Rev. Dr. Bridgette V. Gloster, Emmanuel AME Church, "Breaking the Silence: Embracing Mental Health in Faith Communities"

 

Breaking the Silence:
Embracing Mental Health in Faith Communities

--Rev. Dr. Bridgette V. Gloster


Silence is not always golden. All too frequently within communities of faith, mental health challenges are treated as the “unspoken burden.” Too many of our members suffer through the pains of depression, anxiety, and despair in silence, believing that their inability to lift themselves from the “miry clay” is the result of deficient faith. As faith leaders and sojourners on this spiritual journey, we must embrace the fact that our mental health is as much a part of our overall well-being as our physical health. Without question, addressing mental health concerns within our communities of faith is both a spiritual and practical necessity.

The Bible reminds us that God cares deeply about our entire being, including our mental and emotional health. In 3 John 1:2, the apostle writes, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” This verse speaks to holistic well-being—body, mind, and soul. This verse suggests a correlation exists between the prospering of our souls and how we function in the physical world.  To care for one and neglect the other is nothing short of a dereliction of duty to love others as God has loved us.

 

The Stigma in the Church

Traditionally, within the church, there has been a shroud of stigmatization around mental health issues. Congregant mental health concerns have frequently been buried under the cloak of exuberant worship, hidden behind the tears that flow at the altar or silenced with the exhortation to “pray it away” or “just have more faith.”  While these spiritual expressions may offer some palliative care to those living under the burden of mental health challenges, they do little to minister to the genuine hurts plaguing our members. In fact, these efforts can inadvertently harm those who are already struggling by making them feel guilty or ashamed for needing additional support.

The Bible does not compel us to ignore our struggles. David, a man after God’s own heart, declares in Psalm 34:17, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” We can all take comfort in a God who hears our humble cries. In fact, the Bible bears the record that many of God’s servants, those loyally committed to their faith, experienced deep emotional and mental anguish and do indeed cry out to God.   In Psalm 22, the Psalmist laments on feeling abandoned by God - "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Elijah, after his great victory on Mount Carmel, fell into despair and asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4). Even Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, experienced overwhelming sorrow (Matthew 26:38).

These stories remind us that it is human to experience mental and emotional struggles. The key is not to suffer in silence but to seek help—from God and from others.

The Role of the Church

At its best, the church can be a place of refuge and healing. From the church’s earliest beginnings, it has stood as a voice for the oppressed and a safe space for those in need. Today, we must extend that mission to include mental health advocacy.

In Galatians 6:2, we are instructed to “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Bearing one another’s burdens means more than offering prayer. It means being present, offering a listening ear, and guiding our members to professional resources when needed.

Churches and church leaders can play a pivotal role by:

  1. Normalizing Mental Health Conversations – Pastors and leaders must address mental health from the pulpit. When we speak about mental health openly, we break down barriers and reduce stigma.
  2. Providing Resources – Create relationships and partnerships with local mental health professionals and organizations. We can create resource lists of counselors, therapists, and support groups and have them ready for congregants and the community.
  3. Encouraging Holistic Care – Remind church members that it’s okay to have both a therapist and a prayer partner. Faith and therapy can work together to bring healing and wholeness.

God’s Promise of Hope and Healing

The Bible offers countless promises of hope and healing. In Isaiah 41:10, God reassures us, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” This verse reminds us that God is always present, even in our darkest moments.

Psalm 147:3 tells us that God “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Our mental health struggles do not separate us from God’s love. Instead, they are an opportunity to draw closer to Him and to seek the support He provides through the church community.

Moving Forward in Faith

As a pastor, I am continuously reminded that the call to be a shepherd of God’s flock is a responsibility of both spiritual and holistic importance. To love as God loves us is to care for the totality of others – mind, body, and soul.  Let us break the silence surrounding mental health in our churches. Let us preach, teach, and counsel in ways that affirm the importance of mental well-being. And let us remind our congregations that God cares deeply for their minds, hearts, and souls.

By doing so, we fulfill the mission of our faith and create churches that genuinely reflect Christ's love and healing power. Romans 12:2 urges, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” In this transformation, we find the path to mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. As we break the pattern of silence around mental health challenges in our congregations, we break the yoke of stigma and shame, and we set at liberty those who have been captive to it.

 

Rev. Dr. Bridgette V. Gloster is an Itinerant Elder in the AME Church and has served in ministry for over 20 years. She is the Senior Pastor of Emmanuel AME Church in Durham, NC., where she is blessed to serve with her husband, best friend, and partner in ministry, Rev. Clay Gloster., Jr, Ph.D. 

_____


The Clergy and Mental Health Blog is a forum for faith leaders to share insights and observations, sometimes speaking from personal experience, about faith and mental health.  We welcome diversity of thought and perspective.  The view of authors are their own and do not represent the views of the blog as a whole.

 

Please send comments and questions to: ClergyMHBlog@gmail.com

Popular posts from this blog

Elder Harry Milton Hall, Church of God Tabernacle of Prayer, “Trust Him”

Image
Trust Him                                               --- Elder Harry Milton Hall Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy path. How many times over my 66 years on this earth, growing up in the rural county of Duplin County, NC, with a father who was a church deacon and mother a church missionary, did I hear this biblical scripture? But what do you do when it seems like all you thought you knew seems to dissipate out of your mind and your life seems to be fading away?  Where was this God of my youth, that saved me at a young age and called me into the ministry? Where was this God that allowed me to marry a wonderful young lady and be wedded for over 40 years? Where ...
Read more

Kelly Sasser, Watts Street Baptist Church, "Mending (and Re-mending) Our Safety Nets"

Image
  Mending (and Re-mending) Our Safety Nets                                                                       -- Kelly Sasser   Those of us committed to ministry with children and youth know that this work is both an awesome, sacred privilege and a terrifying responsibility.   We are called not only to help our young people with faith formation but also to provide care for their physical, mental, and social well-being as they move through vulnerable, sometimes turbulent years in their development.   At every point, we seek to provide ministries of care, nurture, protection, and support…embodying the words of Frederick ...
Read more

The Rev. Dr. Chris Tuttle, Westminster Presbyterian Church, "Where can our children be safe?"

Image
  Where can our children be safe?   ---The Rev. Dr. Chris Tuttle     “That’s where I’ll be, dad.   If… (long pause) …something happens.”   I was driving my 6 th grader to school, inching forward in the carpool line.   The Friday beforehand his middle school had been the target of an online threat of violence.   The day before there was a threat against the high school our other son attends.   This time it was a hoax, something replicated nationally, and our older son showed us a screenshot of the name of the school plastered on top of a picture of an assault rifle.   That day, at the high school, someone had also pulled the fire alarm, more fear rippling out, and the teenagers spread out across the campus, seeking safety.   Those threats prompted a conversation with both of our boys who are still at home (we also have a daughter at college): “If there is a shooting at your school, know I am going to get in the c...
Read more