Recovery Ministries Commission
Telephone: 415.221.8356
Mission Statement
To address issues and support persons in recovery or seeking recovery from substance addictions or related addictions in the parishes of the Diocese of California.
Goals
- To develop a body of information by which persons seeking recovery from addictions and abuse of substances can be referred to the appropriate recovery program, recovery center, rehabilitation center, etc.
- To develop a network of parishioners in the Diocese of California who have volunteered to be called on in their respective parishes to assist in counseling and supporting persons seeking recovery.
- To offer to the parishes in the Diocese of California direction and assistance in establishing a spiritual support group modeled after the principles of the twelve-step programs.
- To educate the general membership of our parishes concerning issues in recovery ministry, and to advocate for persons seeking recovery.
Recovery Agencies
To assist in locating a program or agency for referral purposes in connection with recovery from alcoholism or addiction, the Commission on Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of California is providing this list, including addresses, phone numbers, and websites; programs lacking any of this information are not included. The Commission on Recovery Ministries does not endorse or recommend any particular program or agency on this list. The Commission does urge God-centered programs over self-help programs.
Recovery Agencies List (PDF format)
The Commission on Recovery Ministries has offered assistance to congregations in establishing spiritual support groups for those in any of the 12-step programs in their parishes or missions.
The Commission sent the following letter:
Dear Rector or Vicar:
The Commission on Recovery Ministries wants to offer you assistance, if you are interested, in exploring whether you would like to have in your parish a ministry that is proving to be of value at St. Mary the Virgin in San Francisco. For about five years, St. Mary's has had a spiritual support group for persons in any of the 12-step programs. This is not another 12-step meeting. St. Mary's has, as perhaps you have, provided space for AA meetings for years. But this was something different-a parish-centered spiritual support group.
The format is a one-hour meeting. First we read scripture related to one of the Steps, rotating through the Steps on an annual basis. Then we have a traditional sharing time, following the basic concepts of the 12-step programs. Then we end with about ten minutes of structured contemplative prayer, using meditation and prayer. The major variance from the customs of traditional 12-step meetings is that we express ourselves in the language of our Christian tradition.
At St. Mary's we meet at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoons twice a month. We have had ten or so people in attendance; most often we have about five. Some 12 to 15 people are presently involved in attending.
Although I am writing to you as chair of the Commission on Recovery Ministries, a couple of us involved at St. Mary's are available to visit with you if you are interested in thinking about forming a group similar to ours in your parish or in a group of parishes. Give me a call at (415) 221-8356. We have learned from a number of experiences in the past five years that some things work better than others. We could share the benefit of these experiences with you. Perhaps we could answer some of your questions.
Sincerely,
The Rev. Dr. Everett Powell
Deacon, Diocese of California