Date
10-14-2026
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Master of Divinity (MDiv)
Chair
Laurie Thompson
Keywords
faith communities; pastoral mental health preparedness; mental health literacy; stigma reduction; referral competence; theory-driven evaluation; logic model planning, faith, Mental Health, redemptive cognitive behavior therapy
Disciplines
Christianity | Psychology
Recommended Citation
Lytle, Robert Lee Jr, "Closing the Gap Between Pastoral Responsibility and Mental Health Preparedness" (2026). Masters Theses. 1549.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/masters/1549
Abstract
Faith communities increasingly encounter significant mental health needs among congregants, yet many pastors and ministry leaders remain underprepared to respond effectively within their pastoral scope. This Dissertation-in-Praxis addressed the persistent gap between the growing prevalence of mental health challenges in faith-based contexts and the limited leadership preparedness required to provide informed, ethical, and integrated pastoral care. This researcher defined the theological, organizational, and contextual dimensions of the problem, identifying stigma, insufficient pastoral training, and fragmented referral practices as primary contributors to the divide between responsibility and preparedness. Grounded in interdisciplinary scholarship at the intersection of spirituality, leadership, and mental health, this study synthesized research on pastoral mental health literacy, stigma reduction, referral competence, and theory-driven program design. Logic model methodology and effectiveness-based planning provided the structural discipline necessary to translate theological conviction into measurable leadership action, while theory-driven evaluation clarified the mechanisms through which leadership formation and congregational cultural change could be examined. This researcher implemented and evaluated a strategic framework within a congregational context to equip pastors and ministry leaders as informed, ethical first-line responders. Findings demonstrated increased pastoral confidence, reduced stigma, strengthened referral preparedness, and greater readiness to cultivate supportive cultures of holistic care.
