Community engagement with African American clergy: faith-based model for culturally competent practice

Objective: The intent of this exploratory qualitative study was to examine African American Baptist clergy's pastoral care to older congregants with mental disorders. Critical Race Theory was the guiding framework in this study. Method: A purposive sample of 18 African American clergy participated in one-on-one interviews. Results: Collectively, all participants were active in the provision of mental health to older congregants with mental disorders. The primary emergent theme 'shepherding the flock' the central phenomenon uncovered in the data, was used to organize a model of pastoral care, which is presented in this paper. Findings from this study supported results from previous studies on the integral role of the Church and clergy in the African American community. Conclusion: Moreover, this study highlights the importance of internal ministries in the Church and the need for further study and potential partnership opportunity.