How to Incorporate Trained Professionals into Counseling Ministry

The Clergy's Burden and the Need for Support

The role of the clergy often involves a deep-seated sense of calling to help others as based on biblical teachings: “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 King James Version). However, sustaining this passion can be challenging because of the chronic and traumatic stressors that are components of the job and the unique stressors that are part of professional ministry; it is important, therefore, to recognize that a clergy needs targeted support that is systemic. 

The Solution: A Structured Counseling Ministry

By establishing structured support systems, such as a structured counseling ministry, the church can better address the specific needs of congregants and the clergy, empowering the pastors to serve their congregations and have time for their own mental health and well-being.

One of the goals of having a structured counseling ministry is to reduce overload on the pastor. Clergy's work is “emotionally demanding and difficult to create boundaries around. Conflict and criticism are common, and jobs frequently require more skills and roles than any one person can realistically provide.”  Reducing the overload on the pastor does not mean taking the pastor completely out of counseling work. Congregants have a unique attachment and trust in their pastor, which has to be considered for the most part . In structuring the counseling ministry, therefore, the senior pastor has to be involved with this new initiative, and ongoing feedback must be put in place to inform the senior pastor about the ongoings of this ministry. 

The incoming or intake form has to be filled out by those needing counseling and given to the pastor, who now makes the referral to the counseling ministry. This fills the gap between having much-needed contact with the pastor and the fact that pastors need to know the state of their flock (Prov 27:23 NKJV). Research has shown, “More recently, however, faith is being recognized by the fields of psychology and psychiatry as an important component of health and one that might contribute to a patient’s recovery. Therefore, collaboration has to be encouraged in this structure by bringing different experts on board who are Christians and willing to offer a helping hand. This includes clinical counselors, social workers, psychiatrists, pastoral counselors, and licensed professional counselors.

  Collaboration has already been instituted by some denominations; for instance, “ Many mainline denominations have adopted specific mental health resolutions into their mission statements and denominational statements of belief. Some have established “mental health networks” within their denominations. Ecumenical groups such as “Pathways to Promise” have produced awareness and educational materials to promote mental health ministries in churches and encourage collaboration with mental health organizations on a national scale.”

Implementing a Successful Counseling Ministry

Because of the presence of obvious legal concerns as well as liabilities, a deliberate effort to disclaim when appropriate and establish the limits of help that can be provided must be addressed; there must be a vehicle to refer people out when a person’s needs are beyond the scope of the ministry. A ministry protocol handbook must be made ready and available to all members, including how counseling will be delegated and who members are to report to, focusing on confidentiality between the counselor and counselee. A well-defined set of by-laws must be articulated to govern the conduct of the ministry, given the sensitivity of what they will be dealing with. Training and educational materials have to be made available to members. The different spiritual offices in the church and the ways these offices, such as pastoring, can intersect/collaborate with various trained professionals to provide holistic spiritual care will be stipulated to avoid chaos.

Education has to be planned periodically for church members to encourage them to reach out if they need a helping hand or for information on available resources. The findings of this review illustrate the capacity of communities of faith to address mental health across a continuum of care, including prevention, education, stigma reduction, screening and referral, and the delivery of evidence-based treatment and spiritually based approaches. Several examples of collaborative efforts or initiatives exist whose purpose is to encourage communication between the church and secular for the treatment of those going through challenges, which includes but is not limited to trauma, crisis, mental health, and marital issues. The aforementioned examples include the APA and APA Foundation, and the Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition. The partnership enables psychiatrists and the mental health community to learn from spiritual leaders who support individuals in mental distress. Simultaneously, it fosters a greater understanding of evidence-based psychiatric treatments among faith leaders and their communities.

Recognition that the church is a body and that functions must be delegated to specialized parts of the ministry to perform those functions best is important.