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The United Methodist Church has a theological statement in the Book of Resolutions 2012 on ministries in mental health that opens: We believe that faithful Christians are called to be in ministry to individuals and their families challenged by disorders causing disturbances of thinking, feeling and acting categorized as "mental illness." We acknowledge that throughout history and today, our ministries in this area have been hampered by lack of knowledge, fear and misunderstanding. Even so, we believe that those so challenged, their families and their communities are to be embraced by the church in its ministry of compassion and love.[1] According to a World Health Organization report in 2012 entitled " Depression: a Global Public Health Concern, " one in four persons suffers from a mental disorder, and among mental disorders, depression is the most prevalent. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide in terms of total years lost due to disability.[2] Depression, as well as other mental disorders, adversely impacts the ability of affected persons to perform at work, school, and in the family. The World Health Organization (hereafter referred to as WHO) estimates 350 million people of all ages around the world suffer from depression, contributing significantly to the overall global burden of disease. [3] Lack of treatment compounds the problem. Less than half of the persons afflicted with depression, and in some countries less than 10%, receive any kind of treatment.[4] Lack of treatment is due to a lack of resources, including education, diagnostic tools, psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, medication and support systems. Lack of resources is directly connected to the poverty and underdevelopment of such countries. Misdiagnosis is also another contributor to improper treatment. Untreated or improper treatment of depression can lead to other more dangerous mental disorders and often to suicide. The WHO cites that over 800,000 persons commit suicide every year, and it is the second leading cause of death globally in 15-29 year olds.[5] Depression is not the only mental disorder that afflicts persons globally. Anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, autism spectrum disorder and other mental and developmental disorders are on the rise as well, and countries face the similar challenges in treating these disorders. There are many individual and social factors that determine risk: genetics, perinatal infections, nutrition, stress, environment and environmental hazards, individual cognitive-behavioral coping skills, trauma, life crises, national policies, social protection, standards of living, work conditions and community support among others.[6]
It was a tale of two cases. From my days as an urban pastor, mental health struggles in the local church could be summed up by the following two stories. The first is the story of Lisa. Lisa had weathered an abusive relationship with her father for years, and the pattern was repeating itself in her five-year marriage. From her late teens into her late twenties and through her marriage, she receiving regular counseling and was prescribed various regimens of meds for depression and anxiety. Lisa was occasionally suicidal and often had panic attacks and debilitating episodes of spiraling despair and depression. It seemed counseling and meds had only helped minimally over those ten plus years.
United Methodist pastors often serve under attacks from bullying congregations that affect their health, performance, and confidence in their calling. It is important to explore the phenomenon of pastor bullying in comparison with and in contrast to workplace bullying by examining sociological and scientific findings. This thesis seeks to determine the cause of bullying behavior by examining Walter Wink’s theology of evil, the theology of systemic sin, and to explore the dynamic between ecclesiology, personal responsibility, and collective leadership. Further, the author will examine Fr. Richard Rohr’s spirituality of the second half of life and Barbara Brown Taylor’s alternative to full solar spirituality to help United Methodist pastors heal and forgive. The sin of pastor bullying is systemic. Therefore, United Methodist pastors are encouraged and make a personal commitment to working collectively with laity on changing the mindsets from “I” to “WE,” helping congregations grieve individually and as a community. Thus, both pastor and congregation could confess any known sins that were committed individually and collectively to be able to begin growing in personal and social holiness through practicing Wesley’s Do No Harm principle through love and forgiveness.
The Handbook of Theological Education in World Christianity: Theological Perspectives, Ecumenical Trends, Regional Surveys, edited by Dietrich Werner, David Esterline and Namsoon Kang (Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2010), 800pp, ISBN: 978-1-870345-80-4
The United Methodist Hymnal includes many hymns which make use of ableist language. This paper sets forth an understanding of disability and ability so that the ableist language in United Methodist hymnody may be identified and, when needed, addressed through suggested revision or omission. Putting prominent themes of disability theology and hymnology into conversation with one another, this paper addresses the theological anthropology present in particular hymns with a particular focus on the difference between healing and curing, the metaphors of disability as sin, and images of disability in biblical texts.
1998
I co-authored this book many years ago with Dr. Paul Van Buren who then worked for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the UMC. Because people still ask me about this book from time to time I decided to help people find it a bit more easily by posting a .pdf copy of it here. Below is the foreword for the book written by Deacon Jimmy Carr. From the moment the 1996 General Conference of The United Methodist Church reordered its ministry and adopted the new Order of Deacon, there has been much speculation on the meaning of the new Order, how it should be developed, and what difference it should make. (Some saw no reason for the new Order or could not grasp the reason for such an Order, and others thought they knew all the answers and have judged the establishment of the deacon on their understandings.) The Section of Deacons and Diaconal Ministries in the Division of Ordained Ministry has the responsibility of resourcing the church in the establishment of the deacon and was very conscious of these varied responses to the new Order. They decided that an appropriate way to assist the church would be to develop a vision statement and then lead toward that vision. After much study and struggle, the following vision statement was adopted as a work in progress. The ministry of the deacon (diaconate) distinctively embodies and gives leadership to servant ministry of compassion, mercy, and justice. Laity and clergy are transformed through worship which connects faith and daily life so that the people of God serve a hurting world as faithful disciples. The section was aware that if the new Order of Deacon was to develop appropriately, enhanced understandings of how the Order connected to church traditions were needed. Much study, work, and reflection on the purpose and work of the deacon must take place. It was realized that one of the most important groups of teachers would be the present ordained deacons in full connection. Their work and the fact that each one is appointed to a local church makes them crucial as interpreters and teachers on the new order. The Deacon: Ministry Through Words of Faith and Acts of Love, is a resource for the deacon and for the church. It will assist with the dialogue and reflection on the Order and help the church be more effec- tive as a lay-centered, lay-led body that is missional at its very core. Carefully studied, the work will help the reader reflect on biblical images related to the ministry of the deacon. The relationship of worship and service, so distinctly linked to this new Order, is prominent in the scripture study. In addition, the authors have amplified the images with models from the lives and ministries of deacons at work today. Paul Van Buren and Ben Hartley have produced a superb work by providing insights on how the United Methodist deacon can relate to a world in need and provide a needed flexibility in ministry similar to that of the early days of Methodism on the frontier of the United States. I believe one of the most significant elements of this booklet is the scriptural visions of the deacon. The writers have effectively enhanced the church’s dialogue by sharing scriptures that reflect servant leader- ship. This book will be useful if deacons, elders, and all church leaders will study it for understandings that will shape the day-to-day work and rela- tionships of the deacon. That study and dialogue will assist the church in solidifying a paradigm of leadership. —Jimmy L. Carr, Associate General Secretary Division of Ordained Ministry Section of Deacons and Diaconal Ministries
QUARTERLY REVIEW EDITORIAL BOARD, 2003
I have had this resource available on my personal website (missionandmethodism.net) for several years. Its purpose is to assist United Methodist candidates for commissioning in the process of writing their doctrinal examination paper (¶324.9). It is intended to provide suggestive guidance as to the form and content of the doctrinal examination paper without being too directive as to the specifics of a particular theological point of view – except to the extent that a Wesleyan theological outlook is assumed for ordained persons in the UMC. It is hoped that the bibliographical resources identified here – from across a generous Wesleyan theological spectrum – will assist candidates in further developing their habit of Wesleyan theological reflection. To my knowledge, no Board of Ordained Ministry in the United Methodist Church has approved this resource as a helpful guide, although a fair number of my own students at Palmer Theological Seminary and United Methodist colleagues at other institutions have expressed their gratitude for it.
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