Presbyterians are committed to mental health

CHICAGO — In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we believe in the power of God and we also believe in the power of science. These are not opposites. They are not rivals. Rather, they are partners in the work of healing.

God, the Creator of all things, gave humanity the gift of knowledge, reason and discovery. Through this gift, we have developed tools like therapy, counseling, and medication to help ease the burden of mental illness.

These are not signs of spiritual failure. They are signs of God’s grace working through human hands and minds.

I happen to suffer from deep anxiety and depression. I rely on high doses of prescribed medication every day, not because I lack faith, but because I want to live fully.

The right balance of medication has opened up a world to me that might not have existed had I listened to those who told me to “just pray harder” or “trust God more.”

If I had followed the religious voices that dismissed mental health care, I might still be trapped in darkness.

Instead, I chose to believe that God works through science, through doctors, through psychiatrists and therapists. I chose to believe that the same God who heals through miracles also heals through medicine. And it has made all the difference.

If you struggle with anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or any number of mental health challenges, your faith is not broken.

You are not lacking.

You are not spiritually weak.

And we will not diminish your pain by telling you to “just have faith” or “believe in Christ and you will be healed.”

That kind of theology only deepens shame and drives people into silence. We reject it.

Instead, we proclaim that faith can walk hand-in-hand with therapy.

Prayer can walk hand-in-hand with medication.

Scripture and science can both be sources of strength.

Our tradition does not pit them against each other because God’s truth is revealed in many ways.

The PC(USA) has long affirmed the value of mental health resources. We know that far too many people — especially within religious communities — have been told their struggles are signs of weak faith or unrepented sin.

But we say that having a mental health challenge is not a moral failing.

It’s not a punishment from God.

It’s a medical condition, one that deserves care, compassion and treatment.

We also know that stigma still lives in our pews. Too many people feel they must hide their pain or put on a brave face in church.

We are working to change that.

We believe our churches should be sanctuaries of openness — places where people can speak honestly about what they are going through and be met with love, not judgment.

This is why we advocate for more mental health education in our congregations.

This is why we lift up therapists, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists as vital partners in ministry.

This is why we support policies that expand access to mental health care, especially for the most vulnerable in our communities.

God is with those who suffer.

God does not abandon the hurting or shame the struggling.

Neither will we.

We follow the Christ who touched the untouchables, listened to the unheard and walked alongside the weary.

In that same spirit, we commit ourselves to the Church where mental health is taken seriously, where faith uplifts science, and where no one is ever told their depression is a failure to believe.

Because healing takes many forms. And all of them belong to God.

Oct. 5-11 is Mental Illness Awareness Week. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has this downloadable toolkit. Visit the PC(USA) website for information and resources to support mental health ministry.

This piece originally appeared here. Gerald Farinas, who wrote this article, is a ruling elder and clerk of session at Edgewater Presbyterian Church in Chicago.