Empowering Congregations in Addiction Recovery Support

PSEC ADDICTION & RECOVERY TASK FORCE FALL MEETING NOVEMBER 15, 2020

CONGREGATIONAL DOS AND DONTS DO S Speak about the disease; preach on addiction Learn about stigma, ways to combat it, and share with your congregation Educate your congregation about the disease of addiction Invite questions, both publicly and privately Use state and local statistics to enhance congregational understanding that addiction is not rare Invite experienced persons in recovery to share their stories at your church Encourage people to call the Pastor to talk in safety and privacy Provide space for support groups Include people involved with the disease in prayer and prayer chains (with permission) Consider having a supply of Naloxone (Narcan) on hand to give to affected families

CONGREGATIONAL DOS AND DONTS DO S Consider a designated fund to encourage hope for recovery Be open minded; no judgement Get to know the resources in your community Have recovery resources readily available, including hotlines and area meetings Reach out to recovery fellowships to let them know you have meeting spaces available Contact Public Relations Committees from recovery fellowships and request a presentation Express the need for confidentiality within the congregation Post recovery resources meant specifically for public use on your bulletin boards Allow recovery groups meeting at your facility to post their meeting on your bulletin boards

CONGREGATIONAL DOS AND DONTS DON TS Pastors should not attend recovery meetings, unless invited Pastors should not participate or offer prayer at a recovery meeting Enter a meeting space before, during or after a meeting, in order to maintain anonymity Approach addicts presumed or known with God-like language (unless invited to do so) Announce specific, anonymous recovery meetings in weekly worship bulletins or during services EVER give specific reasons or details for prayers, in public or in prayer chains

CONGREGATIONAL DOS AND DONTS DON TS Lump all drug users together in one group Use language that stigmatizes (disgraces) Assume drug users are outside your community of care Forget to support families that have people in active addiction or recovery Just refer people to local mental health or recovery institutes and think your job is done Give cash directly to someone who is using Let yourself get burned out by the work

We could use your help! Would you consider joining us in this vital ministry? Please contact any member of the committee for more information. Committee Members Phone Number Email Rev. Dr. Deborah Rahn Clemens - Pastor / Committee moderator / Familial experience Dr. Kay Jones, PhD Psychologist - Scientifics studies / Stigma discussion Trish Rathbun, Recovery and Addiction Expert - Member of 12 Step recovery group Cheryl Rathbun, Recovery and Addiction Expert - Member of 12 Step recovery group Rev. Josh Blakesley - Trauma & justice issues / Social activist Julia Roberts, Clinical Social Worker, Probation Officer - Family and judicial relations Rev. Mark Roberts, Pastor, St. Paul s Fort Washington 609-744-2281 deborahrahnclemens@gmail.com 570-366-1333 Kjones8022@aol.com 267-424-1201 tflumster@gmail.com 267-261-5460 eosdruidia@yahoo.com 267-644-7573 josh@rctransform.com - juliarobertslcsw@gmail.com - pastor@spuccfw.org