Is a Faith Community Health Ministry in Your Future?
We’re supporting Faith Community Nurses and Health Ministers bringing healthcare access to vulnerable and diverse populations across Oregon.
The Faith Community Health Network (FCHN) is a professional association that provides education, support, and networking for a growing group of dedicated faith community nurses (FCNs) (formerly called Parish Nurses) and health ministers from diverse faiths serving in their own faith communities in the context of their faith tradition. Some may also serve in the community-at-large. Faith communities differ, and members have unique needs, especially spiritual care needs. The FCHN welcomes all faith traditions and values and embraces the different needs among faith traditions – and among those who do not claim a faith tradition. The FCHN is not a membership organization; rather it exists to support, encourage, and equip health ministry teams in their own faith setting.
From a few hours a month to full-time, trusted faith community nurses work autonomously within their scope of practice to assess the population, to develop interventions, to meet the needs of the community served, often leading a team of health ministers and others. These trained professionals bring inclusive healthcare access to vulnerable and diverse populations in a non-traditional setting.
Our board is comprised of compassionate and dedicated Faith Community Nurses and other Health Ministry professionals.
Marcy graduated with her BSN in 1987 from Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls and began working at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital that same year as a staff nurse on Med-surg and ICU. She transitioned to a position in a general physician’s clinic in 1994 and tried her hand at clinical instruction with nursing students from Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) as a substitute. She joined the teaching staff at LBCC in the nursing program in 1996, feeling the need for a greater professional challenge. After 29 years of teaching nursing students in the classroom and clinical she retired in June 2025.
Marcy earned a Master of Science in Health Education in 2002 from Western Oregon University, a Master of Science in Nursing in 2013 from Western Governors University and took the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course in 2020. Marcy has served multiple roles on the FCHN board assisting in all aspects of leadership, including grant writing and public speaking, and is a member of the Health Ministries Association. She serves as a Faith Community Nurse at New Hope Church in Lebanon Oregon. “My faith has been critical to understanding my calling in my life and in my profession.”
Linda Lang, RN, CCM, CPHQ, MBA, Faith Community Nurse
Linda is the vice president of the the Faith Community Health Network. She is a certified case manager (CCM), certified professional in healthcare quality (CPHQ), and faith community nurse (FCN). She studied to become a faith community nurse in 1995 under the Lutheran Parish Nurse model developed by Dr. Granger Westberg offered through Marquette University. Her mission is to serve others through faith ministry and program development. She has developed body-mind-spirit health programming for congregations, conducted needs assessments, and has led several health screening events. Linda has a passion for meeting and connecting with people where they are through prayer, healing touch, hospital visitation, and care coordination.
She holds a master’s in business administration from the University of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois. Linda is the Vice President of Physician Services at McKenzie Willamette Medical Center, working to ensure practice operations are efficient, integrated, and deliver a positive care experience. Previously, Linda served as Director of Quality and Population Health at Samaritan Health Plans, Primary Care Division Director for PeaceHealth, and Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems. She developed the Oregon Rural Healthcare Quality Network and Peer Review Network for rural providers and served as President of the Oregon Rural Health Association. She is passionate about population health and using data to improve outcomes and eliminate health disparities.
Liz Nation has lived in Brookings since 2006. She grew up in Porterville, California and has two grown children, both of whom are married. Her daughter lives in Kentucky and is pursuing a career in sonography, and her son is a software engineer living in Denver, CO. She is proud of her children and enjoys visiting them and her young granddaughter.
She became interested in faith community nursing during a discussion with another nurse in her church about how they might use their nursing expertise to serve their congregation. She was led to take the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course and is slowly building her faith community nursing practice at her church. She is also working with leadership at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, also in Brookings, to build a health ministry serving the homeless. She hopes to start a local non-profit so she can receive grants to support health ministry in her community.
Liz’s love of nursing began in her late teens while serving as a United States Air Force medic. She challenged the LVN Board and worked at the Veterans’ Affairs Hospital in Albuquerque for a couple of years before going back to school for her Associate Degree in Nursing at Bakersfield College. She worked in acute care in Bakersfield for three years before discovering community-based nursing and has been working in community settings since 1997. She is currently contracted with the State of Oregon as a Long Term Care Community Nurse with the Department of Human Services and has been doing community long term care since 2011. She is self-employed and receives referrals from Department of Human Services case managers to provide monitoring visits, client and family teaching, and care coordination. She enjoys serving clients in their homes where they are most comfortable and considers it an honor and calling to care for others. She traveled to Costa Rica for her first medical mission trip in 2024 and enjoyed serving the people of Costa Rica.
Liz enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking the Oregon Coast trails, walking on Oregon beaches, and spending time at the river.
Vacant
Secretary
We’re seeking a detail-oriented and committed individual to serve in a volunteer role as Secretary of the Faith Community Health Network. This role offers the opportunity to support our mission by keeping our board organized, maintaining records, and helping ensure clear communication. If you’re ready to contribute to a healthier, more connected community through leadership and organization, we’d love to hear from you!
Tiffany is the Director of Engagement for the Faith Community Health Network. For many years, she worked in Critical Care, Diabetes Education, and Wound Care at the Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. She is currently working at Obria Medical Clinics. She is developing a Faith Community Nurse Ministry at Southside Christian Church in Lebanon, OR. She has been active in nursing for over 25 years.
Tiffany has been part of the Faith Community Health Network since 2020. One of her favorite things about serving as a Faith Community Nurse is being part of a team that has compassion for their community and congregations.
