Just Women Magazine Fall 2015 | Page 9

living out Christ’s call to love our neighbors as ourselves. One of the key questions I continually ask myself is: What does it look like for the church to love its neighbors (and its members, lay leaders, staff, and clergy) who live with mental illness? We are just now beginning to think and talk about the answers to this question. I’m so thankful to my family who supported the writing of this book, to my church in New Smyrna Beach, Florida for granting me time to write, to The Young Clergy Women Project and Chalice Press, to the healing power of Bethany Fellows, and for the enthusiastic support of Christian Theological Seminary where I serve. I look forward to being part of the new Mental Health Affinity Group organized by National Benevolent Association in response to the resolution passed at General Assembly 2015. I am so grateful for the affirmation by the wider church that the time to break the silence about mental illness is now. There is no place in the church for the stigma and shame around mental illness. Sarah Griffith Lund blogs at www.sarahgriffithlund.com. Sarah Griffith Lund is the author of Blessed are the Crazy and the upcoming Chalice Press 2016 Lenten Devotional, Fellowship of Prayer. She serves at Christian Theological Seminary as Vice President for Advancement. Just Women· FALL 2015 7