wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Mental-illness task force starts its work

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ECUNET.ORG>]

Note #8748 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

05284
May 26, 2005

Mental-illness task force starts its work 

Group scheduled to have report ready for '08 General Assembly

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE - A newly formed Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) task force on
serious mental illness met for the first time this month.

	The Task Force on comprehensive Serious Mental Illness was appointed
by the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP). The new panel
convened here May 19-22 to begin developing a "Feedback Churchwide Study
Document." 

	The document will give the task force information about how
individuals, congregations, presbyteries and synods are engaged in ministry
with people who have serious mental illness and their families, according to
the Rev. Belinda M. Curry, ACSWP's associate for policy development and
interpretation.  

	The PC(USA)'s 211th General Assembly in 1999 directed ACSWP to
develop a mental-illness policy. ACSWP develops social policies for GA
consideration.
 
	During its January meeting, ACSWP appointed the task force members. 

	The proposed policy statement is to be presented to the PC(USA)'s
218th General Assembly in 2008. 

	Jack Marcum, administrator of "The Presbyterian Panel" in the
PC(USA)'s Research Services office, will work with the task force in
developing a survey on comprehensive serious mental illness issues to help
the task force gather information from members, elders and ordained ministers
now on The Presbyterian Panel.
  
	The task force meeting included time for members to get acquainted,
identify resources and perspectives around the table, set an agenda and
calendar, and begin preliminary work.

	Two officials from the PC(USA)'s Board of Pensions (BOP), Stew Beltz
and Minner Serovy, made a presentation on mental-illness benefits and
treatment options available to BOP plan members and their families.

	The Rev. Nancy Troy, associate for Social Welfare Organizations in
the PC(USA)'s National Ministries Division, presented an overview of work
being done through the Presbyterian Serious Mental Illness Network (PSMIN) of
the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA). 

	The feedback document is tentatively scheduled to be sent to middle
governing bodies, church sessions and seminary libraries next spring. The
document also will be posted on ACSWP's Web site: www.pcusa.org/acswp.	

	Meanwhile, developing a definition of "serious mental illness" and a
Biblical and theological framework for further study will be the major focus
of the next task force meeting, which is scheduled for Nov. 3-6 in Chicago.
The group's third meeting is scheduled for Feb. 23-26 in Washington, DC.

	The task force, whose members were appointed in January, includes
psychiatrists, therapists, pastors, elders, psychologists and professors. 

	The members: the Rev. Robert A. Butziger of Albuquerque, NM; Ethel M.
Charles of Hollis, NY; Mary Helen Davis of Louisville, KY; the Rev. Thomas
Crawley Davis of Wilmington, DE; Timothy C. Engelmann of Burlingame, CA; the
Rev. Kum Ock Kim of Bayside, NY; Matt Morse of Taylor, MI; José R.
Rodriguez-Gomez of Hato Rey, PR; and Alyce Woodall of Brunswick, ME.

	Elder Brenda Burch Gales of Conyers, GA, will serve as moderator, and
the Rev. Thomas Crawley Davis of Wilmington, DE as recorder. 

	Two elected ACSWP committee members also will be part of the group:
the Rev. B. Gordon Edwards of Stillwater, OK, and the Rev. Leslie
Klingensmith of Silver Spring, MD.

	The Rev. Susan J. Dunlap of Durham, NC, will be a consultant to the
task force, and Curry will represent the ACSWP staff.

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