Tag Archives: UCC Mental Illness Network

UCC Goes to the White House

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Submitted by Rev. Alan Johnson, UCCDM Board Member, UCC Mental Illness Network Chair, and UCC Mental Health Network Member

Sometime in late May there will be a White House Mental Health Summit and three UCC members have been invited to the White House for this Summit.  Our UCC representatives are Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer, Rev. Craig Rennebohm and Rev. Alan Johnson.  This is the message from the White House.  “We are working on launching a national dialogue on mental health to address the social barriers preventing people from seeking mental health services – particularly the shame, fear, and misperceptions that surround mental illness and mental health services.”  The first decision our UCC team has made is to work on a plan for at least a one-day event, Sunday, Oct 13, 2013 (part of Mental Illness Awareness Week), that will serve as a catalyst to strengthen and build congregational engagement in mental health response.  Please stay tuned about how we, the UCC, can engage our denomination in this national dialogue.

Since May is also Mental Health Month, it is a good time for you to raise awareness about mental health challenges in your congregation.  1 out of 4 American families has a relative who has a mental illness.   This staggering figure comes from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) which is the largest grassroots organization of people who are affected by mental illness/brain disorders. This figure mostly likely is also true for your church.

We want to point you to one resource which has an already prepared bulletin insert for highlighting Mental Health Month.  MentalHealthMinistries.net.  The director of Mental Health Ministries is the Rev. Susan Gregg Schroeder who is a keynote speaker at our fourth national UCC Widening the Welcome: Inclusion for All, June 27, in Long Beach, CA.  Check out the Conference at wideningthewelcome.com . For more information or to register for the upcoming Conference, click here: Widening the Welcome 2013 Registration Brochure

We have come to believe, “There is no health without mental health.”  Please give some of your attention to the mental health challenges that are being faced your own church members.  If you have any thoughts, ideas, stories, or questions, please email Alan Johnson at revalan2004@comcast.net.  Grace and peace.

 

A Joyful Summary

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A Joyful Summary of the Newly Reconstituted United Church of Christ Mental Illness Network (UCC-MIN)

October 2, 2009

At the recent Pathways to Promise Interfaith Summit Conference on Mental Illness from Sept. 29-October 1, 2009 in Belleville, IL, the UCC MIN has been renewed. A new Steering Committee was formed and the new Chair of the Network is Alan Johnson.

The program highlights for me, said Alan, were the presentation by Dr. Ken Thompson, the medical director of the Center for Mental Health Services, the personal testimony by the Rev. Jane Fisler-Hoffman, the interim conference minister of the UCC Southern California, Nevada Conference, and the training by the Rev. Craig Rennebohm. Ken lifted up the significance of clergy gatherings as well as the importance of offering a spiritual home that address the needs of people who are living with mental illness. Faith communities provide a structure of belonging that provide social inclusion in a society that breeds a cycle of exclusion, he said. Jane spoke compellingly, compassionately, and clearly about ways to embrace everyone who is living with depression, especially clergy. Craig gave an on the spot training on companioning.

Three hours were given to envision the next steps of the UCC MIN and how we might implement them.
First, we edited a Covenant Statement drafted by Craig. It names the intent of the UCC MIN and invites participation by all the setting of the church. Our intent is to have at least 10% of our UCC membership to sign onto this covenant by General Synod, 2011.
Second, we spelled out the structure for developing and expanding our communications. That includes the MIN website, a link with the UCC Justice and Witness as well as the Local Church Ministry. We talked about our own Facebook as well as joining the UCC My Space.
Third, we envisioned a National Conference on Mental Illness in the fall of next year, 2010. We acknowledged it was eleven years ago that General Synod voted “Calling the People of God to Justice for Persons with Serious ‘Mental’ Illnesses (Brain Disorders,) and we still have much more work to do! Very tentatively we heard one suggestion of a title: Our Churches Widen the Welcome: For all who are affected by Mental Illness/Brain Disorders and those who want to know more! One suggested site is Denver due to the strong connection with two congregations in particular that are involved in this area of ministry as well as the Denver Mental Health Center that is working strongly in the area of spirituality and mental illness/recovery.
Fourth, the new Steering Committee was formed by acclamation!
Fifth, we affirmed the faithful and long-standing work of the UCC MIN in particular through the leadership of Bob Dell, Craig Rennebohm and Norma Mengel.
Sixth, we thanked the UCC LCM and the UCC Disabilities Ministry for their financial support over these years and look forward to the continued connection with JW. We thanked Barbara Baylor for her presence and participation though JW.
Seventh, throughout the three-day conference we continued to wrestle with the language we use about this area. Mental Illness and/or Mental Health and/or Brain Disorders; Wellness, Healing and Recovery; suffering and/or the gifts; are these “illnesses” disabilities? We are all trying to find language that is appropriate and inclusive, and is particular in that it describes how things are as well as being compassionate.

