Mental Health, Theology, and Ministry: An Exploration course
What does it mean to be a healthy human being? In this short course, we will explore this from the angle of mental health and wellbeing. What might it mean to be ‘whole’, and how might this sit within our understanding of holiness? What do our theology and our Biblical narratives have to contribute to conversations about mental wellbeing in an era where both the science is ever developing and individual experiences and expression are increasingly encouraged?
What might the implications for our ministry be from these conversations between theology and medical science? What might we do differently, and what might we do better? How should a contemporary understanding of mental health affect the way we engage in pastoral care, and where might we have something particular to add to the way medicine considers what it means to be human?
This course is an introduction to an exciting and developing field, which will increasingly impact upon our ministry and mission as Christians. Please join us to begin the exploration of how we might engage with mental health issues in a healthy, helpful, and hopeful way, and how we might do so in the light of the Christian faith.
About the Tutor
Charlie Bell is a non-stipendiary priest in the Diocese of Southwark, a forensic psychiatrist and visiting scholar at Sarum College. He trained for the ministry at St Mellitus and St Augustine’s College, serving his curacy at St John the Divine in Kennington. Charlie is a Research Fellow and Associate Tutor at St Augustine’s College, Scholar in Residence at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York City, and holds permission to officiate in Ely Diocese.
Charlie read medicine at Queens’ College, Cambridge, undertaking a PhD in medical genetics. Since 2018 he has been the John Marks Fellow, College Assistant Professor, Praelector and Director of Studies in Medicine at Girton College, Cambridge, and undertakes his clinical work with Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust in south London. His medical research interests relate to patients with antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy, trying to elucidate possible biological mechanisms that might lead to stratification and treatment in the future.
Charlie’s theological research focuses on matters of sacramental practice, ecclesiology and ecumenism, contemporary debates on sexuality and gender, and the interface of science, medicine and theology. He has published several books and articles, regularly reviews for Theology journal, and has taught for both theological colleges and IME groups on the medico-theological interface and liturgy. His most recent book is Unity: Anglicanism’s ‘impossible dream’? (SCM Press, 2024).
Looking forward to this. In my opinion our faith has an inseparable link to mental health. Those who have suffered from various problems during difficult childhood and perhaps vulnerability in adult life, have much to gain from Christian love, as therapists and Counsellors, etc, stick to science based answers which, though helpful, may not get to the core mental issues. For example Dissociative identity Disorder, and other branches of Dissociation may have at their root, an absence of love, true care and compassion, that is at the heart of what Jesus taught and acted on. Christian Ministry is capable of this within modern safeguarding restraints and will get to the root better than any science devoid of Christ’s work. The question is, how may we achieve this?