The global legacy of slavery and the trauma of forced displacement were at the heart of the biennial Parish Nursing World Forum symposium, held last month in Dundee, Scotland, under the theme “Caring Ministries to a Broken World.” Around 40 nurses and volunteers from the U.K., New Zealand, Ukraine, Germany, and Finland gathered to explore how parish nurses can bring healing and hope to communities scarred by historical injustice and modern crises.
Hosted at Dundee Law Parish Church at The Steeple, the event combined thematic talks with cultural exchange, including Scottish ceilidh dancing, local food, and fellowship. Organizers said the symposium provided not only rich educational content but also vital time for connection and reflection among international colleagues.
Paris nursing symposiums in previous years have been held elsewhere in the U.K, followed by Germany and Finland.
Pam D’Andre, Parish Nursing Specialist for the World Forum, told Christian Daily International that participants at the recent event in Scotland enjoyed the event and engaged in both professional discussions and informal activities.
“We had panel discussions focusing on specialty areas that select parish nurses were involved in and, of course, we had ample free time to interact and fellowship together,” said D’Andre.
Keynote speakers included Sally Foster-Fulton, an ordained Church of Scotland minister and U.K. and global ambassador for the international aid agency Christian Aid, and Dr. Sharon Hinton, a spiritual care expert with a doctorate in global health and wholeness and over 30 years of experience in faith community nursing leadership.
Foster-Fulton addressed two topics, beginning with “The Legacy of Slavery,” which examined the widespread physical, social, and spiritual harm caused by the history of chattel slavery.
“Racism brings multifaceted challenges and obstacles into the lived experience of a global majority of our siblings,” said D’Andre, recalling Foster-Fulton’s talk.
“What might repair and repentance look like? She used the history of Jamaica and Scotland’s relationship as her base and broadened her topic to include other things we can be enslaved to. She also included reconciliation and repentance in the context of bringing peace to relationships and wholeness to a person as they move forward.”
The second topic presented by Foster-Fulton was “Forced Displacement” and how war, climate change and economic inequity have driven the forced displacement of a growing number of refugees.
“The impact that this loss of identity, status, culture and stability, coupled with the trauma of upheaval causes, can be monumental. What practical approaches help healing?” said D’Andre, relating the discussion.
“Sally took us through several scenarios, which helped us understand a displaced person’s psyche and predicaments as they maneuver through a new system, country, culture, often being stripped of their credentials, education and identity. How to effectively help those who find themselves in such a place.”
The talks were complemented by a practical challenge and subsequent discussion, dubbed “The Parish Nurses’ Response,” given at the forum by Sharon Hinton.
Hinton led the response for parish nurses the first day in talking about “Slavery, Racism and Poverty.” D’Andre said this was about Christocentric values such as “treating others as we would want to be treated” and looking at how to break cycles of enslavement in different spheres of life.
“We had a couple of exercises to drive home the points made and each day we had breakout discussions to further talk about the practicality of living free of enslavement.”
On the second day, Hinton talked about “Radical Hospitality: a Global Response” about practical methods to bring people into inner circles of communities whilst respecting their individuality and cultural differences.
On the third day, she spoke on “The Multiple Aspects of Self-Care; Contagious? YES!” concerning how to care for self creatively, giving self permission to take time away from ministry and work to remain healthy and refreshed.
The Parish Nursing World Forum is an international organization that has supported the health and well-being of Christian communities since 1991. It includes representatives from more than 30 countries, all trained through a common foundations course, though the practical application is adapted to meet the specific needs of each congregation and community where parish nurses serve.
The organization provides a platform for parish nurses to support each other, share educational ideas, occasionally attend each other’s events and every two years come together for a symposium.
