What I learned at the Ministry Mental Health Summit
This week’s post was written and submitted by Ministry Forum community member Heather Robinson.
Jacinda Heather Robinson is a recent graduate of the Master of Theological Studies program through Tyndale and Master’s Seminary. Discerning her next steps and recognizing her heart for the unchurched, she is currently in the application process for Missions Canada and Vancouver School of Theology so she can complete ordination. When she is not homeschooling her two amazing children, she can be found filling in for Pulpit Supply monthly at Knox Presbyterian Church in Bayfield and piloting an outreach during the local farmers market called “Coffee House for Hard Knox: An evening of acoustic contemporary worship” To learn more, you can visit her blog percolatingfaith.wordpress.com
I have subscribed to the Ministry Forum Newsletter for approximately two years and have appreciated their articles and valuable resources that remind us that “You Are Not Alone in Ministry.” On March 25th, the Ministry Forum Newsletter announced that they were gifting a one day ticket to the National Ministry Mental Health Summit that took place this past week. It is with excitement that I received this ticket and VIP Status as Ministry Forum was a sponsor of the workshops at the event. Further, I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to write this article to account what I learned so that the whole Ministry Forum Community can benefit from this experience.
The host for the event was Shalem Mental Health Network. It was explained that its name comes from the adjective form of Shalom, used in the context of rebuilding the temple that was broken and destroyed. This was a theme that would continue throughout the day. I found myself suddenly grateful for my background in psychology and neuroscience as this day was oriented toward mental health professionals. However, the host made a point to recognize pastors in the room and mentioned the discussion and panels would focus on pastoral application.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Hillary McBride who is a researcher and clinical psychologist. While she made it clear that she was not a minister, she counsels pastors who have experienced what she has termed “Holy Hurt,” otherwise known as spiritual trauma. Her research and experience led her to write a book on the topic which her next sessions would walk through. While I wish I could write about all of the sessions, I have decided to focus on the morning session for this article as it created the foundation for the rest of the day. I will direct you to Hillary McBride’s well-researched book for the rest. The book was an instant sell out at the conference and likely an invaluable resource to all who have been touched by or are working with those who struggle with church hurt. As the person in front of me in line picked up the last copy, I had to obtain my copy from Amazon.ca
Dr. McBride’s first session focused on “The Embodied Professional: How connection to our bodies is a pathway for sustainable caring, deepening our practice and flourishing as people.” In this talk, she described how the psychology profession is often a ‘neck up’ industry; focusing on the mind and ignoring the rest of the body. She described, “We remain in our consciousness in our head like a pinched balloon... but our body is always telling the story.” When someone asks us about a scar we bare, there is often a story to go with it. Further, emotions are not just cerebral, but are directly tied to our nervous and cardiovascular system and need a holistic approach to our psychological or counselling technique. Our body tells a story, whether it be through our posture or our health concerns, as later she spoke of a study linking trauma to autoimmune disease. Directed at those in the room, she poignantly suggested “our bodies are constantly telling us how much ‘care’ is enough” when we do not listen, we burn out.
On the other hand, she made the case that religion also disconnects our body as ‘sinful flesh’ that is to be denied. Rather than working through our pain, we live in shame and denial. Or worse, we become isolated or disingenuous doing our best to hide our pain from others. In extreme cases, we even begin living a double life. However, working from an embodied place, we are able to meet our own pain, we are then able to connect better with others – to become better counselors and better pastors. Later on in the day she expounded on a slide that said this,
As I reflected on this statement I wrote my notes:
“This is what it means to be a witness – a testimony of what God has done and restored in our lives. Jesus bore scars too – they became a key and central part of His story. By His wounds we are healed. Perhaps our wounds can be used in the same way as we authentically connect with others.”
During the discussion at the end of her talk, Daniel Whitehead of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministry and former pastor commented, “How did we get to the point where this insight feels edgy... How do pastors apply this?” McBrides’ answer provoked introspection as she recognized from her clinical setting that many pastors who come to her are over-working with unsustainable expectations. Many do not have the safe space to talk until mental health issues come to a head - often not until there are severe concerns of addiction or self harm. Making light that self-care is not always as simple as a ‘bubble bath;’ in these situations, she helps the pastor recognize and encourage them to receive more of what feels good – which is different for everyone. Whitehead added a biblically based profound realization that “the body is where heaven and earth connect – as the temple of Christ.” In response, McBride suggested that this demands we live differently, regarding our mental health and self-care, because our bodies are sacred.
Selah – pause and reflect.
At the end of the sessions, I was able to quickly snap a photo with Dr. McBride, but as people began to press in with questions and comments for her - I didn’t get a chance to say Thank You. As a recent graduate who nearly gave up my calling due to church hurt, the day genuinely made me realize how much I have grown in this season and that my healing process is near complete. While we don’t always see our hurt as something that warrants seeing a professional and sometimes we lack that access to the help we need - We always have access to the Wonderful Counsellor who never leaves our side. Again, I am so grateful to the Ministry Forum giving away the extra ticket - I believe it was ‘God’s nudge’ to bring me to a message and encouragement that I needed to hear. As I spoke with other attendees at the conference, all of whom were moved by the presentations or were unpacking their own journey through ‘holy hurt,’ it was once again a reminder of the Ministry Forum’s motto - “You Are Not Alone In Ministry.”
