Best Practice Pastoral Care for the Sexually Diverse

The workshop detailed below was held in Sydney and was extremely successful with participants rating it very highly.

It is now available for organizations as an inservice.  Please contact us on 07 3211 1117 for more information.


The aim of this workshop is to provide you with:

§  Practical take away ‘how to’ skills, insights and tools you can use in your work.

§  Confidence to know how to deal effectively with gay, lesbian and bisexual people.

§  A sense of ease when dealing with these populations.

§  Clarity regarding the underlying psychology of gays, lesbians & bisexuals through evidence/research based information.

§  Provide you with an understanding of ex-gay ministries and the psychological impact these programs can have for some people.
 

This workshop will not be covering theology, nor will it be challenging anyone’s belief system.

It instead hopes to provide a safe and confidential forum to gain new information, discuss the challenges of working with these populations in your work and to gain practical ‘how to’

Interview about the workshop with your facilitator ABC Local Radio's Sunday Nights program

Sundaynights with John Cleary - ABC radio

 

 

Background Information:

This workshop is being held in conjunction with ‘Different Conversations’ and ‘Imagine.’   Please see below for more information and a message from ‘Different Conversations and your facilitator.’

Introduction from Zac Turner from ‘Different Conversations.;

‘Imagine’ which is a small Baptist Community in Darlinghurst and 'Different Conversations' is convening a one day workshop on sexual identity specifically focussing on the insights gained from psychologists about the underlying issues facing people struggling with these issues.  The focus will also be on information and skills to improve the counselling and Pastoral Care services Christian leaders provide to these populations.

‘Imagine’ in collaboration with 'Different Conversations' ran a three day forum on sexual identity in February, which was aimed at Chaplains, Pastors and Christian workers. By bringing a group of church leaders together ideas were further developed and discussed in terms of possible changes in how we interact with the concept of sexuality.

One of the key feedback items that we received was the need to have some more practical workshops that could look at a more 'how-to' approach. So in conjunction with Paul Martin a psychologist from Brisbane who was involved in the forum in February we are bringing you this one day workshop.

The day will be kicked off talking about the Imagine community, the 100 Revs story and why we think that this is an important conversation to be having.   There will be a brief story or two from members of Imagine's community and a short devotion then a coffee and chat to get the day off to a flying start.

The workshop is a combination of current psychological and evidence based theory and how this relates to people who identify differently.  It also includes insights into reparative therapy and information about sexually diverse communities including Darlinghurst and Surry Hills.  The afternoon will be spent working through different case studies and pastoral care cases that will meld the information and theory of the morning session with some more practical applications.

Our hope in our small community is to help facilitate safe spaces where people can have 'different conversations' that might facilitate growth in our understanding and knowledge, and increase our compassion for other people where they are now. The Imagine community has a ministry within the local area and community, a community that is 35% Gay, is the Highest HIV/AIDS Suburb in Australia, and gave birth to the 100 Revs movement that aimed to converse with the LGBT community and offer an apology addressing the grievances of the past.

Imagine's vision is to see the church at the forefront of bringing the message of inclusiveness, grace and truth to all those who find themselves marginalized as a result of their sexual identity.

From Your Facilitator, Paul Martin

I feel honoured to be able to facilitate this workshop in collaboration with ‘Different Coversations’ and ‘Imagine’.   Please find a summary of the program in the flyer which is attached.

I just thought I’d share some of the latest statistics regarding the mental health issues of these sexually diverse populations.   These are people who often face much worse mental health issues than heterosexual populations.

This  includes:

• twice as likely to have a high/very high level of psychological distress (18.2% v. 9.2%)
• almost 3 times as likely to have had suicidal thoughts (34.7% v. 12.9%)
• 5 times as likely to have had suicidal plans (17.1% v. 3.7%)
• 4 times as likely to have attempted suicide (12.6% v. 3.1%)
• 4 times more likely to have ever been homeless (12% „homosexual/bisexual‟ v. 2.9%
• “heterosexual‟)
• twice as likely to have no contact with family or no family to rely on for serious
• problems (11.8% v. 5.9%)
• more likely to be a current smoker (35.7% v.22%)
• twice as likely to have used illicit drugs (64.6% v. 33.2%)

[Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007) „National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing‟ additional unpublished analysis]

Young people are particularly vulnerable given issues such as rejection sensitivity.  Research has suggested:

• LGB youth who report parental rejection were 8.5 times more likely to attempt suicide, 5.9 times more likely to have greater depression, 3.4 times more likely to use illegal drugs and 3.4 times more likely to have engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse.

As you can see there is a great need for Christian leaders to have a comprehensive understanding of the underlying psychological dynamics that lead to these catastrophic statistics.  These people would benefit enormously from having an understanding Christian response to them as people.  So many though feel betrayed by the Church and have sadly left their faith.   I’m hoping that this workshop is a space where information, discussion and reflection will enable you to feel that you can understand these people more deeply and feel that your response to individuals will be enhanced.

I look forward to seeing you at the workshop.