We are off and running with the Holy Spirit’s energy and the impetus of our passion we are ready to re-engage the UCC in mental illness/brain disorder issues and concerns. More will come. However, in the meantime, you are invited to get in touch with Alan Johnson with your thoughts, reflections, questions, and interest. (revalan2004@comcast.net)

Save the Date, Widening the Welcome 2010

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This content was part of the post about the Mental Illness Network until it was made it own post on January 4, 2014.

SAVE THE DATE
September 23-26, 2010
forThe 2010 UCC National Gathering in St. Louis

Widening the Welcome: Inclusion for All

Your congregation is a people that is called to be a welcoming community. In Romans we read, “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” Romans 15:7, 13. Welcome embraces the involvement of everyone, including people who have been touched by or have experienced a mental illness/brain disorder and/or a disability, apparent or unapparent. Sponsored by the United Church of Christ (UCC) Disabilities Ministries and the UCC Mental Illness Network, the purposes of this Conference are:

i. to educate about mental illnesses/brain disorders and disabilities;
ii. to learn how to develop Mental Health Ministries and A2A Covenants in your congregation;
iii. to share best practices by telling stories;
iv. to network, staying in touch with each other and learn from each other;
v. to offer spiritual support group experiences;
vi. to worship and offer devotions;
vii. to wrestle the words and actions for the UCC MIN Covenant;
viii. to plan activities around UCC Synod, including the Covenant; and
ix. to work toward encouraging every UCC congregation to be committed to compassionate action and widening the welcome for all.

This National Gathering will be hosted by the UCC Mental Illness Network (MIN) and UCC Disabilities Ministries (DM). This Conference will be held Thursday, September 23-Sunday, September 26, 2010. It will be in St. Louis. This gathering is for clergy, consumers, laity, families, and mental health professionals.

So far the speakers include Dr. Nancy Kehoe, a nun and a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School, author of “Wrestling with our Inner Angels: Faith, Mental Illness, and the Journey to Wholeness” Dr. David Greenhaw, President of Eden Theological Seminary, the Rev. Jane Fisler-Hoffman and the Rev. Bob Molsberry, UCC Conference Ministers, the Rev. Jeanne Tyler with the UCC DM, Mr. Jeffrey Pollack Esq., Attorney in Cleveland, the Rev. Dr. Craig Rennebohm, author of “Souls in the Hands of a Tender God”, and the Rev. Alan Johnson, author of “Encounters at the Counter: What Congregations can learn about Hospitality from Business”.

For more details and information, email Alan Johnson, Chair of the UCC MIN, revalan2004@comcast.net

 

Invitation to Widening the Welcome 2010

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This was part of the post about the Mental Illness Network until it was made its own post on January 4, 2014.

April 22, 2010

You are Invited to Join Others to Support The UCC Mental Illness Network and the UCC Disabilities Ministry National 2010 Conference “Widening the Welcome: Inclusion for All”

Faith Communities are called to be a welcoming communities. In Romans we read, “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:7, 13. Welcome embraces the involvement of everyone, including people who have been touched by or have experienced a mental illness/brain disorder and/or a disability, apparent or unapparent.

This first National Conference will be held in St. Louis, at the Drury Inn, on September 23-26, 2010. This Conference is for clergy, consumers, laity, families, and mental health professionals. The purposes are:

  • to educate about mental illnesses/brain disorders and disabilities;
  • to learn how to develop Mental Health Ministries and A2A Covenants in your congregation;
  • to share best practices by telling stories;
  • to network, staying in touch with each other and learn from each other;
  • to offer spiritual support group experiences, to worship and offer devotions;
  • to plan activities around UCC Synod; and
  • to work toward encouraging every faith congregation to be committed to compassionate action and widening the welcome for all.

As a financial supporter of this Conference you will be taking a step in this new frontier of inclusion for all. Many people are marginalized in our society because of their mental illness/brain disorders or disability/impairment. You will be among those who will be voicing and acting on your commitment to be a more whole and strengthened faith community.

