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06439 August 29, 2006
ACSWP serious about mental illness
Study guide to help committee develop proposed GA policy
by Evan Silverstein
LOUISVILLE * The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) (http://staging.pcusa.org/acswp/) has distributed a study guide aimed at getting the entire Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) engaged in a comprehensive study of serious mental illness.
The 24-page document * Serious Mental Illness: Seeking a Comprehensive Christian Response * was compiled by ACSWP's Task Force on Serious Mental Illness. The 11-member panel is developing a proposed policy for church ministry to people with serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
The 211th General Assembly (1999) directed ACSWP, in consultation with appropriate entities, to develop a comprehensive serious mental illness policy. The mental illness task force, whose members were appointed in January 2005, includes a psychiatrist, therapists, pastors, elders, psychologists and professors.
Presbytery and synod groups and individuals are encouraged to use the resource to guide their own studies on the subject from September 2006 to September 2007.
The task force will take into consideration comments and reflections on the document through December 2007 as it develops a policy proposal for the PC(USA)'s 218th General Assembly in 2008.
"The goal is to encourage and challenge the church to study ways people living with mental illness are included or excluded from participating in the work of the church and society in general," said the Rev. Christian Iosso, coordinator of ACSWP, which develops social policies for GA consideration. "How do we share in God's joy and grace with those who experience great pain and brokenness, without patronizing or avoiding systemic, social issues?"
The feedback study guide provides four sessions for personal and class discussion and reflection. Theological, ethical, therapeutic and social service dynamics are presented for response.
The document says people with serious mental illnesses are often oppressed in American society * denied jobs, housing and access to quality treatment, while bearing the burden of a stigmatized illness. As church members they are often denied opportunities for leadership and are unable to find pastors and caregivers prepared to minister to them.
"The task force is exploring the concept of exile and ways of healing or restoring people with serious mental illness * two percent of the population at any time * to the beloved community of the church," Iosso said.
The new policy is to address causes of serious mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder, a syndrome increasingly seen in prison and homeless populations. The study guide is directed at churches that want to help ameliorate or even prevent mental illness. It also seeks to help church members address unwarranted fears by engaging in upfront discussion.
The most common problem faced by church members and pastors, for example, may be depression, according to the study guide.
The new policy will also address how to ensure full participation by mentally ill people in the life of the church and in society.
Complimentary copies of the study document were mailed earlier this month to the PC(USA)'s 16 synods and 173 presbyteries with enough copies for each local congregation. Copies were also sent to Presbyterian-related seminary and college libraries.
The Rev. Belinda M. Curry, ACSWP's associate for policy development and interpretation, noted the document is intended to stimulate study and discussion only. It is not to be construed as a social witness policy of the PC(USA) since the General Assembly will not act on any recommendations until 2008.
"Therefore nothing in this document can be used to direct the mission program of the church," said Curry, the primary ACSWP staff member providing support to the task force.
The members of the task force are Robert A. Butziger of Albuquerque, NM; Ethel M. Charles of Hollis, NY; Mary Helen Davis of Louisville, KY; Thomas Crawley Davis of Wilmington, DE; Timothy C. Engelmann of Burlingame, CA; 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.
Brenda Burch Gales of Conyers, GA, is chair. One elected ACSWP committee member also is part of the group: B. Gordon Edwards of Stillwater, OK, who is ACSWP's current chair. Susan Dunlap, who teaches pastoral care at Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC, serves as consultant.
To order or download the study guide online
(http://staging.pcusa.org/acswp/resources.htm) or call the Presbyterian Distribution Center toll-free at 800-524-2612. Specify PDS #68-600-06-001 when ordering.
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