A Fourth Church Sermon by Victoria G. Curtiss

June 6, 2010 | 4:00 p.m.

Rejoicing and Suffering Together

Victoria G. Curtiss
Associate Pastor, Fourth Presbyterian Church

1 Corinthians 12:12–26

The scripture lesson and poems we just heard were chosen by members of Fourth Church’s Mental Health Ministry Committee. They lift up particular themes of hope, of wanting to belong and connect, of wanting to be loved by other people and by God.

All of us have doubts about our place “in the family of things.” This was true in the early Christian church in Corinth. The Apostle Paul wrote to them saying, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you.’” One member of the body cannot say to another, just because it is a different doesn’t mean it is not needed, valued, does not belong. Paul also said, “If the foot would say, ‘because I am not a hand I don’t belong to the body’ that would not make it any less a part of the body.” In other words, even if I don’t perceive myself as being as valued as another, that doesn’t make it so. We are all treasured parts of God’s creation. We all need one another. We are all God’s beloved children.

That truth may be harder to believe for those who struggle with mental illness, because in our culture that carries a stigma. There is little understanding or acceptance of mental illness, and it is seen as a defect that defines how we treat others or get treated. The stigma stands in the way for many to make essential social connections. Tragically, millions of affected individuals and families often feel lost and alone.

I have not, nor do I have a family member who has, been directly affected by mental illness, so I want to use the words of someone who has. Dr. Gunnar Christiansen has a son who is ill with paranoid schizophrenia. He spoke to a national gathering of people representing various faith communities and said,

Society places a great deal of emphasis on the importance of giving medication to those with hallucinations and delusions in order to return them to reality, but gives little consideration to the world of stigma and discrimination to which they are returned. . . .

Stigma produces silence. Silence allows stigma to go on unabated. We need more than talk to stop stigma, but it would be a huge step toward its elimination if the voices of those affected by mental illness could be heard. . . .

I am not suggesting that it is wrong, if some want to keep their illness or the illness of a family member a secret. Often, when they do have the courage to talk to someone, rather than receiving support they are shunned. Rather than being understood, they are misunderstood. Rather than being asked, “What can I do to help?” they are offered inadequate, simplistic solutions for extremely complicated problems. Rather than receiving love, they might lose an opportunity to develop a close relationship with someone who is important to them. They might even find themselves excluded from relating with members of their own family. The job of a schoolteacher might be put in jeopardy, if it became known that he or she had schizophrenia or manic depression. . . . Parents that would like to advocate concerning the illness of a son or daughter might be requested by him or her to not to let it be known that he or she has one of these disorders.

Even though secrecy is understandable, I urge those who are affected by mental illness to avoid the attempt to carry the load alone. The load is too heavy. It is OK to ask for help. Doing so is not a sign of weakness. . . .

It is amazing how many people who have a mental illness or have it in their family sit in lonely silence until they hear someone like us tell our story. It may only be privately to us that they reveal the existence of mental illness in their life, but it is a start in their releasing this burden and a significant step in their healing process. It is in our own congregations that we have the best opportunity to have such a personal touch with those that have been silenced by stigma. (Gunnar Christiansen, M.D. “Stigma of Mental Illness: The Role of the Faith Community,” Presented at the 2003 National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Oregon Convention)

One congregation noted for its inclusive ministries with families and individuals affected by serious mental illness is Hillsboro Presbyterian Church of Nashville, Tennessee. Their senior pastor, Dr. David Kidd, said,

I’m proud that our members with mental illness experience the unreserved love that comes from being a part of this congregation. And I’m also proud that these valiant people who struggle daily with mental illness have chosen to share their important gifts with the rest of the congregation. The kingdom of God invites everyone into citizenship, and it’s enriched by everyone who comes. It’s been our experience that among the most gifted, are people who struggle everyday with mental illness; people who provide an example of the courageous strength to be found in Jesus Christ.

Their special ministry began with a request for prayer for someone who was hospitalized with a serious mental illness. That person is now an Elder and serves on the Session. What followed included pastoral visits, a Sunday morning service to lift up those suffering, and the development of a Mental Illness Awareness Committee, which planned ways to integrate individuals and families affected by serious and persistent mental illnesses into the total life and work of the church. Today it is alright to talk about mental illness just as they do about other illnesses. Support is offered through counseling, visitation by clergy and laity, transportation for appointments and worship services, education through midweek and Sunday morning programs, and educational seminars. The church works cooperatively with other agencies to advocate for mental health issues on the state and national levels. “How blessed this congregation is,” states Dr. Nancy McCurley, Associate Minister, “by the individuals and families of those affected by mental illness. We have been ministered to, by their presence, as much or more than we have ministered to them.”

Another church recognized for its inclusive ministries to families and individuals challenged by mental illness is Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church of Denver. They establisheda residential program for persons coming out of hospitalization and seeking a place to live. The Reverend Mark Meeks became the Spiritual Leader for the congregation. Fifteen years later, following a suicide attempt in her early teens, his daughter was diagnosed with bipolar illness. Led by the Holy Spirit, a transformative process took place in his congregation.

Mark describes his community as

one with a spirit of acceptance, compassion, and hope for persons affected by mental illness. Regularly, in worship and other settings, we pray for people who hear voices, feel panic and despair, and act hopeless. We pray for folks whom we remember, personally and corporately, in terms of when they feel different and act with more personal presence as well as when they act strange and seem more distant to reach. So we journey with them to give a continuity of care, hope, and support, however limited it seems at times! A large percentage of our small congregation lives with bipolar illness, schizophrenia, depression, etc. Together we support one another with dignity and hope.

Community dialogues offer us conversations with persons who experience mental illness and those close to them, allowing them to teach us from their experience. As we speak of someone’s need and share the commitment to pray, we do so with a better “feeling” for what they are living and a better sense of what relief might look like. Thus, open dialogue on the experience of mental illness and communal prayer for all who suffer from its pain is at the heart of what we do. (Quoted by Bob Butzinger, Presbyterian Serious Mental Illness Network Leadership Team in nominating Capitol Heights Church for the Florence Kraft Award, 2003)

We at Fourth Church seek to be such an inclusive community and can become even more so. Recovery from mental illness is facilitated by relationships and environments that provide hope, empowerment, choices, and opportunities that allow people to reach their full potential as contributing community members. Participation in meaningful activities can enable people to recognize that they can be persons who help others instead of simply persons who need help. Those with a mental illness have often said that volunteering or employment have been major factors in rebuilding their self-esteem and confidence.

“The most powerful antidote for the internal effects of stigma and discrimination is spiritual strength. It is important to reinforce that God loves us and is with us even in our most difficult times. Spiritual strength will diminish, however, unless it is constantly nurtured through giving and receiving loving care in our relationships with others,” says Dr. Christiansen. We, as people of a faith community, can foster that recovery through supportive relationships in which we are here for one another. Let us make it so that indeed, when one rejoices, we all rejoice together. When one suffers, we all suffer together—and thus live out what it truly means to be the body of Christ.