May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States, making it a great time to consider the mental health challenges that ministers face both on a regular basis and in crisis moments. A panel discussion, sponsored by the NABF Scholars Collaboration, discussed this as well as how congregations can best support their ministers. Panelist information as well as mentioned resources are listed (and linked where possible) below.
Panelists:
Eileen Campbell-Reed – Visiting Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Care at Union Theological Seminary in New York City
Cheryl Ann Beals – Director of the Sozo Centre for Soul Care (Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada)
Doug Dickens – Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity
Derek Hatch – Professor of Religion and Endowed Chair of Baptist Studies at Georgetown College in Kentucky
Resources for Ministers and Churches Mentioned in Discussion:
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries – https://sanctuarymentalhealth.org/
Pandemic Pastoring Report – https://eileencampbellreed.org/pandemicpastoring-report-download-2022/
Three Minute Ministry Mentor – https://eileencampbellreed.org/welcome-to-three-minute-ministry-mentor/
The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe about Ourselves by Curt Thompson (Amazon link)
From Weary to Wholehearted: A Restorative Resource for Overcoming Clergy Burnout by Callie Swanlund (Amazon link)
Seeking a Spiritual Director – Evangelical Spiritual Directors Association maintains a directory of spiritual directors across the U.S. and Canada: https://www.graftedlife.org/spiritual-direction/find-a-spiritual-director