Arden Wood is an internationally renowned center for spiritual renewal. It provides a safe haven where seasoned Christian Scientists can refresh thought and delve deeper into the study of Christian Science unencumbered by the distractions of daily activities and care. Gracious residential apartments, delicious and balanced meals, weekly housekeeping services, beautiful gardens, woodland pathways, fully-equipped libraries, metaphysical talks, Bible classes, hymn sings, and the loving care of our devoted staff, make living at Arden Wood a richly rewarding experience.
Arden Wood serves the full needs of the Christian Science community. Its mission is to support healing through skillful Christian Science nursing care and training, inspired living, and Christly service.
Founded in 1926, Arden Wood Christian Science care facility and a visiting nurse program for the San Francisco Bay area. Arden Wood also provides a Christian Science nursing arts training program and a rest and study center.
The facilities and programs are based on the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, who is the pastor of Christian Science. Christian Science is a religion that rejects most conventional medical treatments in favor of reliance solely on spiritual healing through prayer. Arden Wood is one of the few accredited Christian Science nursing care facilities CSNFs in the United States and is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization.
In May 2003, Bihag and another CSNF employee, Linda Dewyanti, filed petitions for I-360 special immigrant-religious worker visas to work as Christian Science nurses at the facility. Defendant CIS denied both of the petitions on the grounds that they did not submit sufficient documentation to establish that Arden Wood is a “recognized religious denomination or organization or an organization associated with such a recognized religious denomination” as required by 8 C.F.R. SS 204.5m2 and m3 i A.
Plaintiffs have brought this action against defendants United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Administrative Appeals Office, and the Department of Homeland Security seeking declaratory and injunctive relief.
If you are a Christian Science practitioner or a certified Christian Science nurse, you may want to consider making an advance health care directive AHCD. An AHCD allows you to specify someone you trust to communicate with and make decisions about your health care in the event of your incapacity.
Arden Wood is pleased to report that Medicare pays for Christian Science nursing care provided at our facility as part of a “Religious Nonmedical Health Care Institution.” Arden Wood has published a booklet, available here, to help you understand how Medicare coverage works for patients receiving Christian Science nursing at a CSNF. It is important to remember, however, that each person’s situation is unique and it is advisable to discuss Medicare eligibility with a personal advisor.