CONGREGATIONAL CARE
Covenant Congregation Program
The Covenant Congregation Program (CCP; (formerly Congregational Assistance Program CAP) is a ministry that provides counseling services, life enrichment education and professional development opportunities for members of congregations and pastors through a contractual relationship with the Pastoral Institute. There are over 40
participating congregations in the CCP and taking advantage of its benefits. This ministry also provides an outreach/missional opportunity for local congregations to serve the marginalized in our community through counseling provided through the Pastoral Counselor Training Program of the P.I. To learn more about CCP or to request a contract, you may contact us at
mrc@pilink.org, 706-649-6360 or 1-800-649-6446.
How does CCP work?If your church is a part of the CCP program, your congregation members may receive individual or family counseling at the Pastoral Institute. Members may also attend workshops or seminars sponsored by the Pastoral Institute.
Advantages of CCPThrough the years, we've heard from a number of ministers of churches that have participated in CCP. Here are some of the benefits they have experienced:
- Offering CCP is more cost effective than establishing a new staff position with salary, benefits, etc. It gives us an extension of ministry in the community.
- By providing a referral source for counseling, as a pastor I feel I have a partner with greater expertise in this aspect of pastoral care.
- By the church entering into a covenant relationship with the Pastoral Institute, members can feel like the church is giving its blessing for them to receive help at a pastoral counseling center.
- Linking people with the Pastoral Institute provides a strong statement from the church to its members about the importance of good mental health, balancing work and home life, stress management, strong marriages, healthy family life and creative parenting.
Levels of CCP Participation There are three levels of participation available, all of which include:
- Scheduling priority for congregation's members. Our goal is to see your congregation member within two days. In crisis situations, we do our best to see the client the same day.
- Access to trauma response teams. To help your staff or congregation deal with a trauma, our team of trained mental health professionals comes to your site and conducts a debriefing that allows participants to begin the healing process.
- Access to support groups. From time to time there are support groups available for ministers and church staff. To learn more about CPP or to request a contract, you may contact us at mrc@pilink.org, 706-649-6360 or 1-800-649-6446.
Congregational SupportThe TMRC recognizes that as a group, congregations have needs, experience growing pains and struggle with many issues. Customized workshops and seminars for strategic planning, leadership development, mental health, and teacher training are available for congregations and key lay leadership. If interested in these or other topics, please contact us at
mrc@pilink.org, 706-649-6360 or 1-800-649-6446 to schedule a free consultation.
On occasion we provide lay-education programs suitable for Wednesday evening or other special events (Marriage, Family, Parenting) plus Bible Studies or seminars on specific faith related themes. For additional information please contact us at
mrc@pilink.org, 706-649-6360 or 1-800-649-6446.
CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL TOPICSMental Health First Aid You may know CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver. You can call 911. But can you administer First Aid in a mental health crisis? Mental Health First Aid is the initial help given to a person showing symptoms of mental illness or in a mental health crisis (severe depression, psychosis, panic attack, suicidal thoughts and behaviors until) appropriate professional or other help, including peer and family support, can be engaged.
Mental Health First Aid is a groundbreaking public education program that helps the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Mental Health First Aid training provides you with the ability to recognize the potential risk factors and warning signs for a range of mental health problems, including: depression, anxiety/trauma, psychosis and psychotic disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and self-injury. This training will also provide you with an understanding of the prevalence of various mental health disorders in the U.S. and the need for reduced stigma in their communities. For more information on Mental Health First Aid or to register for an upcoming training class, you may email us at
jtalley@pilink.org or call 706-649-6500, ext. 1204
Marital ResourcesCLICK HERE