Tiffany received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Linn-Benton Community College, her Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from Liberty University and she holds a Master’s Degree in Ministry through Hope International University.
Tawni Pfaff brings many years of nursing expertise to her Faith Community Nursing Practice. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Linfield School of Nursing and worked almost two decades at the Oregon Burn Center before starting for Samaritan Health Services in 1993. She left paid nursing employment in 2018.
Having taken the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course in 2020 and the Westberg Lead Educator Course in 2021, Tawni also serves as co-lead for the Faith Community Health Network and does a great deal of outreach for the organization. She also provides Zoom and other support to the Foundations of Faith Community Course.
Tawni enjoys dual roles as a faith community nurse. She serves as a backup Faith Community Nurse in support of the Lebanon, Oregon congregation, Am HaSefer Oregon – People of the Book and brings her nursing expertise to the thriving River Center Church Homeless Outreach Ministry, also in Lebanon, monthly with medical students. Tawni is also the point person for Gardenview Senior Apartments where she is available as a resource person twice a month for the residents. She loves the Lord and feels very much called to this work.
She is active in the community in other ways, as well, serving as a volunteer for Linn County Animal Rescue (LCAR) in Waterloo as the “Dog Lead,” where she cleans dog kennels and feeds and waters the dogs, among other things! She also serves as liaison between the owner and other volunteers. Tawni is also on the Board of Directors for LCAR.
Jennifer Rasor BSN-RN, CCRN is the Education & Event Coordinator for the Faith Community Health Network. Jennifer grew up in Linn County and has a desire to continue serving her community through her Faith and her calling as a nurse. She has worked for Samaritan Health Services since 2014. She graduated with honors from Linn Benton Nursing Program in 2017, followed by a BSN from Linfield University in 2019. Jennifer has worked as a critical care RN from 2017-2025 and is now working as a peri-operative RN in the PACU.
Jennifer completed the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course in December 2024 and is developing her ministry at Southside Christian Church in Lebanon. Jennifer has participated in activities with the Faith Community Health Network and is looking forward to her role on the board. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys traveling, backpacking, nature, and spending time with her grandkids.
Kiersten represents Health Ministers in her role as Director on the Faith Community Health Network Board of Directors. She is a native Oregonian, born in Roseburg, growing up in Brownsville and Tigard/Tualatin areas. She actively participated in band in high school, as well as youth group and youth choir with local Episcopalian communities.
Kiersten’s start in learning the art of ministering comfort and care was as a “candy striper” at Meridian Park Hospital where she was taught to lead through service. Learning about empathy, compassion, advocacy and assertiveness as a teen and how to administer them at the right time was great preparation for her career. She served as an Orthopedic Trauma Medic in the Army for six years, and, after discharge, was part of establishing a “crazy fun!” orthopedic practice at Emanuel Hospital, in the heart of northeast Portland. The clinic had five surgeons specializing in trauma and reconstruction and taught first and third year Oregon Health & Sciences University Medical Residents the art of the professional bedside manner and how to think outside the box when needed. Kiersten trained and became licensed as a massage therapist while in this role, and her skills as a Licensed Massage Therapist, coupled with empathy gained through life experiences, brought a holistic aspect to the practice and equipped her to assist where conventional therapies were lacking the needed therapeutic results.
Kiersten lives in Sweet Home, is actively involved with her three daughters and their dog Rosie, loves advocating for the youth throughout the school district and for veterans in her community. In 2022, she graduated from the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing/Health Ministry Course, and in 2023 completed her Community Health Worker training through Oregon State University and passed her certification. She currently works with Crossroads Communities, a local nonprofit organization, as the veterans’ liaison and client services advocate. She is actively involved as a Health Minister with Am HaSefer Oregon – People of the Book in Lebanon, OR, as well as serving on the Faith Community Health Network Board of Directors.
Student Voice
We’re seeking the next enthusiastic and dedicated individual to take on the Student Voice role. This position is a chance to bring fresh perspectives, share your ideas, and make a positive impact in our community. If you’re ready to step into a meaningful opportunity, we’d love to hear from you!
Deb is founder of the Faith Community Health Network, serving first as the coalition lead in 2019 and in the Executive Director role since the Network became a non-profit organization in 2021. In addition to grant management and other day-to-day operations, she coordinates the Westberg Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course hosted by the Faith Community Health Network and is the Lead Educator for the course.
Deb has an active nursing practice in her faith community, Am HaSefer Oregon – People of the Book, with a focus on social determinants of health. She has over 40 years in nursing, primarily in occupational health and faith community nursing. She volunteers for the Westberg Institute of Faith Community Nursing and is a member of the Health Ministries Association, Faith Community Nurses International, and the Spiritual Care Association.
Deb earned her associate degree in nursing from Dakota Wesleyan University, her Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from South Dakota State University, and her Masters’ Degree in Public Health from Oregon State University. She retired as an Army Nurse Corps Lieutenant Colonel in 2003 after serving 27 years in the National Guard in both South Dakota and Oregon.
Deb enjoys swimming, hiking, walking along the rugged Oregon Coast with husband, Mike, and quiet times spent reflecting, reading, or cuddling with her cat, Tigger. Deb was raised in a loving home in Des Moines, Iowa by parents of strong faith. Her trust and commitment to follow the Holy Spirit’s lead in all areas of her life has taken her out of her comfort zone time and time again. She has found that she emerges from each challenge with renewed faith, ready to take that next step in her spiritual journey.
