The Mission
The mission of the Westberg Institute is to support the professional practice of faith community nursing through education, resources, and knowledge sharing.
The Beginnings
Granger E. Westberg (1911-1999) was a pioneer who, over the course of a long and rich career, broke new ground in the areas of theology, clinical pastoral education, and whole person healthcare. Westberg was a Lutheran clergyman who had been a parish pastor, hospital chaplain, professor of practical theology and teacher of medical students. His work was based on his belief that healthcare transcends physical care, because true healing involves the whole person in the context of their community. In addition to pioneering the professional practice of chaplaincy, one of Westberg’s most significant contributions was the founding of the parish nurse movement. Originally developed in 1984 as a partnership between Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois and six area congregations, this new ecumenical movement soon grew to encompass nurses and churches around the country.
You can read more about Granger Westberg in his biography, The Gentle Rebel, available in our online store.
Equipping Parish Nurses
As the parish nurse movement grew, information was spread by advocates of whole-person health. In 1986, Advocate Health Care in Chicago decided to establish the National Parish Nurse Resource Center (NPNRC) to provide a nationwide clearinghouse for information about this growing movement. In 1991, the first foundational course in parish nursing was taught in Wisconsin. As parish nursing grew to include sites in other countries, the center adapted its work and changed the name to the International Parish Nurse Resource Center (IPNRC).
In 2002, the Center moved to the Deaconess Foundation in St. Louis. The work of the IPNRC focused on the provision and promotion of education, research and support through curriculum, resources and continuing education opportunities.
In 2011, the IPNRC moved to Church Health in Memphis, TN. The integrated history of the IPNRC and Church Health began in 1978 when Dr. Scott Morris was in the chaplain’s office of Yale Medical School. He saw a pamphlet on the chaplain’s desk entitled, “How to Start a Church-Based Health Clinic,” written by Granger Westberg. Due to Granger Westberg’s inspiration, Dr. Morris founded Church Health in Memphis in 1987. The IPNRC formally changed its name to the Westberg Institute under Church Health at the Westberg Symposium in 2016.
The Westberg Institute moved to the Spiritual Care Association of New York, NY in 2020. This move provides opportunities to grow internationally and develop interprofessional relationships. Nurses, chaplains, and other spiritual leaders, together have an interdisciplinary approach to caring and continue to develop Spiritual Care in nursing practice under the leadership of Dr. Eric Hall, DTh, APBCC who is the President and Chief Executive Officer of HealthCare Chaplaincy Network, Inc. and the Spiritual Care Association. He is also President and Chancellor of CAPSTONE University.
