One area of which I have become acutely aware is in the area of psychiatric disabilities. I do not know about the Anglican tradition, but I suspect it is the same. There is a policy in both denominations to shunt this population of parishioners to the “professionals.” Of course, clinical care is often needed. But it should only ever be an adjunct, not a substitute for spiritual support. The message is, “you’re crazy, please go.” The institutions cannot seem to wrap their brains around the fact that it is precisely during times of crisis that this group needs spiritual counseling and support from clergy and fellow Christians alike.

Part of this is the increasing secularization of the calling of the clergy. It seems to be viewed as a job like any other. In fact, for a true disciple, lay or clergy, there is always sacrifice when following Jesus. But the churches continue to error by identifying with the state and the world. Whether it is colonialism, racism, worldly treatment of the poor and other marginalized groups such as those with psychiatric disabilities, they just conform. Jesus identified “the Prince of this world” and when we conform to the world we conform to the Prince of this world. We need to continue to prophetically challenge this.

We have to read the letter of St James to the churches to what is Christianity. It is also about righteous living to love the sinner but not approving his way of life. The Church seems to have mixed up both – CHRIST said to the women caught in adultry to go & sin no more we have to bring them to their sense of sin..