wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] ACSWP seeks feedback on serious mental illness

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Note #8043 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

ACSWP seeks feedback on serious mental illness prospectus
03534
December 10, 2003

ACSWP seeks feedback on serious mental illness prospectus

Nominations for new task force also sought

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE - The Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Advisory Committee on Social
Witness Policy (ACSWP) is accepting feedback on a new prospectus outlining
the work of a soon-to-be-formed task force that will examine serious mental
illness.

ACSWP is also seeking nominations for candidates to serve on the task force.
Deadline for submitting names is Jan. 15.

Examples of serious mental illness, or SMI, include schizophrenia and bipolar
disorder, also known as manic depression. SMI affects about one-to-two in
every 100 people, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London,
England.

The task force on "Comprehensive Serious Mental Illness" will develop a
policy with principles and recommendations for assisting the church in
ministering to those who suffer from such conditions, according to the Rev.
Peter Sulyok, ACSWP's coordinator.

"Among the topics this new social witness policy will address include
justice-related issues and full participation (for those with SMI) in the
life of the church and society," Sulyok said.

The 211th PC(USA) General Assembly (1999) directed ACSWP to develop a serious
mental illness policy for presentation to the 217th Assembly in 2006. The
advisory committee, which develops social policies for GA consideration,
hopes the task force will be ready to meet sometime early next year and
finish its work by mid-2005.

Copies of the prospectus - which will guide the work of the task force - were
recently sent to the PC(USA)'s 173 presbyteries.

Presbyteries were asked to distribute a one-page summary and task force
nomination form to each of the denomination's more than 11,000 congregations.
The summary page encourages readers to obtain a copy of the prospectus.

Sulyok said people living with SMI are frequently overlooked by society. They
tend to be denied jobs and housing with limited access to quality medical
treatment while bearing the burden of a stigmatized illness.

"Sadly, they have also been left out of full participation in the life of the
church," Sulyok said. "Many have left the church because of the insensitivity
of congregations and pastors."

Sulyok said when those strickened do become church members they often are
denied access to decision-making bodies and must cope with a lack of pastors
and church caregivers qualified to minister to them. They fear revealing
their pain will separate rather than bring them closer to fellow congregants.

The full prospectus and information regarding the nomination of members for
the proposed task force, including a nomination form, is available on ACSWP's
web site, http://www.pcusa.org/acswp/wwd/wwd-seriousmentalillness.htm.

The materials are also available at local presbytery offices or by contacting
the Rev. Belinda Curry, ACSWP's associate for Policy Development and
Interpretation, 100 Witherspoon Street, room 3611, Louisville, KY 40202-1396;
Phone: 888-728-7228, ext. 5813; Fax: 502-569-8041; email:
bcurry@ctr.pcusa.org.  Feedback and comments on the prospectus and
nominations may also be sent to that address.

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