A074 Completing Mental Health Ministry Curriculum for Clergy
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,
That the 81st Convention of the Episcopal Church direct the appropriate body to continue and complete the development of all sections of the Mental Health Ministry Curriculum for the education and training of Episcopal clergy in ministering to persons and families experiencing mental health challenges in the church; and be it further,
Resolved, That $20,000 be allocated for that work in this triennium; and be it further,
Resolved, That all curriculum modules be translated into all relevant languages in use by the Episcopal Church; and be it further,
Resolved, That $14,000 be allocated for that work in this triennium.
Explanation
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year, 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year, 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14.1
Faith communities are on the leading edge of communities in interfacing with people experiencing a mental health challenge, including, but not limited to, mental health crises, mental illness diagnoses, and substance use disorders.
The Church can be a setting in which people experiencing a mental health challenge can feel that they will not be judged, or seen to be "weak" or stigmatized. In order meet the needs and respect the dignity of people experiencing, clergy and those seeking ordination need tools and training to deal confidently and pastorally with the issues that arise in the various setting in which they serve.
Recognizing this need, in 2022, the 80th General Convention passed resolution A109, which called for the creation of a curriculum to address mental health and that "all those to be ordained from January 2024 onward be trained" as well as recommending "the training of all active priests, deacons, and bishops in this curriculum for mental health and mental illness awareness."
The Task Force on Individuals with Mental Illness recognizes that, for many reasons including the short time frame between the 80th and 81st General Conventions, having training prepared for all active clergy as well as all those discerning a call to ordained ministry was a tall order. A draft of the curriculum was created and shared as part of the Task Force report. However, it is not ready for immediate implementation. The Task Force believes that this curriculum needs to be further refined and developed, with each section prepared for delivery in online and in-person formats. The curriculum in its complete form also must be translated and culturally adjusted for different ethnic and racial communities. The previous curriculum has been a joint effort between the Task Force on Individuals with Mental Illness and a sub-committee of the Standing Commission on Formation and Ministry Development, largely driven by the Task Force on Individuals with Mental Illness. This work is not strictly speaking a matter of formation but of equipping the saints with capacities and skills for a specific form of ministry in their faith communities and the public square. Moving forward, the Task Force recommends keeping this work with any bodies focused on Human Health and Wellness.
Completing a robust, centralized curriculum is an essential part of clergy education for mental health. It ensures that there is consistent and equitable learning across cultures and languages, establishes clear learning goals, and adapts to a changing world.
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