In August 2013, the Faith Community Nurse Network (FCNN) of the Greater Twin Cities in Minnesota hosted a gathering of six FCNs at Charlson Meadows outside Minneapolis to discuss forming an organization to support faith community nurses. It was during those meetings that Faith Community Nurses International (FCNI) was born. Beverly Siegrist, Chair, Andrea West, Vice-Chair, and Wanda Alexander, Secretary -Treasurer continued to work on the organization's development for the next two years. FCNI was incorporated in Minnesota; members were recruited; bylaws were adopted. A full Board was appointed and returned to Charlson Meadows to continue development and planning in September 2015. Since that date, FCNI has grown to be the professional nursing organization for faith community nurses, focusing on the advancement of the science of the specialty practice through promoting education, research, and evidence-based practice. A transitional partnership was established with Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk North Carolina from 2019-2020 with the goal of jointly offering educational programs, supporting research efforts, and promoting the evidence-based practice of faith community nursing.

Dr. Andy West: Founder

Dr. Beverly Siegrist: Founder

FCNI Innaugural Board, from left to right: Andrea West, Wanda Alexander, Alice Murphy, Tamara Otey, Beverly Siegrist, Donna Callaghan, Susan Dyess
Picture of inaugural FCNI board provided by Dr. Donna Callaghan

The mission of FCNI is:

To advance the specialty practice of faith community nursing through professional education, competency development, research, and evidence-based practice.

Faith Community Nurses International (FCNI) strives to be a vibrant, interfaith international network of faith community nurses, empowering and supporting our members as they provide care for individuals in communities in diverse settings, considering mind, body, and spirit.

FCNI's purpose is to:

• Recognize the practice of faith community nursing as a ministry     
• Advance faith community nursing as a nursing specialty
• Connect faith community nurses (FCNs) worldwide
• Promote financial sustainability of the specialty
• Support research in faith community nursing
• Providing continuing education programs for FCNs
• Maintain an online, peer-reviewed nursing journal
• Advocate for faith community nursing practice locally, nationally, and internationally