Harper Appoints Evangelical Pastor to 'Study' Marijuana and Schizophrenia
By Jacob Hunter, WhyProhibition.ca - Thursday, August 20 2009
WHYPROHIBITION.CA - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged $555,000 to study the links between cannabis and mental illness, and has put evangelical pastor Chris Summerville in charge of the project.
Chris Summerville is the is the interim CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada and an evangelical pastor.The new Canadian Mental Health Commission is "a wonderful opportunity" for Christians to be involved in dealing with one of the most pressing issues in our society, according to one of its members.
Chris Summerville is one of 11 non-government members of the new Commission's board of directors. Besides struggling with mental health issues himself, he is the interim CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada, executive director of the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society, and a certified Psychosocial Rehabilitation Practitioner. He is also a committed Christian and an ordained pastor with the Associated Gospel Churches of Canada.
Summerville said he hopes to bring a holistic approach to the issue that addresses body, mind, soul and spirit.
According to the Associated Gospel Church website, history section: "The AGC traces its beginnings to the early 1890s when a group of independent evangelical churches became known as the Christian Workers' Church of Canada"
UPDATE: The Canadian Schizophrenia Society Board of Directors contain no apparent Medical Doctors or PhD's, and the first name of the list appears to be a police officer from Toronto.
UPDATE 2: Pam Forsythe is a practising Psychiatrist
For more info, check out the announcement yesterda