Shackled by a Heavy Burden: An Examination of Barriers Pastors Face When Providing Pastoral Counseling or Referrals in the African American Church

Description: This book shares one pastors journey to uncover the inherent barriers that cause many African American parishioners not to receive the help they need regarding their mental and emotional health. These barriers are revealing and may be surprising to clergy and counseling professionals. In this book Kennard Murray examines the phenomenon of resistance to professional counseling in the African American community and the source of this resistance the reasons parishioners seek out pastors for help during emotional distress whether pastors feel adequately equipped to provide such counseling and the need for training on making appropriate referrals. Also the author identifies an emerging method of providing church-based pastoral counseling in local churches to address the barriers of resistance to seeking help in the community at large. The information contained within these pages will help not only African American pastors but also pastors in rural communities where other counseling professionals are not readily accessible. Endorsements: It was during the 2001-2004 quadrennium that I taught the polity course for students at Vanderbilt Divinity School Nashville. Kennard was one of those students. In this book Kennard shares his passion for pastoral counseling and indicates why pastoral counseling is so vital for effective ministry especially among African American parishioners. Any caring pastor and layperson will find Kens research informing and insightful as they seek to minister to persons in times of crises and distress. --Melvin G. Talbert Retired Bishop The United Methodist Church The history of white racism in the mental health system and the resistance of the African American community have meant that many individuals and families do not receive the mental health services they need in times of crisis. In this book Murray presents a creative plan for cooperation between African American churches and mental health caregivers that promises needed resources for healing. --James Newton Poling Professor of Pastoral Theology Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Dr. Murray has brilliantly and thoroughly addressed the issue of mental health as it relates to people of color. Shackled by a Heavy Burden is a refreshing insightful book that is long overdue. It does not shy away from social and historical barriers to adequate counseling. Nor does it camouflage the huge amount of mental and spiritual woundedness that must be addressed. Most of all it paints a vivid picture of the real world. --Roger A. Hopson Executive Assistant to the Bishop Nashville Episcopal Area About the Contributor(s): Kennard Murray (DMin Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary) is pastor of Seay Hubbard United Methodist Church in Nashville Tennessee. He is also a Certified Pastoral Counselor with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and provides pastoral counseling at the Pastoral Center for Healing in Nashville.