Parish Nursing is a ministry of caring. It is a movement among nurses and faith-based organizations that integrates care for a person's body, soul, spirit, and mind. Based on a holistic view of patients, parish nurses seek to practice their profession as a relational ministry rather than as a technological skill-"high"-touch in comparison to high tech. For example, parish nurses work within communities of faith to develop activities and services that address the needs and interests of those people. As a movement, Parish Nursing can be found in a number of religious beliefs, church denominations, or health organizations. The mission of Parish Nursing is to provide a compassionate ministry to the people "in the neighborhood."

Within the Wesleyan Holiness denominations, Free Methodists are providing an organized, denominational parish nursing program and are spearheading the movement among churches that preach the social responsibility aspects of Wesleyan theological distinctives. The notion that love to God is worked out in love for people in need under girds the philosophy, theory, and practice of parish nursing. While caring is a growing matter of concern within the profession of nursing as a whole, true caring only exists within the context of grace and God's love.

Helene S. Kahlstorf
Executive Director, Parish Nursing, Inc.