M i s s i o n P e a k U n i t a r i a n U n i v e r s a l i s t C o n g r e g a t i o n
"A Spiritual Community of Caring Hearts and Open Minds"
Local Churches Reach Out to People with Mental Disorders
Published December 30, 2009 in the Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader
Two-day conference in January offers to bring people together
People who care about others with mental disorders are invited to a two-day conference in January sponsored by four local churches, Jefferson Mental Health Services and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
"Caring Faith Congregations" opens at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1032 Jefferson Street in Port Townsend, with registration at 8:30am.
"Tell Me Your Story and I'll Tell You Mine" is the topic of the first session, 9-10:30a.am on Saturday. A panel discussion is led by Jefferson County Commissioners David Sullivan and John Austin, parent Elaine Nelson, rapper Robert Komishane, and the Rev. Robert Slater of First Presbyterian Church. After the presentation, attendees will talk in small groups.
"More Stories" follows that presentation on Saturday, 10:45a.am-12:15p.m. in which stories about mental health issues will be discussed and evaluated as fiction or fact. The discussion centers on what these stories might mean in the context of a caring faith community, organizers note. Onnolee Stevens facilitates the discussion.
"What Can Be / What Is Now?" is the theme of the Saturday afternoon events, which move to First Baptist Church at 1202 Lawrence St.
Kathy Stevenson, religious education director, leads a discussion about teaching the next generation about mental disorders in a church-school setting. That talk is from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and focuses on how congregations can teach youths to understand, have compassion for and support those who live with mental disorder.
Stephanie Reith, chaplain intern and rabbinic pastor candidate at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia facilitates a discussion after the PBS program "Minds on the Edge" is shown, 3:15-4:45 p.m.
Organizers say the program "connects the dots between personal dilemmas facing individuals and families living with mental disorders, medical practices that can be obstacles to treatment, and public policies that all too often ran short in providing support that could make a positive difference."
The Rev. Barbara Meyers, a community mental health minister associated with Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation in California, is the guest speaker on Sunday, Jan 31, "Caring Congregations: Mental Health and People of Faith" is the title of her 2-5 p.m. presentation at First Presbyterian Church, 1111 Franklin St.
The mental health minister has written The Caring Congregation Handbook and produces and hosts "Mental Health Matters" for public access TV. In her presentation, she addresses the relationship of spirituality and mental illness, commonly seen adult mental disorders, disorders in children, co-occurring disorders, suicide warnings, recovery, and ideas on how congregations can help.
Suggested donation for the Saturday morning presentations is $8. Saturday afternoon events are $8 for advance tickets or $10 at the door. For the Sunday event, a donation of $12 is suggested for advance tickets; $15 on the day of the conference. Tickets for both days are $20 when people register in advance.
To register, mail name, email address, phone number and congregation preferences to NAMI, c/o/ Mary Kellogg, P.O. Box 2114, Port Townsend, WA 98368. She can also be contacte4d at mkellogg425@hotmail.com or 344-3336.
Conference sponsors are Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, First Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Jefferson Mental Health Services and the National Alliance on Mental Illness..
