If it feels like you don't know where you're going, that's okay. Here's something that can help you reflect on what God might have in store for you and your congregation.
Issue 10: October 2021
Why WISE?
By Lisa Hart
One of my favorite memories of visiting my maternal grandparents when I was a child was going to church with them. My grandmother was a Sunday School teacher and my grandfather was a very active lay leader, usually serving as an usher on the Sundays we were there. The church was a central part of their lives and they were both well-liked and well-respected there. When I visited, it felt like a welcoming, close-knit community.

It is only in recent years that I have begun to think about the ways in which my grandparents were not fully welcomed into the life of that church. My grandfather received a diagnosis of manic depression, now known as bipolar disorder. He never fully accepted his diagnosis, even though he was dependent on medication and unable to continue in his profession. I have vivid memories of the times my grandfather decided he did not need his meds. This would lead to erratic behaviors and deep depression. It also put our family into crisis mode as the adults tried to manage my grandfather’s mental health. As we lived through this, and in the years since when I remembered those times, it never occurred to me that the church was absent.

I realize now what a significant absence this was. My grandfather was not able to share all of who he was with the church. He did not ask for prayers when he was struggling with his illness. When he wasn’t well, I suspect church was not a place where he felt he could go to receive support. As for my grandmother, she was the main support for my grandfather and faced the stress of caring for someone with a mental illness, but I do not think she was comfortable asking the church for prayer or support. Instead, church was a place where it was important to “keep up appearances.” This was at a time when the stigma around mental illness was even greater than it is today. Mental illness was something families dealt with behind closed doors. In some cases, people were institutionalized. Nobody talked about it. The church responded to mental conditions no differently than the rest of society.
Today, we know better. There are efforts across many sectors of society to eliminate the stigma around mental illness and other mental health conditions. The church can, and should, be a leader in this movement. In 2015, delegates to the United Church of Christ’s General Synod recognized the importance of tending to the prevalence of mental health issues in our congregations and communities, and that the stigma of living with a mental health condition often leads to people living with this challenge without the support of their faith community. To address this, the General Synod passed a resolution encouraging congregations, with support and resources from the UCC’s Mental Health Network, to adopt WISE covenants. A WISE Congregation for Mental Health is one that is Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged with those who are affected by mental health challenges.

I have talked with many people about WISE over the past year. I’m often asked why I am so passionate about WISE. There are many reasons, but my grandparents’ experience with their church is at the root of my “Why WISE.” My prayer is that by building a network of WISE congregations and organizations across the United Church of Christ and beyond, the church will become a community where all of God’s beloved children, especially those facing mental health challenges, know they are loved and supported. May the church lead the way in eliminating the stigma around mental health conditions.
Questions for Discussion
 
  1. What are the mental health challenges or needs that you are aware of in your congregation?
  2. How has the pandemic affected the mental health of the people in your congregation? Your community?
  3. In what ways has your congregation responded to the mental health challenges affecting its members and friends? The wider community?
  4. How might your congregation and community benefit from becoming a WISE Congregation for Mental Health? What questions or concerns might need to be addressed?
Lisa Hart is Associate Conference Minister for Faith Formation and Justice Ministries.
The Supportive Ministries Team encourages Wisconsin Conference congregations to engage in the process of becoming WISE. The prevalence of mental health conditions makes it clear that all of our congregations are affected. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults in the U.S. experience mental illnesses each year. One in six youths ages 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year. The pandemic has led to an increase in mental health challenges. In February 2021, 36.4% of adults in Wisconsin reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. The process of becoming WISE equips congregations to faithfully welcome and support individuals and families who are affected by mental health challenges.

Questions? Email Lisa Hart for more information.

RESOURCES:
We celebrate Ebenezer UCC in Sheboygan, the first Wisconsin Conference WISE Congregation. 

After engaging in the process of becoming WISE, the members voted to adopt their WISE Covenant on Jan. 31, 2021.
Join us on Zoom
Join the Supportive Ministries Team on Zoom at noon on Nov. 3. This month’s topic: How WISE Can Support Congregational Wellness: A Continued Conversation on Mental Health and the Church. The hourlong conversation is an opportunity to learn more about how the WISE designation can help congregations offer support and address mental health challenges experienced in the church and the surrounding community. Participants will be invited to share the mental health issues they are seeing in their congregations and how the congregation is responding.

To participate in the conversation, please register here.
Missed these articles?

Revisit these thought-provoking articles from previous issues. Many include questions for groups discussions in your congregation, or for personal reflection.
Conference Supportive Ministries

In addition to the direct support to pastors and congregations provided by Wisconsin Conference staff, here are some of the supportive ministries congregations can take advantage of. Follow the link below to learn more about this programs and how your church might benefit.
  • Conflict Transformation
  • Coaching Partners
  • Grants and assistance programs
  • Communities of Practice for Clergy or Faith Formation
  • Appreciative Inquiry
  • 5 Practices of Fruitful Congregations
  • Readiness 360
View a comprehensive list with more information about Supportive Ministries offerings.
Photo of Supportive Ministries Task Force
Supportive Ministries Task Force
Through this communication, the Wisconsin Conference Supportive Ministries Task Force provides articles, discussion guides and other resources for clergy and congregations on coping and thriving as we navigate the current turbulent waters. Supportive Ministries Task Force members from top left are Bob Ullman, Lisa Hart, Bonnie Andrews, Cathleen Wille and Tim Perkins.
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