L. Vern Farnum, MDiv, BCC
Director, Spiritual Care & Chaplaincy Services
Indiana University Health – Academic Health Center
Methodist Hospital – Wile Hall W230
Director, Spiritual Care & Chaplaincy Services
Indiana University Health – Academic Health Center
Methodist Hospital – Wile Hall W230
L. Vern Farnum is the Director of Spiritual Care & Chaplaincy Services for Indiana University Health Academic Healthcare Center (Methodist, University and Riley Hospitals). Vern is an ordained Presbyterian pastor who completed a Doctor of Ministry degree at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago in leadership and spiritual care. He holds a Master of Divinity from Louisville Seminary, and a B.A. from Samford University in Birmingham, AL, his hometown.
Prior to going into ministry Vern was an Athletic Training/pre-Physical Therapy student at Indiana University. Vern is a Board-Certified Chaplain in The Association of Professional Chaplains, a trained Critical Incident Stress Debriefing facilitator and Psychological First Aid responder. He is also a former Certified Thanatologist with the Association of Death Education and Counseling. He worked with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, responding to various community emergencies, including Hurricane Katrina, 9/11 and a number of other community and church crises.
Vern is an avid reader of history, enjoys exercise and is a fan of college football and rugby. He writes a weekly reflection/devotion under the caption “Know What I Mean . . .?” Vern has been in Indianapolis since 1994, when he joined the pastoral staff at Faith Presbyterian Church. In his career, Vern has served as a Pastor for 18 years and as a Clinical Chaplain for 24 years.
