Marcia Schnorr, center, with friends in Finland.

One of the more interesting ways that churches have been reaching into their communities in recent decades is through parish nurses. The parish nurse is a health educator and caregiver in Christ's name – but it's the kind of care even an unchurched person would welcome and understand.

Parish nurse ministry has been growing rapidly in the Northern Illinois District LCMS, and there are now more than 45 congregations that have some kind of health program going that serves not only members but reaches into the community. NID parish nurses have been reaching even farther than that, however. Through visits, encouragement and support they have been helping develop and grow a parish nurse ministry in Palestine, and in September, they were represented at a gathering of parish nurses in Finland.

Marcia Schnorr, parish nurse at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rochelle, Illinois, joined Carol Broemmer from St. Louis to spend 10 days (September 1-10) in Finland as guests of the Diaconal University of Applied Sciences in Oulu, Finland.

They had several opportunities to meet with diaconal nurses (what we here call parish nurses), deacons (diaconal social workers), and clergy who serve within the region of Oulu. The experience included a meeting at the Oulu Diaconia Institute, a visit to a center that provides care for people who have been victims of torture from Iraq, Somalia, and other locations, a “retreat meeting” of the diaconal workers at a camp in Vasamo, and a meeting with leaders of the Diaconal University of Applied Sciences at their guest cabin in Iso-Syote National Park.

Schnorr and Broemmer each gave a major presentation at the Annual Conference of Diaconal Workers in Oulu. The theme for the conference was “Caring for the Body and Soul through Health Promotion.” Schnorr presented a plenary session on “Spiritual Nursing Care—Implications for Parish Nurses” and Broemmer led a workshop on “Health Promotion by Parish Nurses.”

Some interesting comparisons and contrasts can be noted between diaconal nursing in Finland and parish nursing in the USA, according to Schnorr.

• In Finland, diaconal nursing is part of the chosen curriculum for a nursing student rather than an additional course of study.

• In Finland, it is the law to have at least one diaconal worker per congregation. Many have several. Diaconal workers are all paid.

• In Finland, any church worker is “ordained” but they have different types of ordination. There is a clear distinction between the clergy ordination and the ordination of the diaconal worker. In the LCMS we reserve ordination for the clergy, but commission (or dedicate) the parish nurse.

• In Finland and in the USA, diaconal nurses and parish nurses sometimes feel “isolated” from others who have similar vocations.

• In Finland and in the USA, diaconal nurses and parish nurses provide many services to the congregation and community—often with little recognition.

• In Finland and in the USA, diaconal nurses and parish nurses are dedicated and determined to serve the Lord faithfully.