Churches Team Up to Battle Addiction

When a church member has an addiction, where can he or she turn?

That question will be the focus of a gathering to discuss building team ministries for church members with addictions.
Scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, in Westminster Presbyterian Church, the talk is entitled, "Consultation on Building Addiction Team Ministries in Congregations and Faith Communities."

Clergy and laity will be introduced to several congregationally based addiction recovery ministries including the nationally known "Faith Partners Team Ministry." Resources on education, early intervention, referral assistance and recovery support also will be offered.

The meeting's goal is to begin to develop a statewide, faith-based addiction recovery and prevention network. Registration begins at 9 a.m.; the fee is $10 per person, which includes lunch and materials. To register, download registration brochure at www.emoregon.org or call 503-221-1054.

Trish Merrill, director of The Rush Center and co-founder of Faith Partners in Austin, Texas, will speak. Merrill is a registered nurse with 25 years of experience in prevention and treatment of substance abuse. A United Methodist layperson, she is experienced in linking the prevention and treatment field to the religious community
Merrill wrote Building a Team Ministry:A Congregational Approach to Substance Abuse and co-author of Healing Places.
Other participants include:

• The Rev. Tim Baker, senior pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Salem, whose ministries include the "Celebrate Recovery" program

• Judy Cushing, executive director of Oregon Partner-ship

• The Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes Jr., pastor of Allen Temple CME Church and founder of the "Resurrection, Prevention, Intervention and Support Group for Drug Abuse Program";

• The Rev. Rod Landes, Ph.D., president of the Pastoral Counseling Associates of Portland

• The Rev. JoAnn Leach, pastor of Christ Church Parish Episcopal

• David Leslie, executive directorofEcumenical Ministries of Oregon.

The consultation is presented by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon in partnership with the Rush Center; Episcopal Diocese of Oregon; Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health and Addiction; Oregon Partnership; and Volunteers of America Oregon.