Improving Mental Health Outcomes in Congregations through Compassion and Social Support Restricted; Files Only
Topper, Jakob (Spring 2025)
Abstract
This Doctor of Ministry project explores how congregational culture can be transformed to improve mental health outcomes through pastoral compassion and small group social support. Centered at NorthHaven Church, a progressive, LGBTQIA+ affirming Baptist congregation in Oklahoma, the project uses ethnographic methods to examine how stigmatization of mental health issues can be challenged in faith-based communities.
Through participant observation, group interviews, and one-on-one conversations, this research reveals that while mental health stigma is pervasive in American churches, even modest pastoral actions can powerfully shift congregants’ perceptions and behavior.
The study finds that congregants often harbor internalized stigma shaped by past religious experiences, particularly among divorced individuals and LGBTQIA+ persons. However, transformation begins when pastors speak compassionately and openly about mental health—even through small comments, sermon illustrations, or brief personal disclosures. These seemingly minor acts reduce stigma and encourage congregants to seek help, both spiritually and clinically. Notably, educational programming and guest speakers were less influential than personal expressions of empathy from the pastor.
Beyond the pulpit, the research highlights the critical role of small group ministries in sustaining mental health support. Congregants found validation, understanding, and practical assistance within their small groups, enabling them to speak openly about issues like depression, anxiety, and trauma. The study illustrates that healing is often catalyzed not through theological expertise or mental health training, but through the consistent demonstration of compassion and presence.
This project ultimately proposes a low-barrier model of mental health ministry where pastors foster safety through empathy and vulnerability, and congregations sustain that safety through relational support in small groups. NorthHaven Church emerges as a replicable model for how moderate-to-progressive congregations can become sanctuaries of healing—not by solving mental illness, but by faithfully accompanying those who struggle.
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File download under embargo until 21 May 2027 | 2025-04-30 12:59:37 -0400 | File download under embargo until 21 May 2027 |
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