Is Christian Science nursing in your contact list?
After three decades of working with Christian Science nursing organizations, I continue to question why Christian Scientists don’t call upon Christian Science nursing when there is a care need. In some cases Christian Scientists never call upon this healing ministry, or they wait far too long before calling.
It is now over 100 years since the standard for Christian Science nursing was established by Mary Baker Eddy in our Church Manual, Article 8, Sect. 31, “Christian Science Nurse”. Today more than 400 Christian Science nurses are listed in the Christian Science Journal in the U.S., along with all accredited Christian Science nursing facilities.
Why the reluctance to call upon Christian Science nursing?
How can we overcome the general reluctance to call upon Christian Science nursing so that all may be blessed by this ministry? Over the years I’ve written a number of articles on this topic including how to address what I thought were the causes of the reluctance: finances, desire for confidentiality, misunderstandings of the role of Christian Science nurses, embarrassment of the state of one’s home, feelings of failure as a Christian Scientist because the challenge had not been met, a general reluctance to call upon help mentioned in Science and Health, pg 420: “If students do not readily heal themselves, they should early call an experienced Christian Scientist to aid them. If they are unwilling to do this for themselves, they need only to know that error cannot produce this unnatural reluctance.”
Overcoming the reluctance to call upon Christian Science nursing
I’ve been particularly interested in this topic because once someone does call upon Christian Science nursing, their response is often, Why didn’t I do this sooner?” or “Why don’t more people know about this wonderful healing service?”
This week, as I was looking for blog topics, I was thinking about this “unnatural reluctance” to call upon Christian Science nursing and what might help fellow church members in this regard. And it occurred to me that maybe the challenge is much simpler than I thought. It could be as simple as not knowing how to access Christian Science nursing. Or possibly some Church members don’t understand what Christian Science nursing actually is or does?
A Quiz
To help with this question, please take the quiz below to see how comfortable you are with calling on Christian Science nursing.
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Do you know a Christian Science nurse personally?
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Do you know what your nearest Christian Science nursing facility is?
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Have you ever visited a Christian Science nursing facility?
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Do you know the phone number of your nearest Christian Science nursing facility? If no, do you know how to find that phone number?
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Do you know the phone number of the nearest Visiting Christian Science Nursing Service? If no, do you know how to find that number?
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Do you know the phone number of a Christian Science nurse? If no, do you know how to find that number?
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Did you know that you can call the BA and other CS nursing facilities with questions about nursing care ideas?
Expanded answers to the quiz
If you answered “no” to most of these questions, then you may be more reluctant to call on Christian Science nursing when there is a need for it. Gratefully, this is an easy problem to solve. Here are some answers:
- Do you know a Christian Science nurse personally?
a. If there is a Christian Science nurse in your church, make a point of meeting them and asking them about their practice. Are they available for visits? If there is no Christian Science nurse in your church, find the nearest one in the Christian Science Journal. Call them and find out if they are available to make calls if and when needed. Get to know someone you would feel comfortable calling upon. - Do you know what your nearest Christian Science nursing facility is?
a. All of the accredited Christian Science nursing facilities are listed in the Christian Science Journal. Here’s list of all the accredited facilities in the world. - Have you visited a Christian Science nursing facility?
a. Many facilities hold Annual Meetings when you can tour, meet staff members, and ask questions about the services of the organization. And all facilities welcome visitors at any time who want to learn more about the organization. - Do you know the phone number of your nearest Christian Science nursing facility? If no, do you know how to find that phone number?
a. Contact information for accredited Christian Science nursing facilities, visiting services, and training schools are listed in the Christian Science Journal, in the online directory on christianscience.com, and on The Commission website. - Do you know the phone number of the nearest Visiting Christian Science Nursing Service? If no, do you know how to find that number?
a. See #4 - Do you know the phone number of a Christian Science nurse? If no, do you know how to find that number?
a. Contact information for Christian Science nurses is also in the Christian Science Journal and in the online directory on christianscience.com. - Did you know that you can call the BA and other CS nursing facilities with questions about nursing care ideas?
a. The Benevolent Association and other Christian Science nursing organizations are a resource for information on care ideas as well as information on health care insurance, health care proxies, and Medicare.
What you can do
When there is a need, I sincerely hope that you would readily call upon Christian Science nursing. But if you feel any reluctance, I hope that you will take to heart these suggestions for how to become acquainted with this healing ministry. This will enable you to quickly and easily call upon Christian Science nursing, or help a fellow member to do so.
I welcome your thoughts and ideas on this topic. It is of importance to all Christian Scientists.
