Episcopal Church removes priest who founded Christian psychedelic society

Hunt Priest was removed from ordained ministry by the Episcopal Church on Aug. 5, after concerns that he used pastoral authority to endorse psychedelics. The article traces how Priest’s interest began with a 2016 clergy and psilocybin study, after which he founded Ligare, a Christian psychedelic nonprofit in 2021. Ligare aimed to convene Christians and spiritual leaders to process psychedelic experiences, and it included plans such as a retreat in the Netherlands. Critics connected to Ligare raised concerns about not being sufficiently transparent about potential risks and about limited training for facilitators. The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia concluded Priest engaged in “conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy,” including issues tied to public claims about psychedelics being “safe” rather than strictly “legal,” and alleged misrepresentation. The case is framed as a flashpoint for how mainline Christianity is handling the risks, benefits, and theological legitimacy of interpreting psychedelic use in spiritual terms.