History of A Nouwen Network
A Nouwen Network grew out of three years of informal but deliberate networking. A small number of Brisbane people* who were trying to promote mental health awareness within their different churches began to meet up in twos and threes in coffee shops. They kept linking up with others, and quickly became friends. It was glaringly apparent from these first conversations that regardless of their denomination, those who wanted to show support for mental health issues at the “grass roots”, local church level, often felt unsupported and very alone.
A Nouwen Network was established on 11th Nov 2009 when thirteen people gathered together, and supported by the expertise of the then Lifeline chaplains, Rev Bob Harriman and Rev Graham Beattie, began to formulate the Vision, Mission, & Values for an organized network. From its inception the network was cross- denominational in approach, and during the years in which it was active it had members from many backgrounds. The initial planning workshops were held in a church meeting room, however once the planning stage was done the network moved out into local coffee shops. These coffee shop gatherings were one of the ways we lived out A Nouwen Network’s Values.
“I have called you friends.”
John 16:15
VISION
An energising spirit-directed, grassroots network of diverse church communities committed to offering those whose lives are affected by mental health issues opportunities to experience the joy of acceptance and genuine friendships, and the support of good neighbours.
MISSION
The network’s purpose is to encourage and support, within and across faith communities, attitudes of awareness, acceptance and respect for people whose lives are affected by mental health issues.
The network also encourages the provision of appropriate pastoral support and advocacy, for all whose lives are affected by mental health issues.
The network thereby contributes to the development of communities within which all whose lives are affected by mental health issues have opportunities for genuine friendships to be established and maintained.
VALUES
The “Coffee Gatherings’ were never about numbers, they were about hospitality and inclusion, and they remained regular activities of A Nouwen Network for a decade. The model was very simple: the location of a gathering was dependent upon there being three members in a local area who were prepared to act as the neighbourhood ‘hosts’. These people needed to be happy to meet up with each other even if nobody else came. However people always did come along! New people kept coming as well as the regulars right up to the last of the gatherings. These were held in early 2020. Sadly, after this time the restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic made continuing A Nouwen Network’s regular friendship and advocacy activities impracticable.
You can read more about these Coffee Gathering by visiting that page in the Archive Section (see index at the bottom of this page).
Several of those who first met together to establish a network, * shared that they had found comfort and inspiration in the writings of Henri Nouwen. Others shared that having the Flannel Flower as Australia's national symbol to promote awareness of mental health meant a great deal to them. The minutes of the first workshop reflected the enthusiasm that was shared for carrying both these inspirations forward.
The founding members were unanimous in their desire to create a diverse “spirit-directed grass-roots network”. A Nouwen Network had no office, no budget, and no formal meetings with agendas. There was no ‘Membership Roll’, however from the earliest days people were welcome to join a mailing list to be emailed an e-Update. We had no ‘office bearers’, we were all volunteers sharing gifts and resources as we were able. We connected as friends in relationships of mutuality and reciprocity. As a network, and as individuals, we took a stand against mental illness stigma, and we encouraged the provision of appropriate pastoral support and advocacy by faith communities.
“When someone has a mental health problem or is experiencing mental distress, it is important to try to keep friendships going, even though people with mental health problems often want to see their friends less than usual.
Friendship can play a key role in helping someone live with or recover from a mental health problem and overcome the isolation that often comes with it.
…Friendships work both ways. A mental health problem doesn't mean that you're never able to support or laugh with someone else.”
By 2012 ‘A Nouwen Network’ had grown considerably. The dream of a website for A Nouwen Network was achieved in the form of a wordpress blog ‘Out Of The Depths’ which was launched that July. By this time A Nouwen Network was already circulating a Prayer Card and a Bulletin Insert, as well as the Comfort Cushions and Flannel Flower Cards . These resources were the first of A Nouwen Network’s ‘projects’ , countless hours of voluntary work went into the creation and the distribution of them. They were used in conjunction with the regular Coffee Gatherings to assist the promotion of Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy within churches and the wider community.
In 2013 A Nouwen Network circulated the first of the “Receive The Gifts” Collection of Bookmarks. This project featured wisdom drawn from the lived experience of some of A Nouwen Network ‘regulars’. The network also publicly called for the establishment of A National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding in Australia. The invitation to faith communities to participate during Mental Health Week was very well received. A Nouwen Network’s Facebook Page which was created in October 2013, became an important means of promoting this Day of Prayer and other mental health awareness events more widely.
* Extract from eUPDATE February 2017: “The start of 2017 marks 10 years since I first met two of A Nouwen Network’s founders, Lyndal Hutton and Rose Dunmill. I regularly met with, planned and prayed with, these two wonderful women from early 2007 until November 2009 when A Nouwen Network was established. In those three years we each met with others who shared our conviction that faith communities should be encouraged to engage in Mental Health Ministry at every level. “
Learn more about A Nouwen Network in the Archive Pages:
- • History of A Nouwen Network
- • Inspiration - John 16:15, Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Flannel Flower.
- • Goals, Activities and Projects
- • Coffee Gatherings
- • Online presence - Blog, website, social media
- • Prayer Cards and Bulletin Insert
- • Comfort Cushion Project & Helen’s Cards
- • Background to A Nouwen Network’s call for ‘A National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding’
- • Call for ‘A National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding’
- • Pastoral prayers for Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding
- • Bookmarks - the “Receive The Gifts” Collection
- • Awareness raising, Stigma reduction
- • Anti-Stigma graphics
- • Mandorala Project
- • Media features
- • In Memoriam