Clergy Care Collective: A Statement on Mental Health and Faith
Affirming the Reality of Mental Illness and the Need for Compassionate, Professional Care

The leadership of Clergy Care Collective stands united in the belief that mental health is an essential component of human well-being and that it must be addressed with the same seriousness, reverence, and compassion as any other medical condition. Mental illness is a matter of the heart, mind, and body—one that calls forth our deepest Christian commitment to love, justice, and mercy.

As an organization rooted in the Christian Gospel, we affirm the healing power of faith, prayer, and community. Yet we also unequivocally affirm that mental illness is not merely a spiritual or moral concern but a real and measurable medical condition. Like diabetes or heart disease, mental illness must be diagnosed and treated with clinical skill, ongoing support, and—above all—respect for human dignity. We support, honor, and uplift those who have devoted years of training to become mental health professionals. Their work is sacred, life-giving, and worthy of our highest respect. Every person experiencing mental illness deserves access to responsible, ethical, and evidence-based mental health care.

Rejecting Stigma and Misinformation

Too often, individuals suffering from mental illness have been stigmatized or misjudged by their communities—including by churches. In some cases, they are told their suffering is the result of personal weakness, insufficient prayer, or lack of faith. Others are wrongly subjected to spiritual condemnation or made to feel ashamed. We categorically reject these narratives.

While we do not deny the existence of spiritual evil or the reality of spiritual warfare, we also recognize that conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder have identifiable neurological, genetic, and biochemical causes. These conditions should never be treated as mere moral failings or solely as spiritual afflictions. Just as we would never suggest that someone with cancer or epilepsy should “just have more faith,” so too must we repudiate any theology that discourages responsible mental health treatment. The Gospel calls us to compassion, not condemnation.

The Role of the Church and Clergy in Mental Health Care

Clergy and Christian communities have a vital role to play in creating environments of compassion, understanding, and practical support. But the Church is not, and must not attempt to be, a substitute for licensed clinical care. Instead, we urge clergy and Christian leaders to:

• Publicly affirm the legitimacy of psychiatric treatment and medication as instruments of God’s healing grace.

• Encourage spiritual practices that strengthen individuals without undermining medical treatment.

• Seek education and formation on mental health issues, especially as they intersect with pastoral care.

• Challenge and correct teachings that equate mental illness with demonic possession or personal sin.

• Create sanctuaries of welcome—where struggling individuals are met not with fear or suspicion, but with affirmation, resources, and hope.

A healthy church is one that acknowledges the limits of its own expertise while partnering confidently with medical and mental health professionals. This collaboration embodies the spirit of 1 Corinthians 12: that we are many members, working together for the healing of the Body of Christ.

Deliverance, Exorcism, and Mental Health: A Clear Distinction

The Catholic Church, and many responsible Christian traditions, insist on comprehensive medical and psychological evaluation before any form of exorcism is considered. This is because the symptoms of some psychiatric conditions may superficially resemble spiritual distress yet require entirely different forms of care. We stand with the Church in affirming that discernment is essential and that mental illness must never be confused with demonic influence without the most rigorous pastoral and medical evaluation.

Clergy Care Collective emphatically rejects all practices that dissuade people from seeking medical help. Faith and science need not be in conflict—indeed, they can walk hand in hand. To misdiagnose mental illness as a spiritual affliction is not only theologically dangerous, but also morally irresponsible. We rebuke those “Christians" who cling to bad theologies that suggest that mental illness can be cured by exorcism. The husband of our creative director is a psychiatrist who has had to deal with members of the clergy coming into locked psychiatric facilities and conducting exorcisms of people who need atypical antipsychotic drugs to alleviate their suffering. The orientation of these “Christians” is a disgrace and needs to be rebuked.

Moving Forward with Love and Responsibility

We call on all who serve Christ to join us in embracing a theology of mental health rooted in truth, mercy, and wholeness. Healing is rarely linear and often requires a wide range of tools: prayer, therapy, medication, supportive relationships, and above all, community.

Mental illness is not a sign of spiritual failure. Seeking help is not a lack of faith. On the contrary, it is often a courageous act of trust—in God, in the body of Christ, and in the possibility of healing.

In the name of Jesus Christ, the Healer of every ill, we affirm this sacred commitment: to walk alongside those who suffer, to remove every barrier of shame, and to proclaim that every person—no matter their diagnosis—is made in the image of God and deeply loved.