Bridging the Gaps Between Faith and Mental Health Care for Church Communities

Church leaders stand at the crossroads of faith and care, navigating a mental health crisis that impacts both their congregations and themselves. Balancing Biblical teaching with practical support for those struggling can feel overwhelming, especially with the increasing pressure and complexity of care needs. How can you care well for those in your church while maintaining your own mental and emotional well-being?

The Church Mental Health Partnership (CMHP) is a new initiative by Harbor, designed specifically to serve churches and church leaders. Led by the Rev. Dr. Bryan Loney, a church insider with doctoral training in clinical psychology, the CMHP brings a unique perspective to addressing mental health challenges within the church. With a deep passion for supporting church staff and equipping leaders, Dr. Loney combines his extensive experience to help churches navigate diverse mental health needs with wisdom, compassion, and Biblical insight.

 

Are you a church leader grappling with these challenges?

  • Feeling overwhelmed by the growing care needs in your congregation and unsure how to support those struggling with specific mental health issues.

  • Wishing your church had better education on understanding, assessing, and addressing mental health concerns through a Biblical lens.

  • Struggling to trust mental health professionals or feeling lost in navigating care options to make the best referrals for your members.

  • Wrestling with your own mental health struggles and lacking the support and guidance you need.

The CMHP Approach

Tailored Services

We provide resources and support that vary in scope, serving the entire congregation or focusing on specific teams or church leaders. We will work together to assess your needs and develop a plan that ideally fits your congregation or group.

Educational Support: Guest preaching, teaching, and written materials to help congregations with a deeper understanding of mental health. Some example services include:

• Sermon on weakness or suffering sensitive to mental health

• Church retreat on the inward life of the Christian

• Seminars and Bible studies addressing various mental health topics

Triage Assistance: Consultation and guidance for complex care needs and care team development. Some example services include:

• In-person or virtual consulting meetings

• Help with developing and refining mental health care teams

• Working together to develop an annotated mental health care referral list

Leader Care: Pastoral counseling and support for leaders facing their own mental health challenges or burnout. Some example services include:

• Short-term pastoral counseling for personal struggles

• Coaching in addressing mental health care issues

• Resourcing for pastoral development

 

Unique Model

Church-Focused: Centered on the needs of the church, its leadership, and fostering partnerships.

Holistic: Integrating church and community resources for well-rounded care.

Biblically Rigorous: Ensuring all approaches align with the truths of Scripture.

Interested in exploring how the CMHP could assist your church?

Let’s discuss your unique challenges and find practical ways to equip your leadership and congregation to care for mental health needs with Biblical wisdom and compassion.

 

Support the CMHP

We are seeking to raise 200k this year (and a total of 450k over the next 3 years) to build out the CMHP and give it the best foundation and broadest reach moving forward. Please consider partnering with us to help bring vital resources, education, and pastoral care to churches navigating the mental health crisis.

All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. You can donate using our secure giving portal which includes credit card and ACH options. To avoid processing fees, you can also contact us for the information needed to make ACH donations directly through your bank or mail donations to our office (874 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215). Please make checks payable to “Harbor Christian Partnership” and note “CMHP” in the memo line. Email us at partnership@harborcc.us with any questions you might have related to donations and giving options. Thank you!

 

About Rev. Dr. Bryan Loney

I’m Bryan Loney, and my life has been shaped by both a lifelong battle with severe anxiety and a foundational calling to serve Christ and His church. My early career as a professor of Clinical Psychology allowed me to train others in understanding and addressing mental health challenges, a critical need that remains close to my heart.

I became a Christian after beginning my work as a professor and quickly developed a related burden for pastoral ministry. Upon receiving tenure, the Lord called me to a second career as a church planter and then senior pastor in Boston, Massachusetts, where I’ve had the privilege of shepherding others and witnessing God’s transformative work in their lives.

As I have grown as a pastor, I have been increasingly burdened for the mental health crisis and its impact on the local church. This has deepened my desire to integrate my clinical training and pastoral experience to equip local churches in better caring for those struggling with mental health challenges. My hope is to help church leaders navigate these issues with Biblical wisdom, compassion, and practical tools, creating communities where people can find both healing and hope.