Congregations as Trinitarian Communities

Many people with chronic mental illness are unable to§find a congregation where they feel welcomed. This§book researched six congregations to discover common§characteristics of congregations who are accepting,§welcoming, and supporting of people with chronic§mental illness or diversity. Two attitudes were§present in these congregations; (a) each person is a§child of God, and (b) all people are gifted by God.§Also discovered was a conscious decision not to hide§away people with chronic mental illness/diversity. A§Trinitarian ecclesiology with a perichoretic§understanding of the Trinity as community, is§utilized. Bowen theory is used as a framework for§understanding emotional process in congregations. In§addition, a theory of congregations as organizational§systems is developed from field theory,§self-organizing systems, and chaos theory. This book§is for congregational members, pastors, theologians,§and researchers who wish to champion mental health§issues in congregations and to hear stories of full§participation of people with mental illness in§congregations.