the forces and energies involved in healing, let us be willing to march to the edge of our maps and create new ones if necessary. And if our exploration leads us to question the role of force and energy, let us not hold back."

This program is perhaps a new map itself - through it we are learning real lessons about the force and energy of the human spirit and its ability to heal and help others to heal.

As congregations come to understand the nurse's role within the church or synagogue the relationship between them begins to grow steadily. There are countless examples of situations in which the Congregational Nurse is there for the congregation, its members, families and individuals in meaningful ways. These "stories" are documented by the Congregational Nurse on a monthly basis.

As a member of Harris Prairie Church of Christ and a Congregational Nurse, Deniese Haughee believes that God has prepared her for this ministry. "I have received so much more than I have given," she explains, " as a congregational nurse I help to bridge the gap between the physical aspects of health and health care and the spiritual features of healing and faith."

The Congregational Nursing Program is hard to evaluate by any traditional mechanism. Its outcomes and effects are often felt by individuals, families and members of the congregation in a way that is sometimes emotional, subjective and qualitative. It is therefore difficult to measure in a quantifiable way.

We do know that the administrators, nurses, clergy, ministers, rabbis, parishioners and others who have been involved believe that it has made a difference. But has it affected the health of our community, and how do we know this? According to Mark Chambers, Memorial Hospital and Foundation Vice President, "there are several questions that we are still trying to answer: How do we know that we are making a difference? How do we measure the difference relative to investment? How long can we continue to do this without knowing its impact? The answers to these questions may not come in a traditional form. What we learn from here will come from a willingness to "march to the edge of our maps and create new ones."