We propose the following resolution for discussion and passage at a future General Synod, or by the UCC Board of the national setting during the interim.
The next forum conversation will be held on July 27th - 4pm PT/7pm ET.
Click here to register.
Can’t join the conversation but want to support our work?
Click here to sign your name to our Statement of Support.
Interested in joining the strategy group?
Share your contact information and we’ll be in touch.
Ecumenical Engagement and Faithful Support for the Decriminalization of Entheogenic and Psychedelic Medicines:
A Resolution of Witness
SUMMARY
This resolution calls on the United Church of Christ to stand in solidarity with religious communities, academic researchers, and medical providers throughout the United States and across the globe in demanding that psychedelic and entheogenic plant and fungus-based medicines be decriminalized and made available for further research by scholars and healers for their beneficial and therapeutic capacities.
BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL, AND HISTORICAL GROUNDING
God’s message of love and healing as revealed in scripture involves an intimate, interdependent relationship between human and plant life. The Bible instructs that the Creator intentionally positioned human beings and plants together for mutual thriving. Throughout the biblical narrative God gives instruction through the prophets that plants may be used for healing and revelation.
Theologies of liberation encourage interrogation with prophetic integrity all policies and behaviors (including legal statutes) that may threaten human flourishing. The United Church of Christ has an established history of standing on the side of those in need of healing and healthcare. (19) Recently, the Thirty-Fourth General Synod of the United Church of Christ passed a resolution, “Faithful Advocacy For Intersectional And Transformational Healing In Harm Reduction.” This present Resolution also seeks to enhance access to medicines that can specifically empower this work.
An entheogen is a psychoactive compound, typically from natural sources such as plants or fungi, that can alter consciousness and evoke spiritual and mystical experiences. (8) Entheogens specifically belong to a class of compounds that scientific studies have shown to be non-addicting. Thousands of years of knowledge from traditional medicine practices outlined the dose, efficacy, and preparation of many natural medicines and have demonstrated that entheogens are a powerful tool for healing various conditions. (9) There is early evidence that these substances can provide unique interventions for patients with mental health conditions that do not respond well to standard psychopharmaceuticals, including treatment-resistant depression, generalized anxiety disorder, end-of-life distress, substance use disorder and PTSD. (28,29)
The archaeological, anthropological and sociological record contains a near-universal, global relationship between human spiritual life and entheogenic plants and fungi.(5,6,7,8,9,10) These records include the use of entheogens by the people of the Bible. Ecstatic states of consciousness and mystical experiences have certainly played a role in the history and development of Christian theology and revelation. Today, research has shown these substances possess a unique capacity for alleviating human misery.
TEXT OF THE MOTION
WHEREAS the Bible informs a belief that the Creator placed plants (including fungi) into human life for the purpose of human thriving, that they may be used for physical, mental, spiritual and emotional healing (1,2,3,4); and
WHEREAS the prevailing academic research demonstrates that entheogenic compounds possess worthwhile capacities and a strong safety profile, for treating and alleviating human pain and misery; and
WHEREAS current research indicates that many entheogenic medicines may be of life-saving therapeutic value for individuals with mental health conditions that do not respond well to standard psychopharmaceuticals (28,29); and
WHEREAS the United Church of Christ has demonstrated an historic commitment to scientific rigor and an ongoing commitment to the value of the medical sciences; and
WHEREAS medical research studies are currently administering entheogenic compounds in hospice and other end-of-life settings for the alleviation of end-of-life distress, and UCC chaplains are already receiving training in supporting patients who are choosing to receive these medicines; and
WHEREAS the use of entheogens has demonstrated a capacity in the context of Christian life and worship toward sustaining personal meaning and spiritual significance, and faithful people of the United Church of Christ have testified to the benefits of entheogenic substances for healing and revelation; and
WHEREAS the United Church of Christ is committed to alleviating the suffering of victims of war (including military veterans - where on average 44 perish daily in America from suicide and self-injury mortality), and those suffering with addiction and depressive disorders; and
WHEREAS the United States of America has elected to declare these useful medicines illegal and have imposed draconian sentencing laws; and
WHEREAS these laws often specifically target and overwhelmingly harm indigenous faith communities and other marginalized religious populations; and
WHEREAS the United Church of Christ has established itself in solidarity with victims of the carceral state and victims of the “war on drugs,” and presently advocates for reduced penalties for non-violent offenders as per 2 Corinthians 2:5-8,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the United Church of Christ urges our state and federal legislators to immediately work toward the decriminalization and legalization of entheogenic substances.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be submitted to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and the President and Vice-President of the United States of America.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United Church of Christ encourages advocacy by all settings of the church for the decriminalization and legalization of entheogenic substances in total solidarity with our ecumenical faith partners and communities of faith throughout creation.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the United Church of Christ encourages all Congregations, Associations, and Conferences to work together to advocate for the further study of the therapeutic benefits of these substances, and study the value of these substances in our shared religious life together.
FUNDING: The funding for the implementation of the Resolution will be made in accordance with the overall mandates of the affected agencies and the funds available.
IMPLEMENTATION: The Officers of the Church, in consultation with appropriate ministries or other entities within the United Church of Christ, will determine the implementing body.
Footnotes:
1. Genesis 43:11: “Then their father Israel said to them, ‘If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry them down as a present to the man—a little balm and a little honey, gum, resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds.”
2. Psalm 45:8: “…your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;”
3. Psalm 51:7: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
4. 2 Kings 20:7: “Then Isaiah said, ‘Bring a lump of figs. Let them take it and apply it to the boil, so that he may recover.’”
5. Capriles, José M.; Moore, Christine; Albarracin-Jordan, Juan; Miller, Melanie J. (2019-06-04). "Chemical evidence for the use of multiple psychotropic plants in a 1,000-year-old ritual bundle from South America". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 116 (23): 11207–11212.
