Books mentioned in presentation.
Carlson, Dwight L. Why Christians Shoot Their Wounded?:
Helping (Not Hurting) Those with Emotional Difficulties. Inter-Varsity, 1994.
Gregg-Schroeder, Susan. In the Shadow of God's Wings: Grace in the Midst of Depression.
Upper Room Books, 1997.
Hammond, Mary Tuomi. The Churched and the De-Churched: Mending A Damaged Faith. St.
Louis: Chalice Press, 2001.
Murren, Doug. Churches That Heal: Becoming a Church That Mends
Broken Hearts and Restores Shattered Lives. West Monroe, LA:
Howard Publishing, 1999.
Strobel, Shriley. Creating a Circle of Caring:
The Church and the Mentally Ill. Raleigh,
NC: NAMI-NC, 1997.
Waterhouse, Steven. Strength for
His People: A Ministry for Families of the Mentally Ill (Book)
Westcliff Bible Press, 1994.
“Differentiating schizophrenia from demon influence”
More Suggestions
for a clergy mental health packet
1. “Guidelines for Clergy: Providing Pastoral Care to Persons With Mental Illness and Their Family.”
2. Worship Bulletin Insert for Mental Illness Awareness
3. Bible Verses of Comfort for Persons with a Mental Illness
4. May is Mental Health Month
5. Children and Mental Illness Bulletin Insert (Print out back-to-back and cut in half to use as an insert.) The first week in May is Children’s Mental Health Week.
6. Mental Illnesses Awareness Guide for Clergy and Other Spiritual Leaders
COST: Free
Available from: American Psychiatric Association. Phone: 1-888-267-5400
7. When Mental
Illness Strikes in A Family of Faith
A brochure in Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish versions for families and for clergy working with families who have a
member who has mental illness.
Order Form www.pathways2promise.org/pdf/orderform.pdf
8. Mental Illness: Coping with the Holidays
The holidays are especially difficult when our own feelings of sadness, loneliness, depression
and anxiety are the opposite of the "Hallmark" images we see all around us.
9. National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding
10. May is Mental Health Month Bulletin Insert
Depression and clergy today.
The executive
director Pension, Inc. for the Virginia Conference of the UMC stated the following in a June 22, 2006 UM News article.
The clergy population as a whole consumes a tremendous amount of mental health benefits. The
health insurance industry has walked away from clergy because of that. They say ‘we can’t handle you any more.
You’re too expensive.
During the time of the previous generation of clergy, we were in the
top five healthiest profession in the US. They had less stress, more resources
for dealing with stress and more respect. This generation of clergy are now in the bottom five least healthy with far more
stress, much fewer resources and less respect.
After a mental health article by a clergy person in a clergy journal was
published, many heartbreaking e-mails came from clergy.
For example, A candidate for ordination as a Deacon who is
bi-polar asking if there is any support over the Internet
A pastor whose annual conference
has just cut in half the mental health coverage for
the conference health plan. He is afraid his wife will not go to the hospital when it is needed because they can't pay
the 50%
An elder who shared a story of "abuse" by the church when
they found out about his depression even telling him not to speak about depression or suicide from the pulpit because parents
would have to explain it to the "fragile" children. He goes on.
. ."I feel violated by my church. There has been
NO support for my family and wife.
I have questioned my allegiance to
my denomination many times.
The truth is there is so little support from the church.
What former spiritual giants had to say about mental illness
and the Christian faith
Martin Luther on Depression
This article is about someone who has been there, done that, and has the t-shirt. The Protestant Reformation Leader
and writer of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”, Martin Luther felt free to share his own struggles with mental illness,
i.e. depression. Research of Luther's sermons, teaching material for young pastors display a very compassionate
person of pastoral care with insightful and detailed observations, and a proclamation of real grace for real life. Both
his compassion for Christians with mental illnesses and his keen observation of them were way ahead of his time.
John Wesley on Depression
This
article is about a person whom the denominational family tree of Methodists and holiness churches view as the herald of sanctification--holiness
of heart and life. For century after century the idea prevailed among Christians that filthiness was akin to holiness. This
only helped the spread of diseases like the "Black Plague." On one occasion Mr. Wesley said "Cleanliness
is next to godliness." His concern for personal hygiene rose out of his understanding of sanctification, his view
of pastoral care,nd his concern for people's mental and physical health.
Wesley was as concerned for the health of people’s bodies and minds as he was for their
souls. He read medicine with the same avidity he showed for theology. He also found health education lacking and supplied
it. Early in his ministry Wesley established a visitation program for the sick and dispensed medicine to the poor in London and Bristol.
Also, he advocated for better health care.
John Wesley and Psychology
As a significant figure in Christian history, John Wesley has import for modern Christian
psychology in at least four ways: (1) his contention that the findings of science could be used by Christians for the glory
of God and the alleviation of human suffering; (2) his personal example of how difficult it is to put faith into practice
in daily living; (3) his teachings about the grace of God and the possibility of Christian perfection; and (4) his concern
for social justice and the welfare of the poor. This essay discusses these issues and demonstrates how a study of Wesley can
influence modern Christian psychology.
Statements from different faith communities and mental illness.
1 in 4 Households in Your Church is Afraid to Tell You This Secret by Carlene Hill Byron
Carlene Hill Byron is the
former Director of Communications for Vision New England. Through NAMI—the Nation’s Voice on Mental Illness, she
and her husband, James, train churches to effectively serve people within the congregation with mental health problems and
also teach NAMI’s class for families of people with mental health problems. They are members of Asbury United Methodist Church in Raleigh, North
Carolina, where James serves on staff.
First published by Vision New England’s
Ministries with the Disabled, Acton, Massachusetts.
Models Churches Offering Radical Hospitality
A. North Presbyterian Church Kalamazoo, MI
B. Plymouth Congregational Church, UCC, Seattle, Washington
C. Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church of Alexandria, Virginia
D. Hillsboro Presbyterian Church of Nashville, Tennessee
Additional Resources
A. Faith-Net NAMI
This is a network composed of members and
friends of NAMI. It was established for the purposes of (1) facilitating the development within the Faith Community of
a non-threatening, supportive environment for those with serious mental illness and their families, (2) pointing out the value
of one’s spirituality in the recovery process from mental illness and the need for spiritual strength for those who
are caretakers, (3) educating clergy and congregations concerning the biological basis and characteristics of mental illness,
and (4) encouraging advocacy of the Faith Community to bring about hope and help for all who are affected by mental illness.
B. Theology for Mental Health Ministry
C. North Carolina Conference Mental Health
NCC Mental Health is a focus of the North Carolina Conference of the
United Methodist Church Conference Committee on Disability Concerns
D. Some helpful web sites for World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week in October.
Religious
communities are in a unique position to combat stigma and provide a message of acceptance and hope
F. Advocacy in the Church and Fighting the Stigma of Mental Illness
