Hillary Doerries will present this July in New Orleans, LA for the National Conference of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, on the topic "All My Hope on God is Founded: Hymns and Mental Health."
"One in four Americans suffers from a mental illness; these individuals often come to the church in search of compassionate care. This sectional will focus on the role the music minister plays in acknowledging the mental health needs of parishioners through music ministry. The healing properties of sacred music promote safe spaces for recovery to occur and allow us to sing about our shared struggles toward wholeness. The sectional will guide participants through the process of selecting hymns, anthems, and other resources that call us to examine psychological pain, collective healing, and hope for tomorrow."