Operating on the premise that medical patients...

Operating on the premise that medical patients need spiritual and emotional as well as physical care, the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Foundation has given a two-year, $60,000 grant to the center’s Parish Nurse/Interfaith Health Ministries Program.

So far, 28 churches and synagogues in Los Angeles and Orange counties have expressed interest, and five have contracted with the hospital to develop programs for their congregations and help them find and train nurses.

Each congregation will have one or more registered nurses--volunteer or paid--who, together with a pastor and health committee, identify the health needs. The concept was developed eight years ago by the Rev. Granger Westberg, a pastor and educator in Illinois, according to program coordinator Jeanette Shelly. The pastor-nurse team symbolizes the important connection between one’s faith and one’s health, she said.

Parish nurses set up classes on illness prevention and provide individual health counseling, home and hospital visitation, medical screenings, and referrals.

All nurses in the program meet once a month at the medical center with Shelly and Chaplain Karyn Shadbolt-Gladson, director of pastoral care, to receive support and training. The medical center provides start-up supplies, including books, brochures, stethoscopes and blood-pressure cuffs.

Shelly, who was a nurse in a similar program at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach for two years, reports that there are about 1,500 parish nurses working throughout the United States, about 200 of them in Southern California.

“Parish nurses take time to listen, seek answers for you and calm your mind. They inspire people to take better care of themselves,” she said. “It’s very rewarding to see the difference you make in people’s lives.”

The coordinator urges nurses to develop their services based on their personal strengths and interests, as well as the congregation’s needs. “And we encourage them to share their duties by teaming up with other nurses,” Shelly noted.

Erin Lawrence, a full-time nurse-educator in the operating room at Long Beach Memorial, is a prospective volunteer nurse for her church, First Baptist Church of Lakewood.

“It’s an opportunity to care for people in a way I’m not able to do in the operating room,” she said. “I will be . . . a personal friend who understands (their) religious beliefs and can be a liaison between physician, pastor and patient.”

A conference on parish nursing and elder care will be held at the medical center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Nurses, clergy members and lay persons interested in parish nursing may attend.

For further information about the parish nurse program or the conference, call Parish Nurse Coordinator Jeanette Shelly or Chaplain Karyn Shadbolt-Gladson, director of pastoral care, at (310) 933-2386.

DATES

* Free vaccinations will be available at 17 Catholic parishes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 15. All sites are in predominantly Latino neighborhoods surrounding downtown Los Angeles, in the San Fernando Valley, the Harbor area and Northeast Los Angeles.

“Health authorities tell us that the number of incidents of measles, mumps and other infectious diseases has risen to near epidemic proportions among Hispanic children--and we must do everything possible to protect the lives of our young children,” said Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, Los Angeles’ Roman Catholic archbishop, in announcing the massive vaccination program, which is co-sponsored by the Rotary Club, the American Red Cross and the County Health Department. English speakers may phone (213) 251-3215 and Spanish speakers (213) 251-3208 for exact locations.

* “Ethnic Conflict in the New Europe: The Trials and Tribulations of Unified Germany” is the title of a free lecture by Ronald Azmus, a senior analyst with the RAND Corp., at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Jewish Community Building. The talk is presented by The Martyrs Memorial and Museum of the Holocaust in association with Women’s Circle. 6505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 651-3175.

* Taoism will be the subject of a talk by John F. Stark as part of “An Introduction to the World’s Religions” series at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Philosophic Research Society. $5 admission. 3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 663-2167.

* Author and Biblical scholar David Noel Freedman will discuss whether the first nine books of the Old Testament follow the sequential progression of the 10 Commandments during a May 10 lecture at 7:30 p.m. at UCLA’s Lenart Auditorium. The lecture is one in a series on “Biblical Roots, Judaism and Early Christianity” sponsored by the California Museum of Ancient Art. Freedman is professor of Biblical studies at UC San Diego. The talk is sponsored by the Museum of Ancient Art. Admission is $10, or $8 for senior citizens. The cost for the full series of three lectures is $30, or $27 for seniors. For information and reservations, call (818) 762-5500.

* A conference for Christians who want to overcome compulsive and/or addictive behavior will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 15 at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Northridge. Archibald Hart, dean of psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary, and William Gaultiere, clinical psychologist, will be speakers. Seminar topics include mother-daughter and father-son issues, prescription drugs, sex addiction, anger management and grief. Participants will learn about resources available in the San Fernando Valley. Admission is $45; group rates are available. 19700 Rinaldi St. (818) 349-7626.

* Women will read sermonettes on American women who were spiritual leaders at a service at 6 p.m. Monday at Campbell Memorial Universal Life Church. The works of Sojourner Truth and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini will be included. The service will be held in the sanctuary of Christ Church, Metaphysical, 1838 E. Wardlow Road, Long Beach. (310) 597-8363.

* St. John the Baptist Catholic Church celebrates its 12th annual International Festival the weekend of May 15-16. Rides, entertainment, games and international food will be available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. both days. 3848 Stewart Ave., Baldwin Park. (818) 960-2795.

* “Aspects of Love” is the subject of Rabbi Denise Eger’s sermon at Congregation Kol Ami at 8 p.m. Friday. Leading the service for the temple, which was founded by gays and lesbians, will be Rabbi John Rosove and Cantor Aviva Rosenbloom of Temple Israel of Hollywood, together with Kol Ami’s Cantor Jeff Carron. The service will take place at Temple Israel, 7300 Hollywood Blvd. (213) 893-2838.

BRIEFLY

Fuller Theological Seminary President David Allan Hubbard will be honored May 15 for his 30 years of service to theological scholarship, the seminary and the church at a retirement dinner for invited guests at the Biltmore Hotel. Sen. Mark O. Hatfield (R-Ore.) will speak and the Rev. Lloyd Ogilvie will be master of ceremonies.

Parishioners, civic leaders and clergy will pay tribute to Father Donald Potthoff, founding pastor of St. Denis Catholic Church in Diamond Bar, who will be saluted for his achievements during 44 years as a priest. He will be designated pastor emeritus at gala celebrations throughout the day May 16. For details, call the church at (909) 861-7106.

A non-denominational weekly workshop for those who have suffered the loss of a significant relationship through death, divorce or separation is offered on five Tuesday evenings, May 18-June 15, by First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica. For details, call (310) 393-8258.

Send notices to: Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, Calif. 90053. Fax: (213) 237-4712. Items must be brief and arrive at least three weeks in advance of the event announced. Include a phone number, date, time and complete address.