The launch of the Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health
– 13 May 2021
ADM’s theological college, Mary Andrews College (MAC), this week launched their new Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health. Applications are now open for those wishing to enrol in the first unit, commencing Semester 2, 2021.
Awareness of mental health issues in the church and the wider community is growing, yet ministry workers report feeling under-equipped to care effectively for those experiencing mental health challenges.
Christians working in health care, particularly those working in the area of mental health, are also seeking further training to gain a theological framework for what they do in their everyday professions.
There are also Christians working in school settings who have pastoral care and wellbeing responsibilities who are seeking to reflect upon these matters from a theological perspective.
Is there a context in which these groups can be brought together? Where they can learn from one another? We believe there is.
The Graduate Certificate offers specialised training in pastoral responses to mental health and wellbeing with a focus on preventative and reactive strategies. Designed to be a professional development course for men and women who work in ministry, professional health care workers, and Christians working in schools, the course aims to equip students with a rigorous theological framework for mental health and wellbeing that is biblically grounded.
While the primary focus of Mary Andrews College has been equipping women for ministry, this Graduate Certificate is designed for both female and male students.
The Graduate Certificate is made up of four units. Each unit will be taught by specialists in the field, with the course leader being Rev. Dr Keith Condie, the Co-Director of the Mental Health and Pastoral Care Institute.
The first unit in the Graduate Certificate, Theological Approaches to Wellbeing begins in Semester Two 2021.
Rev. Dr Keith Condie, Co-Director of the Mental Health & Pastoral Care Institute and course leader for the new Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health.