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Article
Pastors as Gatekeepers: Congregational Encounters with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues
Faculty Publications
  • Curtis VanderWaal, Andrews University
  • Andrea Opei
  • Edwin I. Hernandez
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1-2015
Keywords
  • mental health,
  • substance abuse issues,
  • pastors
Abstract

The vocation of a pastor is to care for the spiritual needs of a congregation and community. However, as many clergy know well, pastoral care is multifaceted and complex. For example, one of the hats that pastors frequently wear is that of pastoral counselor. Although pastors have traditionally offered support and pastoral care to congregants, they are beginning to spend more hours counseling both congregants and community members. One study indicated that pastors were spending time in pastoral counseling equivalent to that of marriage and family therapists in private practice.1 The same study showed that pastors are encountering persons and families experiencing mental health and/or addiction challenges more frequently than they have in times past. These trends indicate that the needs of congregations, and the broader community, may be shifting. As these needs shift, so does the role of the pastor.

Journal Title
Ministry: International Journal for Pastors
First Department
Social Work
Citation Information
Curtis VanderWaal, Andrea Opei and Edwin I. Hernandez. "Pastors as Gatekeepers: Congregational Encounters with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues" Vol. 87 Iss. 4 (2015) p. 10 - 13
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/curtis_vanderwaal/54/