New Book
Chaplain Craig Rennebohm’s book, Souls in the Hands of a Tender God, forthcoming in May 2008, is a useful resource for all who want to learn more about homelessness, mental illness, and how we can take action to address these glaring social problems. Please click here for information.
The Mental Health Chaplaincy
Working to rebuild faith in the struggle with mental illness
Almost 10 percent of us experience a serious mental illness, such as major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, in the course of our lives.
An imbalance in brain chemistry can cause prolonged confusion, suffering, and despair, as well as severe alterations in our thinking, feeling, and capacity for relationships. Our spirit and soul are deeply affected. The Chaplaincy shares the journey, working to rebuild faith in the struggle with illness.
The Chaplaincy‘s Mission
- Outreach to our neighbors on the streets who struggle with a major mental illness, trauma and abuse, and chemical dependency.
- Spiritual care with persons in hospital and outpatient programs where no other chaplain is available, and support to families seeking care and services for a family member facing a serious mental illness.
- Companionship training for chaplains, health workers, clergy, and laity and working with congregations to develop ministries to welcome, serve, and support individuals and their families facing the journey with serious and persistent mental disorders.
- Residencies, consulting, and public programs in locations around the U.S. to bring the message of the Chaplaincy and assist others in developing mental illness ministries. Click here for a schedule of Chaplain Craig Rennebohm’s activities during the current season.
- Advocacy and education for readily accessible mental health care that attends to the whole person, including their physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being.
The Chaplaincy was founded in 1987 and initially sponsored by the Church Council of Greater Seattle. Since 1997, it has been an ecumenical outreach program of Prospect Congregational United Church of Christ, with major support from its downtown base in Plymouth Congregational Church.