6. Carod-Artal, F.J. (2015-01-01). "Hallucinogenic drugs in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures". Neurología (English Edition).
7. Furst, Peter T. (1972) Flesh of the Gods: The Ritual Use of Hallucinogens (with contributions from Wasson and others). Praeger Publishers, Westport.
8 Roberts, T. B. "Chemical Input—Religious Output: Entheogens." Chapter 10 in Where God and Science Meet: Vol. 3: The Psychology of Religious Experience
9. Saromini, Giorgio (1992). "The Oldest Representation of Hallucinogenic Mushrooms in the World". Integration: Journal for Mind-Moving Plants and Culture. 1992, r. September, 2013
10. Roberts, T. B. (editor) (2001). Psychoactive Sacramentals: Essays on Entheogens and Religion. San Francisco: Council on Spiritual Practices
11. Arie, E., Rosen, B., & Namdar, D. (2020). Cannabis and Frankincense at the Judahite Shrine of Arad. Tel Aviv, 47(1), 5–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/03344355.2020.1732046
12. Zlas, J., Stark, H., Seligman, J. et al. Early medical use of cannabis. Nature 363, 215 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/363215a0
13. Smith, Allyne. Philokalia: The Eastern Christian Spiritual Texts : Selections Annotated & Explained SkyLight Paths Pub., 2006.
14. Griffiths, R.R., Richards, W.A., McCann, U. et al. Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance. Psychopharmacology 187, 268–283 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0457-5
15. Gable RS. Comparison of acute lethal toxicity of commonly abused psychoactive substances. Addiction. 2004;99(6):686-696. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00744.x
16. Breeksema JJ, Kuin BW, Kamphuis J, van den Brink W, Vermetten E, Schoevers RA. Adverse events in clinical treatments with serotonergic psychedelics and MDMA: A mixed-methods systematic review. J Psychopharmacol. 2022;36(10):1100-1117. doi:10.1177/02698811221116926
17. Schlag AK, Aday J, Salam I, Neill JC, Nutt DJ. Adverse effects of psychedelics: From anecdotes and misinformation to systematic science [published online ahead of print, 2022 Feb 2]. J Psychopharmacol. 2022;2698811211069100. doi:10.1177/02698811211069100
18. Luoma JB, Chwyl C, Bathje GJ, Davis AK, Lancelotta R. A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2020 Sep-Oct;52(4):289-299. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2020
19. See, for example, any of the 55 General Synod Resolutions listed under “Health Issues” in the publication index, “Subject Index - General Synod Resolutions, Pronouncements And Proposals For Action” at https://www.new.uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/GS-Resolutions-Subject-Index-thru-GS31.pdf
20. The UCC Health Equity Resolution, The Twenty-seventh General Synod adopts the resolution “An Urgent Call for Advocacy in Support of Health Care for All, as in H.R. 676.” - at https://new.uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/health-equity.pdf
21. "Reclaiming the Church's Ministry of Health and Healing," adopted at General Synod 21 - at https://new.uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/RECLAIMING-THE-CHURCH-S-MINISTRY-OF-HEALTH-AND-HEALING.pdf
22. Rev. Molly Baskette, “How to Change Your Mind” (sermon, First Church Berkeley UCC, Berkely, CA, July 15, 2018) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMi7y7eGACM
23. Hollensbe, Heath, “A Holy High: Advocating for the Spiritual Use of Hallucinogens.” Christ and Cascadia, April 27, 2023 - https://christandcascadia.com/author/heath-hollensbe/
24. Lattin, Don, “Can Psychedelics Guide a Mystic’s Path to Mystery?” Lucid News, June, 2023. https://www.lucid.news/psychedelics-mystics-path-to-mystery/
25. Johnstad, P. (2018). Entheogenic spirituality: Exploring spiritually motivated entheogen use among modern westerners. Journal of Ethnographic and Qualitative Research, 12, 244–260.
26. Summary of Interim Report by Operation Deep Dive - CANA Analytics, Degrange, W. “Analysis of suicide and SIM per day.”
27. Yuan, H., Ma, Q., Ye, L., & Piao, G. (2016). The traditional medicine and modern medicine from natural products. Molecules, 21(5), 559. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21050559.
28. Agin-Liebes, G., Haas, T., Lancelotta, R., Uthaug, M., Ramaekers, J., & Davis, A. (2021). Naturalistic use of mescaline is associated with self-reported psychiatric improvements and enduring positive life changes. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science, 4(2), 543–552. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.1c00018.
29. Bogenschutz, M., Ross, S., Bhatt, S., Baron, T., Forcehimes, A., Laska, E., et al. (2022). Percentage of heavy drinking days following psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy vs placebo in the treatment of adult patients with alcohol use disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 79(10), 953–962. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.2096.
30. Callahan, J., Kirby, M., “Legal Status of Psychedelic Drugs and Research Involving Possible Medical Uses,” Connecticut Office of Legal Research. December 15, 2020 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2020/rpt/pdf/2020-R-0323.pdf
31. 2024 Guidelines Manual, Part D ― “Offenses Involving Drugs And Narco-Terrorism.” United States Sentencing Commission. https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/guidelines-manual/2024/CHAPTER_2_D.pdf
32. "A Compassionate Response To Substance Abuse." 21st General Synod https://new.uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/COMPASSIONATE-RESPONSE-TO-SUBSTANCE-ABUSE.pdf
33. “Confronting Racism and Militarism in U.S. Drug Policy.” 24th General Synod https://new.uccfiles.com/synod/resolutions/CONFRONTING-RACISM-AND-MILITARISM-IN-U-S.pdf
