Pathbreaking Tapestry of Care Project Receives $1.76M Grant from John Templeton Foundation – Baylor University

Baylor University, The Congregational Collective and Harvard Medical School partner to innovate the equipping of congregations to become community hubs for mental health engagement
“Hope” in stained glass, Memorial Chapel, Baylor University (Matthew Minard/Baylor University)
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Baylor University, along with The Congregational Collective of San Antonio and Harvard Medical School, have received a three-year $1.76 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation for a pathbreaking public-private partnership called “Tapestry of Care: Strengthening Mental Health Provider and Faith Community Partnerships to Bridge Scientific Research and Practice.”
As the nation grapples with a growing mental health crisis, church congregations often find themselves on the front lines of response, whether or not they are equipped to do so. The Tapestry of Care (TOC) is poised to innovate a solution by equipping congregations to become community hubs for mental health engagement, generating new knowledge that can equip churches to support their congregations and reimagine upstream support services that can be delivered and sustained in community-based settings.
“The Tapestry of Care Project is an invitation to hope in a crisis-weary world,” said TOC project co-leader and co-principal investigator Dustin D. Benac, Th.D., clinical assistant professor at Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences and director and co-founder of the Program for the Future Church at George W. Truett Theological Seminary. “In a moment of polarization, isolation and the silent spread of mental health challenges, this partnership between Baylor University, The Congregational Collective and Harvard Medical School is an invitation to gather around our common desire for wholeness and the resources that are already present in our congregations and in our communities. We are grateful for the vision and support from the John Templeton Foundation that makes this collaborative work possible.”
“The Tapestry of Care Project is an invitation to hope in a crisis-weary world. This partnership between Baylor University, The Congregational Collective and Harvard Medical School is an invitation to gather around our common desire for wholeness and the resources that are already present in our congregations and in our communities.” – Dustin D. Benac, Th.D., Baylor University
Over the next three years, TOC will engage with 18 pilot congregations in the greater San Antonio region to build their capacity to deliver proven psychosocial interventions and evidence-based treatments, establish bi-directional referral and cross-sector supports to assure efficacy and sustainability of care, and develop a framework to bridge the divide and build trust between mental health providers and faith communities.
“Through this partnership, and with the generous support from the John Templeton Foundation, we will build a new model of care that embraces the unique role of churches and fosters collaboration between mental health providers and our faith-based communities. The Tapestry of Care project reflects the early research led by the H.E. Butt Foundation, which identified mental health as an area of great need, and that faith leaders were best positioned to help but lacked the necessary training and support. By leaning into these trusted relationships, we can improve lives across our communities,” said TOC project co-leader and co-PI Rebecca Brune, executive director of The Congregational Collective, a new 501c3 seeded by The H.E. Butt Foundation.
“The Tapestry of Care project reflects the early research led by the H.E. Butt Foundation, which identified mental health as an area of great need, and that faith leaders were best positioned to help but lacked the necessary training and support. By leaning into these trusted relationships, we can improve lives across our communities,” – Rebecca Brune, The Congregational Collective
According to a 2024 survey of church members conducted by The Congregational Collective, 77% of churchgoers are very likely to turn to their faith leaders during times of trouble. This includes financial, familial, work-related, or personal concerns.  Similarly, 60% said they were very likely to look first to their faith leaders when experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions.
The multidisciplinary public-private partnership leverages the three robust and strategically positioned institutions to drive innovation and advance research design, policy discussions and clinical delivery models.
As a Christian Research 1 university, Baylor brings a demonstrated history of translational research, grant management capacity and engagement with a regional, national and international network of church partners. The Congregational Collective, a first-of-its-kind nonprofit founded in 2023 by the H. E. Butt Foundation, equips congregations to become community leaders in mental health and wellness by partnering to build support systems, networks and ministry tools that include educational resources, training and a network of relationships. Harvard Medical School brings its EMPOWER model to the Tapestry of Care. EMPOWER is a flagship program of the Mental Health For All Lab at Harvard Medical School, which seeks to build capacity of non-clinical providers to prevent and care for mental and behavioral health problems within community settings and across the life course.
“Partnering with the Congregational Collective and Baylor University offers an exciting opportunity for us to transform mental health care by bringing proven interventions into trusted spaces like churches,” said TOC co-investigator John Naslund, Ph.D., co-director of the Mental Health For All Lab and instructor in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “This isn’t just about studying how to address depression in faith communities – it’s about building a lasting model that meets people where they are, with dignity, trust and high-quality evidence-based care. By bringing together churches, academic institutions, clinicians and community partners, we are building a sustainable model of care grounded in trust, compassion and scientific evidence.”
“This isn’t just about studying how to address depression in faith communities – it’s about building a lasting model that meets people where they are, with dignity, trust and high-quality evidence-based care. By bringing together churches, academic institutions, clinicians and community partners, we are building a sustainable model of care grounded in trust, compassion and scientific evidence.” – John Naslund, Ph.D., Mental Health For All Lab at Harvard Medical School
The TOC researchers’ five key outcomes include:
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Founded in 1987, the John Templeton ​Foundation supports interdisciplinary research ​and catalyzes conversations that inspire awe ​and wonder. We are working to create a world ​where people are curious about the wonders ​of the universe, free to pursue lives of ​meaning and purpose, and motivated by great ​and selfless love.
With an endowment of $3.4 billion and annual ​giving of approximately $140 million, the ​Foundation ranks among the 25 largest ​grantmaking foundations in the United States. ​Headquartered outside Philadelphia, our ​philanthropic activities have engaged all major ​faith traditions and extended to more than 58 ​countries around the world. For more ​information, visit www.templeton.org.
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.
Rooted in faith and working at the intersection of spirituality and mental health care, The Congregational Collective is a trusted resource for church leaders and communities, equipping them with tools and skills to support the mental health needs of their congregations.
The Collective was established in 2023 by the H. E. Butt Foundation as part of its ongoing, 60-year tradition of integrating Christian faith in every aspect of life. Mental health reform has been important to generations of Butt family leadership at the foundation, which is now building on their dedication to mental wellness by embedding it within churches themselves. Learn more here.
Since its founding in 1782, Harvard Medical School has been at the forefront of improving human health by training generations of compassionate caregivers, pioneering educational models, and producing scientific leaders across the globe. Harvard Medical School’s Department of Global Health and Social Medicine (DGHSM) is a proud partner in this new initiative, contributing its deep expertise in advancing health equity through interdisciplinary research, education, and care delivery innovation. Grounded in the School’s mission to improve health and well-being for all, the DGHSM focuses on addressing the social, political, and economic determinants of health. Through global and local partnerships, the department translates research into action, especially in low-resource settings, guided by its commitment to alleviate suffering and shape policy and practice nationally and around the world.
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