1,200 Pastors Coming to Dallas to Address Mental Health, Social Justice, and Other Issues Affecting Their Communities

More than 1,200 pastors and faith leaders will gather in mid-July to share ideas about how they can tackle mental health, social justice and other issues affecting the communities they serve.

Concord Church in southern Dallas will host the gathering July 11-13.

Mental health has become an increasingly serious issue since the coronavirus pandemic. Many have limited access to resources despite high rates of serious suicidal ideation in the past 30 days and an increase in substance abuse in 2020.

“You have a mental health crisis, of course the racial crisis, you have an economic crisis, you have all of these dynamics that continue to impact and influence the communities in which we serve,” said Pastor Bryan Carter, leader of Concord’s 10,000-member congregation. “Passionately, we are coming together to really learn and talk about how we share and preach in this context, but also how we do it effectively.”

“I think the mental health component is an ongoing issue that we’re facing, both personally and for the family,” he said. “Depression and anxiety, suicide among our young adults and teenagers, the last year’s grief — the grief of loved ones lost in the midst of COVID, but also the grief of life changes — is a significant part of it.”

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SOURCE: The Dallas Morning News, Sriya Reddy