Posts

Rev. Charlie Baber,Youth Pastor, University UMC, "Drove My Chevy to the Levee, But…"

Image
  Drove My Chevy to the Levee, But… ------- Rev. Charlie Baber ,Youth Pastor, University UMC   “What! Are not my endeavors a sufficient ground of hope? Would you rob me of my endeavors? I have nothing else to trust to,”   (Charles Wesley, 1738).   Assist Me to Proclaim, John Tyson, p.44             Preacher and famous hymn-writer in the 1700s, Charles Wesley had been working hard for God. It had been more than 10 years since the Oxford Holy Club days, where he and brother John belonged to a small group of students who held one another diligently accountable to holy life practices. Charles had been serving as a preacher, writing hymns, even went on mission to pre-Revolutionary War America. He had a confidence in himself and his accomplishments, until he started to wonder if he was a sham, that he was talking about Christ all the time, worshipping Christ, preaching about Christ…without actually knowing Christ as anything more than a good idea.            
Read more

Kim Batson (FCMI), The Necessity of Mental Health Awareness in a Faith Community

Image
The Necessity of Mental Health Awareness in a Faith Community  -------Kim McCahan Batson   A loving and beloved husband and father, he had recently faced a huge personal crisis and was seeking spiritual guidance from a compassionate clergy with thirty years in the ministry. Two days later, he was dead.  “He told me straight out he was depressed,” recalled the stunned pastor, “I didn’t think I needed to ask if he was considering suicide. I thought if he was able to recognize and admit depression, he was on his way to recovery and would be okay.” At the same time the church rallied around that family with support and love, they also spoke in hushed tones about cause of death – if they mentioned it at all.  And I, who had a depressed husband at home, began a slow quest to empathize with and support people who I knew were living with emotional pain.   My journey was kick-started a few years later by two complementary experiences.  Having recently moved to Chapel Hill, I was secretary at Am
Read more
Image
 Happy Spring Due to the convergence of holidays for many faiths during this season, we are taking a break from posting a blog this month.  However, as always we are looking for passionate writers for upcoming entries. Are you NC Clergy or know NC Clergy who would like to write a Clergy Reflections entry? Our blog is an inter-faith project aimed at assisting all of us in understanding ways to minister more effectively. We seek a variety of voices and pastoral perspectives/responses across the wide spectrum of mental health challenges within our congregations. Reflections that are personal and pastoral in nature are especially appreciated. For more information or questions regarding submitting an entry, please email ClergyMHBlog@gmail.com
Read more

Dewey Williams, Duke University Divinity School graduate, "Prison: The Wrong Treatment Plan for Mental Health"

Image
Prison: The Wrong Treatment Plan for Mental Health –Dewey Williams A person that is diagnosed with a mental health condition will be given a treatment plan so that their care will be tailored to fit their specific diagnosis  This plan will have goals that establish and measure their progress toward addressing their specific needs.  Just like in other medical arenas the treatment plan is essential to moving the client toward a stabilized condition where they can function in their environment and participate in their communities.  A mental health treatment plan cannot be a ‘cookie-cutter’, one size fits all plan that is used from person to person regardless of their presenting struggles. Persons struggling with mental health will have trouble fitting into the ebb and flow of life that most people seem to find easy to adjust to.  It is these difficulties that partly define their mental health dilemma.  For those with a mental health diagnosis, moving in patterns that most others are
Read more

Bishop Ronald Godbee Sr., Lead Pastor of The River Church, "Faith, Compassion, and Healing: A Faith Leader's Reflection on Mental Health"

Image
  Faith, Compassion, and Healing: A Faith Leader's Reflection on Mental Health                                                                    -- Bishop Ronald Godbee, The River Church   Dear Readers, I come to you today not just as a faith leader but as a fellow traveler on the journey of life, navigating the often-uncharted waters of mental health. In our African American communities, where faith is not just a belief system but a cornerstone of identity, it is imperative that we engage in open conversations about mental health to dispel stigma and offer hope. Understanding Mental Health Across Faith Groups: Our various faith communities each bring a unique perspective to the table. From the rhythmic cadences of gospel hymns to the solemn prayers echoing through mosques, the tapestry of faith is rich and diverse. Yet, one common thread unites us – the acknowledgment that mental health challenges affect us all. Consider the stories of clergy members in o
Read more

The Rev. J. Clarkson, Rector of Calvary Episcopal Church, "When Love is Not Enough…And When It is"

Image
  When Love is Not Enough…And When It is                                                                                         –The Rev. J. Clarkson At some point during the pandemic, when there were still limits on how many people could attend worship in person but after our staff was able to work in the office again, Charlie started to visit us. At first, he would come into the building, find a secluded room, and sit in the air conditioning on a hot day. Once I realized he was here, I invited him to sit in our library. While I hoped this would feel more welcoming for him, I also sensed that we needed to have clear boundaries with Charlie. Our church was once a simple country parish, and it has become a part of the suburban environment that has grown up around it. While we often see more than 100 neighboring families at our client-choice food pantry, we get visits from houseless individuals much less frequently. Usually, they are folks who, for one reason or another, cannot tolerate
Read more

Karen Miller, Director of Children and Youth Ministries, Church of Reconciliation, "The Beauty in Safe Spaces for our Youth"

Image
  The Beauty in Safe Spaces for our Youth -        Karen L Miller I grew up in the 80’s and, like many Gen X’ers, there were things you just did not discuss. Honestly, they were so seldom talked about that I did not even have names for them. My father had an anxiety attack when I was young that he mistook for a heart attack. That ended up being used against him as a joke by others, as if a panic attack made him weak because it wasn’t a real heart attack. My sister had a similar situation happen as well, but it was “just a panic attack” and never treated as a medical issue. I found out, as an adult, that my best friend growing up was gay. Duh. It all made sense in retrospect, but I don’t think I even knew what gay really was back then. We just never talked about these things. Did I just say “back then?” I did, because my childhood is now antiquated. Hard to admit, but I am glad it is. I often hear people of my generation (& older) wax poetic about their childhoods. You w
Read more