WISE Congregations
The WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged) Congregation for Mental Health Resolution was adopted at the 2015 United Church of Christ General Synod to encourage congregations to become more welcoming to individuals and families living with mental health challenges, brain disorders, and substance use disorders. The UCC Mental Health Network’s Becoming a WISE Congregation for Mental Health provides a step-by-step guide any congregation or organization can follow to become WISE for Mental Health through education, advocacy, and covenant.
Click here for introduction. Click here for resources.
Proceeds from Becoming a WISE Congregation for Mental Health will fund the United Church of Christ Mental Health Network’s work providing education materials, holding WISE Conferences across the country, and offering consultation to faith communities, organizations, and mental health professionals. For more information, or to access a free, lower-resolution PDF version or an accessible text version of this booklet, go to the United Church of Christ Mental Health Network website at www.mhn-ucc.org.
Illinois South Conference churches that have identified as WISE congregations and access to their information are listed below.
Grantfork UCC, Grantfork
206 S Locust Street
Grantfork, IL 62249 (voted 2/20/2020)
Rev. Tim Darmour-Paul, pastor
Friedens UCC, Irvington
307 S. Third
Irvington, IL 62848 (voted November 8, 2020)
Rev. Stacy Tate, pastor
St. John’s UCC Midway, Moro
7456 Lake Street
Moro, Illinois 62067 (voted January 12, 2020)
Rev. Lori Schafer, pastor
Dear friends of the UCC Mental Health Network,
Though we are past Mental Health Sunday, May remains Mental Health Awareness Month and we invite you to join with us in theses prayers from our Sunday Worship Guide. The first is our chair, Bishop Allyson Abrams reading a prayer by the Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund https://youtu.be/bsMMRiZII2A and the second is written and read by Bishop Allyson Abrams https://youtu.be/-6bEkBe2xtY.