The Northampton
Symposium on Ministry and Mental Health
St Andrew’s
Hospital, 14 May 2018
Summary Paper
Introduction
The Symposium was hosted by the St Andrew’s Chaplaincy,
and the aim was to look at theological and biblical principles for good
ministry practice towards those experiencing mental health problems.
Attendance was by invitation in order to keep to numbers
to such that would enable good discussion.
38 were present, and we are grateful to all who came (especially from a
distance) and shared openly from their thinking and experience. Special thanks are due to Bishop Donald and
to those who gave presentations.
Sue Griffiths has put together a full record of the day,
which includes detail of the presentations and discussion on the floor, and
which will be available to those who attended.
This summary paper simply covers key points, and raises some questions for
reflection and about possible future steps.
Keynote Address
The Rt Revd Donald Allister, Bishop of Peterborough, gave
the keynote address. He set out some key
theological principles:
- that all people are created in
God’s image and therefore of equal and infinite worth, which requires us to
treat each person with deep respect, whomever they might be;
- that all people are broken in
different ways, which means we need to treat others with humility and be
cautious about making judgments about them;
- that all people are fully
redeemable, capable of living a fulfilled life, albeit perhaps differently and
more simply compared with some of society’s current general values.
Bishop Donald challenged the false distinction and
separation of mind, body and spirit, wanting instead to emphasise the
integrated wholeness of the person and our lives. This pointed to the interconnectedness of
causes and effect in health (with the impact of the spiritual often not
sufficiently recognised). There was also
too much of a ‘silo mentality’ in the provision of healthcare, with
insufficient co-ordination: integrated care needed to come from all.
Bishop Donald highlighted some particular needs which he
therefore saw as important:
- for high-level cross-disciplinary
listening and diagnosis, where the professional can integrate advice and input
from others into the care they give
- for 24/7 cross-disciplinary care
in the community available to all
- for good local provision for
children and adolescents
- for better recognition of need and response for those
with personality disorder or
lifestyle
dysfunctionality
Question for reflection: how can we each in our own
setting contribute to better integration of care, focusing more on whole-life
outcomes?
Healing –
Principles and Practice
The Revd Philip Evans looked at Luke 10.1-9 to highlight
Jesus’s clear and unqualified injunction to ‘heal the sick’ (v9). But he noted that this was preceded by a
number of emphases:
- the necessity of ‘going’ – entering
a house or a town (vv 5,8) – highlighting that ministry was as much if not more
out in the community than in church buildings
- the initial greeting and giving of
peace (vv 5,6) in order to establish relationship and
show
compassion
- the need to ‘stay … not move
around’ (v7) implying ministry with commitment, continuing context, and good
follow-up
- the encouragement to ‘eat and
drink whatever they give you’ (v7) – highlighting the importance of community
and sharing together in relationship
and indeed, only after all these, and then after the
imperative to ‘heal the sick’ does Jesus speak of preaching (that the Kingdom
of God has come near (v9)): Philip suggested that our tendency is to be preaching
to those who come to us, rather than first going out to others in compassion,
commitment and community, and healing.
Philip spoke of his own experience of healing ministry,
not least in an acute hospital setting in Leeds but also in parishes,
influenced by Francis MacNutt, John Wimber and neo-Pentecostalism. But he questioned whether the good and
effective models he had witnessed and practised in ministry for physical
healing were appropriate for responding to those with mental illness or
neurodevelopmental disorders: there were clear examples of unhelpful and even
counterproductive practice. Indeed
questions about ‘spiritual abuse’ had been raised by General Synod member Jayne
Ozanne in a paper published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists: her
criticisms, however tendentious, raised important questions. Nonetheless ‘healing’ can and does occur in
mental health contexts.
Questions for reflection: what is our experience of
seeing the sick healed in the context of mental illness, and how can we shape
good practice to ‘heal the sick’ in relation to mental illness?
Local Churches –
Accessibility, Ministry and Mission
Dr David Smart referred to Lord Richard Layard’s speaking
of the need to counter cultural individualism through ‘spiritual revival’. The ten keys to happy living were a positive
response to this, as was the recovery movement’s holistic emphasis on choice,
opportunity and hope. David spoke of the
continuing negative impact of stigma and isolation arising from mental health
problems, and the necessity of promoting self-compassion and the encouragement
of discovery of personal strengths.
David introduced three speakers to share the value and
impact of local projects:
- Dr Peter Harper spoke of Action
for Happiness and the acronym GREAT DREAM representing the ‘Ten Keys to Happier
Living’ set out in details in Vanesa King’s book. He described each of the keys, and relating
them to Christian biblical bases. Peter
emphasised the need for each of us to manage our own wellbeing in order to care
for others. He gave a number of examples
of initiatives which churches might take in order to promote the ten keys and
the wellbeing principles underlying them.
He concluded by referencing Colossians 3.12-14, ‘Therefore, as God’s
chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience … And over
all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.’
- Kate Houghton described the
Churches and Wellbeing project which had been run a few years ago in
Northampton, and evaluated by the university, utilising Chris Williams’s
‘Living Life to the Full’ courses. Ten
courses had been delivered through seven churches to 92 people, with
significant improvements being measured for wellbeing and general health with
reductions in anxiety and depression.
Discussions with Manna House were exploring the possibility of a second
wave of the project, though there were some cost implications.
- Chris Davison described the St
Giles Wellbeing Café set up and run on Monday afternoons by Denise Evans and a volunteer
team, based on a national model developed by Ruth Rice and Renew
Wellbeing. It seeks to be a place of
welcome and hospitality for all, looking to strengthen their emotional and
mental wellbeing. It provides community
and connection, with a range of simple activities available, and including a
pattern of optional reflective prayer and contemplation. Relationships with the statutory and
voluntary sectors are being developed.
Question for reflection: how can local churches be
encouraged, resourced and supported to give better welcome, access and
opportunities to meet wellbeing and mental health needs in our communities?
Matters for
further reflection and possible initiatives
The informal group which planned the Symposium – David
Smart and Philip Evans, along with Kate Houghton, John Nightingale and Peter
Harper – will welcome reflections following our day together, including
suggestions for further initiatives.
Specific things which have been suggested or identified
include:
- A regional open church event to
explore ministry to those with mental illness, addressing inclusion, ministry
of healing, and available resources/support
- A conference hosted by St Andrew’s
to look at the impact of faith and spirituality on mental health and wellbeing,
in particular patient reported outcomes
- A forum in our region for
developing good practice in Christian ministry in mental illness, capable of
giving advice and support to churches/practitioners
- Exploration of better training in
mental health and ministry at theological college and seminary and for new
clergy
- A resource directory/map to share
what local resources are available particularly for churches to access in areas
of health and social care.
Philip Evans
16 July 2018
