Parish Health Ministry

What is a Parish Health Ministry?

Parish nursing/health ministry is a movement that encourages churches to renew their role in health care, which includes promoting health, preventing disease, responding to crisis, and emphasizing a holistic approach to health care.

The movement stems from the healing ministry of Jesus, who promoted wholeness of body, mind and spirit. It is based on the premise that health is not just the absence of disease, rather the maximum attainable state of a person's emotional, intellectual, physical, social, spiritual and vocational well-being.

Episcopal Retirement Homes extends its ministry outside the walls of its retirement communities through its Parish Health Ministry (PHM) program, which assists congregations throughout Central and Southern Ohio develop or enhance a parish nurse/ health ministry. The ministry supports parish volunteers as they provide services to people in their congregations and community.

Supported solely through financial donations, PHM invests nearly $2,200 per church to help improve the lives of congregation members through advocacy, education, and wellness activities. Founded in 1998, PHM currently serves approximately 80 congregations of various religious denominations throughout Southern Ohio.

ERH Parish Health Ministry Quick Links

Portion Plate Order Form

Click here for an order form.

Parish Health Ministry Orientation Manual

Click here to order an Orientation Manual

Church Report of Activity Form

Click here for the report