Faith-Oriented Communities and Health Ministries in Faith Communities

Congregation - An organized group of people who share religious beliefs, customs, or practices. The congregation has an internal governance structure and may be independent or affiliated to local or national denominations. It is a community within the larger community. Congregation-based model - A faith community nurse serving a particular faith community by virtue of a contract or job description; supports the concept of a faith community nurse who can be paid or serve as a volunteer. Faith community nursing - A specialty practice of nursing having registered nurses contribute to the health and wholeness of people in the context of a faith community. The faith community nurse is part of the ministry staff of the congregation and serves the illness needs of individual people, families, and the entire faith community. This broader term is the preferred term, and is used in settings in which the word "parish" may have no meaning or association, but many original documents used "parish nursing" as the title for the role.