Many pastors participate in Clinical Pastoral Education programs, which can include awareness of mental health and disability concerns. In the Reformed tradition, we may best be served by combining our vibrant spirituality with discerning use of the sciences. In many congregations, licensed social workers and therapists can present information based on their training so as to nurture caring responses to people with disabilities. It may be particularly helpful to learn some of the various mental health terms, so that the community can best work together (instead of enabling or blaming or any of the other unhelpful behaviors).
I trust that readers will keep in mind the vulnerable ones who may believe that simply "praying hard enough" or "believing more strongly" could lead to abandoning a medication regime or other treatment plan. The church is in a wonderful position to affirm what we've learned from social and medical sciences in combination with faith-filled prayers and the support of the community.
This is a rich inquiry, and a complicated one, because we are complicated creatures!
Posted in: Ideas on Mental Health Ministry Training?
Many pastors participate in Clinical Pastoral Education programs, which can include awareness of mental health and disability concerns. In the Reformed tradition, we may best be served by combining our vibrant spirituality with discerning use of the sciences. In many congregations, licensed social workers and therapists can present information based on their training so as to nurture caring responses to people with disabilities. It may be particularly helpful to learn some of the various mental health terms, so that the community can best work together (instead of enabling or blaming or any of the other unhelpful behaviors).
I trust that readers will keep in mind the vulnerable ones who may believe that simply "praying hard enough" or "believing more strongly" could lead to abandoning a medication regime or other treatment plan. The church is in a wonderful position to affirm what we've learned from social and medical sciences in combination with faith-filled prayers and the support of the community.
This is a rich inquiry, and a complicated one, because we are complicated creatures!