The speakers include Dr. Nancy Kehoe, a nun and a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School, author of “Wrestling with our Inner Angels: Faith, Mental Illness, and the Journey to Wholeness”, Dr. Debbie Creamer, Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, author of “Disability and Christian Theology Embodied Limits and Constructive Possibilities”,
Dr. David Greenhaw, President of Eden Theological Seminary, the Rev. Jane Fisler-Hoffman and the Rev. Bob Molsberry, author of “Blindsided by Grace”, UCC Conference Ministers, the Rev. Jeanne Tyler with the UCC DM, Mr. Jeffrey Pollock Esq., Attorney in Cleveland, the Rev. Dr. Craig Rennebohm, author of “Souls in the Hands of a Tender God”, and the Rev. Alan Johnson, author of “Encounters at the Counter: What Congregations can learn about Hospitality from Business”. There will be Worship, Workshops, Panels, Videos, Display Tables and opportunities to share in small groups.

We, the Planning Team, ask for you to support this Conference not only with your prayers but also with a financial donation. You and/or your congregation would be listed on the Conference Program in any of these categories. We would also introduce you at the Conference, if you are present.

  • Leader: ($1,000 and more)
  • Advocate: ($500-$900)
  • Sponsor: ($100-$400)

Your check can be made payable to Conference Office and sent to:
Summit Meetings, Inc., 90 Madison Street, Suite 403, Denver, CO 80206.
For more details and information, email Alan Johnson, Chair of the UCC MIN, revalan2004@comcast.net

 

A Joyful Summary

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This content was originally part of the post about the Mental Illness Network; which has become the Mental Health Network. This information became its own post on January 4, 2014.

A Joyful Summary

A Joyful Summary of the Newly Reconstituted United Church of Christ Mental Illness Network (UCC-MIN)
October 2, 2009

At the recent Pathways to Promise Interfaith Summit Conference on Mental Illness from Sept. 29-October 1, 2009 in Belleville, IL, the UCC MIN has been renewed. A new Steering Committee was formed and the new Chair of the Network is Alan Johnson.

“The program highlights for me,” said Alan, “were the presentation by Dr. Ken Thompson, the medical director of the Center for Mental Health Services, the personal testimony by the Rev. Jane Fisler-Hoffman, the interim conference minister of the UCC Southern California, Nevada Conference, and the training by the Rev. Craig Rennebohm. ” Ken lifted up the significance of clergy gatherings as well as the importance of offering a spiritual home that address the needs of people who are living with mental illness”. Faith communities provide a structure of belonging that provide social inclusion in a society that breeds a cycle of exclusion,” he said. Jane spoke compellingly, compassionately, and clearly about ways to embrace everyone who is living with depression, especially clergy. Craig gave an on the spot training on companioning.

Three hours were given to envision the next steps of the UCC MIN and how we might implement them.
First, we edited a Covenant Statement drafted by Craig. It names the intent of the UCC MIN and invites participation by all the setting of the church. Our intent is to have at least 10% of our UCC membership to sign onto this covenant by General Synod, 2011.
Second, we spelled out the structure for developing and expanding our communications. That includes the MIN website, a link with the UCC Justice and Witness as well as the Local Church Ministry. We talked about our own Facebook as well as joining the UCC My Space.
Third, we envisioned a National Conference on Mental Illness in the fall of next year, 2010. We acknowledged it was eleven years ago that General Synod voted “Calling the People of God to Justice for Persons with Serious Mental Illnesses (Brain Disorders,)” and we still have much more work to do! Very tentatively we heard one suggestion of a title: “Our Churches Widen the Welcome: For all who are affected by Mental Illness/Brain Disorders and those who want to know more!” One suggested site is Denver due to the strong connection with two congregations in particular that are involved in this area of ministry as well as the Denver Mental Health Center that is working strongly in the area of spirituality and mental illness/recovery.
Fourth, the new Steering Committee was formed by acclamation!
Fifth, we affirmed the faithful and long-standing work of the UCC MIN in particular through the leadership of Bob Dell, Craig Rennebohm and Norma Mengel.
Sixth, we thanked the UCC LCM and the UCC Disabilities Ministry for their financial support over these years and look forward to the continued connection with JW. We thanked Barbara Baylor for her presence and participation though JW.
Seventh, throughout the three-day conference we continued to wrestle with the language we use about this area. Mental Illness and/or Mental Health and/or Brain Disorders; Wellness, Healing and Recovery; suffering and/or the gifts; are these “illnesses” disabilities? We are all trying to find language that is appropriate and inclusive, and is particular in that it describes how things are as well as being compassionate.

We are off and running  with the Holy Spirit’s energy and the impetus of our passion we are ready to re-engage the UCC in mental illness/brain disorder issues and concerns. More will come. However, in the meantime, you are invited to get in touch with Alan Johnson with your thoughts, reflections, questions, and interest. (revalan2004@comcast.net)