Thursday, July 2, 2015

General Convention admits “alcohol affects us all”



The House of Bishops on July 1 passed three resolutions on the issue of alcohol and drug abuse.
Resolution D014 recommends that ordinands should be questioned at the very beginning of the discernment process about addiction and substance use in their lives and family systems.
The bishops also passed Resolution A159, which acknowledges the church’s role in the culture of alcohol and drug abuse.

Bishop Mark Hollingsworth of Ohio, chair of the Legislative Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, said A159 is intended to give direction in how the church can move forward in owning that reality of complicity and in healing.

Resolution A158, to create a task force to review and revise policy on substance abuse, addiction and recovery, passed with one amendment. The amended resolution will return to the House of Deputies for concurrence.

The amendment asks that when offering the sacrament, a nonalcoholic wine be provided. The original resolution had suggested a nonalcoholic alternative, but did not specify that it be wine.
A day earlier, deputies had overwhelmingly supported the resolutions, asserting the time has come to transform the church’s “unhealthy and unholy relationship” with alcohol and addiction.

The Rev. Steve Lane, treasurer of Recovery Ministries of The Episcopal Church, was stationed at a booth during General Convention and said he is excited to see the church finally beginning to face the challenges of addiction.

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