Strategies for Engaging both the Christian Organizations and

Churches with the Mental Health Community

Strategies for Engaging both the Christian Organizations and

Churches with the Mental Health Community

Rev. Derrick Thorpe, D Min. Dean of Graduate Studies at Carolina Christian College, Winston- Salem, NCAssociate Minister, New Light Missionary Baptist Church, Greensboro NC

Rev. Derrick Thorpe, D Min. Dean of Graduate Studies at Carolina Christian College, Winston- Salem, NCAssociate Minister, New Light Missionary Baptist Church, Greensboro NC

OverviewOverview

Understanding the needs of the mentally ill – culturally, biblically, historically, and theologically

Educating the Church through seminar, workshops, and preaching that will change their attitudes toward mental illness

Understanding the needs of the mentally ill – culturally, biblically, historically, and theologically

Educating the Church through seminar, workshops, and preaching that will change their attitudes toward mental illness

Administer SurveyAdminister Survey

Understanding Our Cultural ContextUnderstanding Our Cultural Context

lacking participation in understanding the needs of the mentally illThere appears to be no model that educates the church about the needs of the mentally illOpenness to mentally ill personsEvaluate personal beliefs The church and community play a role in providing care to the mentally ill

lacking participation in understanding the needs of the mentally illThere appears to be no model that educates the church about the needs of the mentally illOpenness to mentally ill personsEvaluate personal beliefs The church and community play a role in providing care to the mentally ill

Understanding Our Cultural Context – Religiously

Understanding Our Cultural Context – Religiously

Increase experimentation with other religious practices beyond Christianity

Increase participation in mental health institutions

• In the preservation, and safekeeping of mental health, the Church has an undertaking, a major role to play. The Church can engage the mental health community in many ways according to Clinebell: motivation, initiating action and presenting Christ

Increase experimentation with other religious practices beyond Christianity

Increase participation in mental health institutions

• In the preservation, and safekeeping of mental health, the Church has an undertaking, a major role to play. The Church can engage the mental health community in many ways according to Clinebell: motivation, initiating action and presenting Christ

Defining and Understanding mental illness from a biblical perspective

Defining and Understanding mental illness from a biblical perspective

Biblical ReferencesDan 4: 28 - 37Mark 5: 1-20

Importance/ Implication Don’t let them down Don’t shun them Don’t dismiss their

reality

Biblical ReferencesDan 4: 28 - 37Mark 5: 1-20

Importance/ Implication Don’t let them down Don’t shun them Don’t dismiss their

reality

Ways We Have neglected the mentally illWays We Have neglected the mentally ill

Ignoring the problem Refusing to deal with

mental illness in the family

Misunderstanding of what it means to be a mentally ill

Image Worship Mission

Ignoring the problem Refusing to deal with

mental illness in the family

Misunderstanding of what it means to be a mentally ill

Image Worship Mission

Engaging and Reclaiming the mentally illEngaging and Reclaiming the mentally ill

Be definitive about who Jesus Is

Be definitive about who we are and what we are called to do

The benefits of mental health education are defined as: familiar support textual materiala growing spirituality services that are linked

and referred.

Be definitive about who Jesus Is

Be definitive about who we are and what we are called to do

The benefits of mental health education are defined as: familiar support textual materiala growing spirituality services that are linked

and referred.

An Understanding Of ChurchAn Understanding Of Church

... the will of God for human socialness as a whole is prefigured by the shape to which the Body of Christ is called. Church and world are not two compartments under separate legislation or two institutions with contradictory assignments, but two levels of the pertinence of the same Lordship. The people of God is called to be today what the world is called to be ultimately.

John Howard Yoder Body Politics: Five Practices of the Christian

Community Before the Watching World

... the will of God for human socialness as a whole is prefigured by the shape to which the Body of Christ is called. Church and world are not two compartments under separate legislation or two institutions with contradictory assignments, but two levels of the pertinence of the same Lordship. The people of God is called to be today what the world is called to be ultimately.

John Howard Yoder Body Politics: Five Practices of the Christian

Community Before the Watching World

Understanding Our Context Theologically

Understanding Our Context Theologically

Liberation Theology can be defined as empowering the oppressed

Liberation Theology serves as a critical foundation in helping to enhance our understanding of mental health

Liberation Theology provides a common ground of hope

Liberation Theology reflects on the Christian faith through the lens of the exploited

Liberation Theology creates accountability for the Church and Christian organizations for the oppressed

Liberation Theology can be defined as empowering the oppressed

Liberation Theology serves as a critical foundation in helping to enhance our understanding of mental health

Liberation Theology provides a common ground of hope

Liberation Theology reflects on the Christian faith through the lens of the exploited

Liberation Theology creates accountability for the Church and Christian organizations for the oppressed

Where does the Christian Organizations and the Church go now?

Where does the Christian Organizations and the Church go now?

Identify leaders in the field of mental health

Partner with a mental health agency

Develop a support group for the mentally ill

Develop a mental health ministry within the church

Survey the congregation, create a safe space

Use preaching as a treatment- cultivating an atmosphere of acceptance

Acknowledge and validate their realities

Create a support group for the families of the mentally ill

Train clergy and other leaders to meet the needs of this demographic.

Identify leaders in the field of mental health

Partner with a mental health agency

Develop a support group for the mentally ill

Develop a mental health ministry within the church

Survey the congregation, create a safe space

Use preaching as a treatment- cultivating an atmosphere of acceptance

Acknowledge and validate their realities

Create a support group for the families of the mentally ill

Train clergy and other leaders to meet the needs of this demographic.

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Q&A SessionQ&A Session