Pastors meet in Dallas to tackle crises

More than 1,200 pastors and faith leaders will gather this week 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 three-day gathering beginning Monday.

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 10,000member 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.”

Workshops will tackle topics such as navigating a post-pandemic church and engaging young generations.

According to the Pew Research Center, there has been a decrease in those who identify with any religion. Those who identify with Christianity dropped from 78 percent in 2007 to 63 percent in 2021, the study said.

Carter said that while church attendance has increased over the last year, it is not yet at pre-pandemic levels. He said that in-person attendance can reconnect with communities.

Carter said Black churches are some of the richest assets for Dallas in terms of community and influence. Many have nonprofit organizations, such as food pantries and economic empowerment and reentry programs for those coming out of prison.

“Dallas is incredibly blessed to have such a strong fabric of churches that are incredibly committed to helping make the gospel tangible for people,” he said.