Educating for Inclusive, Caring Communities

What kind of education do clergy and ordinands require in order to include and care for people living with dementia and their carers and supporters?

Project Background

The education and training of leaders is vital for the formation of dementia-friendly religious communities that offer effective care and support.

The Educating for Inclusive, Caring Communities project set out to ascertain the space currently awarded to dementia within Christian ministerial training programmes at Theological Education Institutes (TEIs) in the UK and Australia, and to find realistic and meaningful ways to enhance it, bolstering future leaders' capacity to minister alongside people living with dementia.

In the dynamic landscape of caregiving within religious communities, the Educating for Inclusive, Caring Communities project illuminates the pressing need for compelling and compassionate training for Christian clergy and leaders.

The project took place between 2021 and 2023. As we look forward, the Educating for Inclusive, Caring Communities report is not merely a conclusion but a commencement—a stepping stone toward a future where clergy and religious leaders are empowered and equipped to embody the ethos of caring communities, particularly for those touched by dementia and their dedicated carers.

Project Report

The Educating for Inclusive, Caring Communities report delves into the critical role that church leaders and clergy play in fostering inclusivity and support for individuals living with dementia and their carers within Christian communities.

It explores how Theological Education Institutions (TEIs) in the UK and Australia currently prepare their students for dementia ministry and identified strategies for enhancing this aspect of their training.

This report has three main sections: Dementia, Faith and the Church; Dementia in Theological Education; and A Way Forward. These are accompanied by reflection exercises, recommendations and a list of resources (which are also reproduced below). Additionally, the report outlines areas for further research and proposes a series of recommendations for both TEIs and church bodies to consider as they work toward creating more caring and inclusive communities.

The report is, among other things, a call to action for TEIs to consider a range of options for enhancing their approach to dementia education.

Key Findings

• There is a growing need for clergy and church leaders to be well-equipped to support the dementia community.
• Dementia shines a critical light upon many aspects of spiritual and church life, making it a key indicator of the inclusivity and accessibility of church practices.
• Current theological training on dementia varies widely and often lacks depth or practical application.

Recommendations

• TEIs should integrate dementia education into their curricula to better prepare future clergy for inclusive ministry, reflective of the diverse needs of congregations..
• A multi-faceted approach to training is necessary, combining modular teaching, placements, reflection, and extracurricular learning. We have proposed a suite of options for TEIs to consider.
• Churches should engage in continuous dialogue and education to foster environments that are welcoming to those living with dementia.

Actionable Steps

• Evaluate Current Programs: TEIs to conduct self-assessments on current dementia-related content in their courses.
• Curricular Integration: Incorporate dementia-specific content and ensure cross-curricular references to dementia-related issues.
• Practical Placements: Provide hands-on learning experiences for ordinands in settings that support individuals with dementia.
• Continuing Education: Encourage ongoing training for ordained clergy to keep abreast of best practices in dementia care.
• Community Engagement: Facilitate workshops and create resources to help church communities become more inclusive.

Resources

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank everybody who passed on and answered our calls for participants.

This research has been generously supported by HammondCare, The Sir Halley Stewart Trust, and the Kirby Laing Foundation.