Mennonite Weekly Review

Thousands of people in Mennonite churches suffer in silence because they don’t get the help they need to face their addictions, mental disorders, experiences of abuse and other personal issues.

That assumption, confirmed by therapists and pastors alike, has propelled Mennonite Publishing Network to spearhead the development of a series of pastoral care pamphlets that bring together professional therapy, Christian faith and congregational care.

The first three of a projected series of 21 pamphlets will be released in June: “Dealing with Pornography,” “Dealing with Spouse Abuse” and “Dealing with Eating Disorders.”

Others, to be released over three years, tackle anxiety disorders, alcoholism, marital discord and other personal problems. Many topics, such as date rape and suicide, will be developed particularly with youth and young adult audiences in mind.

Titled “Close to Home,” the series draws on the expertise of professional counselors, seminary staff and pastoral caregivers in the Mennonite Church and Mennonite Brethren denominations.

While MPN is the publisher, the Mennonite Brethren denomination’s Kindred Productions is a key partner in the project. Funding support comes from a variety of denominational sources and foundations.

Matthew Isert-Bender, pastor of Nith Valley (Ont.) Mennonite Church, is excited to see the integrated healing that Close to Home promotes. As a trained counselor, he has noticed that many church people drive a wedge between therapy and biblical faith.

“Either they have experienced the church as a place that devalues the role of therapy,” Isert-Bender notes, “or they see the church devaluing the role that biblical faith and congregational care have in the healing process.”

Beyond bridging that gap, however, the series is intended to get conversations flowing. According to Linda Gehman Peachey of Mennonite Central Committee, the pamphlets are “a wonderful way for congregations to invite people to share their struggles and take additional steps on the journey toward wholeness.”

The series took shape in November 2006 when a group of 11 therapists, seminary teachers, pastors and publishing staff met in Waterloo and hammered out a development plan.