Cracks in the Pillar: A Pastoral Theological Response to Depression in African American Clergy Public

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF CRACKS IN THE PILLAR: A PASTORAL THEOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO DEPRESSION IN AFRICAN AMERICAN CLERGY This study utilized the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-IITR) to establish the existence of depression among African American pastors. The work argues that due to the monumental significance of the black preacher in the African American religious tradition, there exists a type of ‘cultural sacramentalization' of the black preacher which sets clergy up for failure through isolation, internalized or external expectations and a loss of self-awareness. It shows how the preacher-pew dyad in the black church evolves from the long-standing influence black pastors have held within their churches and communities. Since African American pastors are frequently viewed as a welcomed part of the family (in an ‘extended' family system), this kind of familial relationality, often becomes problematic in the context of the black church where themes of dependency loom large among a population that, in large measure, tends to grapple with paternal abandonment issues. As a result, pastors experiencing depression are more prone to encountering relational conflicts within their congregations. This dissertation draws from a communal-contextual model of pastoral theology, utilizing Donald Winnicott's theory of the ‘True' and ‘False' self to examine how depression emerges from the aforementioned psycho-socio-theological conflict. The dissertation concludes by proposing a method based on the Biblical prophetess HULDAH as a therapeutically sensitive pastoral theological response to depression in African American clergy.

Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section I:

CHAPTER 1: Introduction

The Problem

Clergy and Depression

The Methodology

The Limitations/De-limitations

Literature Review

Chapter Outline

Chapter 2: We've Come This Far by Faith: The Socio-historical Groundwork for Depression in African American Clergy

Survivable African Origins

The Preacher As Pillar: Clarifying the Role of the Black Preacher During Slavery

Socioeconomic Implications of Race-Class Oppression

Section II:

Chapter 3: Sifting Through the Research Findings: Employing the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-IITR)

Analyzing the Data

Chapter 4: Breaking Up the Fallow Ground: Digging Deep to Make the Shift Towards Psychological Clearing

How Did We Get Here? - Depression As (Indelible?) Cultural Stigma

Cracks in the Pillar: Airing the Dirty Laundry of Depression in African American Clergy

We Wear the Mask: Winnicottian Notions of the 'True' and the False' Self

Views from A Womanist Lens: De-constructing the ˜Strong Black Woman' (SBW) as a Dangerous Motif for African American Female Clergy

SECTION III:

Chapter 5: No Other Gods Before Me': The Task of Dismantling Culturally-Embedded Altars

"You Betta' Talk Preacha!": Understanding the Black Church As A Cultural Hermeneutic

Re-Calling Tillich: Paul Tillich's Notions of Spiritual Presence

Embodiment in the Preaching Moment: The Cultural Sacramentalization of the Black Preacher

The Black Church as Wandering in the Wilderness, But Who Sinned?: A Big Setup for Pedestallization from the Pews

From Where We Stand: Power and Phallic Imagery in the Black Pulpit

CHAPTER 6: 'Am I My Brothers' Keeper?': Merging the Intersections of Religion, Psychology and Culture to Proffer An Appropriate Pastoral Theological Response to Depression in African American Clergy

Do You Want to Be Made Whole?: Utilizing HULDAH As A Metaphor For Liberative Pastoral Praxis

Fortifying the Pillars: Building Good Enough Holding Spaces' in Psychotherapy with African American Clergy

Implications Moving Forward

Section IV: Appendices

Section V: Bibliography

About this Dissertation

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Candler School of Theology
Department	Pastoral Counseling
Degree	ThD
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Black Studies Psychology, Behavioral Religion, Clergy
Mot-clé	Religion and Public Health Historical Trauma Clergy Self-care Communal-contextual Pastoral Care Psychology Pastoral Theology Ritualization Stigmatization of Depression Clergy Depression Depression in Slavery Clergy Suicide Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-IITR) Spiritual Presence Practical Theology Paul Tillich African American Church
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Lartey, Emmanuel Y, Emory University
Committee Members	Wimberly, Edward P., ITC McCrary, Carolyn, ITC

Dernière modification

Primary PDF

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions
	Cracks in the Pillar: A Pastoral Theological Response to Depression in African American Clergy ()	2018-08-28 14:13:29 -0400	Press to Select an action Download

Supplemental Files

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions