Our authors have recommended the following books and websites on chaplaincy ministry, the church & mental illness, and specific topics raised within Quarterly articles and Forum posts. What other resources would you suggest to those considering, or currently serving in, chaplaincy or mental health ministries?
Chaplaincy | Books & Websites
- Naomi Paget and Janet McCormack, The Work of the Chaplain (Judson Press, 2006)
- Sharon E. Cheston and Robert J. Wicks, Essentials for Chaplains (Paulist Press, 1993)
- Wendy Cadge, Paging God: Religion in the Halls of Medicine (University of Chicago Press, 2013)
- Christina Puchalskis, Making Health Care Whole: Integrating Spirituality into Patient Care (Templeton Press, 2010)
- The Health Care Chaplaincy Network‘s website offers resources for chaplains in hospitals and other health care settings, such as retirement homes.
- Robert Hubbard (“Chaplaincy: Incarnation in Action“) points readers interested in military chaplaincy to the Military Chaplains Association as well as sites focused on chaplaincy in the United States Navy, Army, Air Force, and Air Force Auxiliary.
- General support for those serving in or pursuing chaplaincy ministry can be found through the Covenant Chaplains Association, Board of Chaplaincy Certification, and Association for Clinical Pastoral Education.
Mental Health | Books & Websites
- Elizabeth Pierre highly recommended Kenneth Mitchell & Herbert Anderson’s All Our Losses, All Our Griefs: Resources for Pastoral Care (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 1983), in her webinar, “Not So Happy Holidays? Depression, Grief, and Hope in the Festive Season.”
- Find resources for holding a “Blue Christmas Service” (also recommended by Elizabeth Pierre) through the Clergy Leadership Institute and the United Methodist Church.
- Learn about moral injury (referenced in Jeff Saville’s interview) from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Syracuse University’s “Moral Injury Project.” See also articles on moral injury from the PTSD Research Quarterly, New York Times, Huffington Post, the Atlantic, and National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air” and “On Being.”
- The Center for Self Leadership provides learning opportunities for mental health and human service practitioners, professionals, and students. One of CSL’s major focuses is on the Internal Family Systems model of psychotherapy (referenced in Jueckstock & Vlach’s article, “Claiming a Substantive View of Presence“), and training programs for this model are available through the website.
- Mental Health Ministries is an online, interfaith ministry providing educational resources to reduce the stigma of mental illness within faith communities and equip these communities to care well for congregants living with mental illness.
- Mental Health First Aid offers training that equips trainees to recognize signs of mental illness, offer first response, and refer to local professionals.
- Finally, see practical suggestions offered by Amy Simpson, Stephanie Thompson, and Tim Fretheim for local congregations supporting families and persons struggling with mental illness.
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