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Eastern Pennsylvania Conference to Hold Workshop to Equip Church Leaders' Response to Substance Abuse

Alcoholism and other drug addictions continue to take an enormous toll on families and whole communities.  The Eastern Pennsylvania conference will cosponsor a two-day workshop to train clergy and lay leaders to support individuals and their families battling alcohol and other drug addictions and related violence in their congregations and communities.

The workshop, “Strengthening the Ties that Bind: A Holistic Approach to Addressing Substance Abuse for Families, Churches and Communities,” will be held on March 16 – 17, at Mother African Zoar United Methodist Church, 1204 Melon Street, Philadelphia, PA.

The nation's top substance abuse experts will lead interactive workshops designed equip church leaders with the knowledge and skills to respond to the impact of substance abuse and related violence in both family and community life. It will also train church leaders in substance abuse prevention among young people.

Workshop topics will include:

  • Spiritual Caregiving for People with Addictions & their Families
  • Violence Related to Substance Abuse
  • Addiction and Young People

The workshop is organized in collaboration with The United Methodist Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence (SPSARV), a denomination-wide initiative that addresses substance abuse issues through prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery, and advocacy. SPSARV is housed at the General Board of Global Ministries.

“SPSARV is so pleased to collaborate with the Eastern Pennsylvania conference to build stronger partnerships with local churches to help start congregational ministries to compassionately respond to   issues related to addiction in the church pews and community," said Antonietta Wilson, executive secretary of SPSARV.

Since 1992, SPSARV has coordinated a global response to alcohol, other drugs and related violence by raising awareness and equipping church leaders and faith partners to be informed and compassionate responders to the needs of individuals and families impacted by the disease of addiction.

To achieve this, SPSARV provides trainings, financial assistance and ministry resources to congregations. Additionally, the initiative works with the General Board of Church and Society on public policy and advocacy efforts around substance abuse issues.

Its reach extends across the globe and includes a United Methodist European Board on Drug and Alcohol Concerns and Africa Task Force to tackle substance abuse in Europe and Africa.

For more information on the workshop, please visit www.cal-pac.org. To learn more about SPSARV, please visit www.umspsarv.org.

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