For discussion

January 19, 2011 | Feature | Number 2
Canadian Mennonite |

1. What has your congregation done to help members dealing with personality disorders, addiction or family dysfunction? How effective has it been? How involved should the congregation or the pastor be in helping people cope with these types of issues?

2. Do you agree with Joe Neufeld that the church has tended to sideline its psychologists and psychiatrists? If so, why might that be? Have we assumed that spirituality dominates over the physical body? How could the church best use the expertise of social and behavioural scientists?

3. Neufeld suggests that the church has been preoccupied with right belief and has neglected right behaviour. Do you agree? How much does our faith influence our behaviour? How concerned should a congregation be about the behaviour of its members?

4. If a church assembly offered seminars led by professional psychologists, what issues should be addressed? Under what conditions would it be appropriate for a social scientist to serve as the main speaker for a Mennonite Church Canada assembly?

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