DescriptionA
church-based community ministry dedicated to people touched by addiction was launched
at First Parish Brewster in the fall of 2000 with four broad goals:
- To provide FPB members
with pastoral services and support in addiction prevention and recovery.
- To
bring those and other addiction-related services to the larger community, once
established within FPB.
- To
sponsor shared leadership, resources, and goals for this community work among
Cape Cod's Unitarian Universalist churches and fellowships.
- To
create a model of a church-based addictions ministry that can be adopted by UU
churches around the country.
Our
ministry is based on the following observations and convictions:
- One in every six people
(depending on whose numbers you choose to believe) is struggling with some form
of addiction. Addiction also has a devastating effect on the friends and loved
ones of addicts, and it is further estimated that the lives of one out of every
three people are seriously disrupted by addiction. Thus, every congregation has
a significant number of people, most probably known only to themselves and their
families, who are in need of help and compassion.
-
Addiction is in part a spiritual disorder, and long-term recovery is in large
part a spiritual process. The spiritual component of addiction can be defined
this way: Addiction causes a separation of the person (a) from her/his true self
(the self that is free to exercise choice in matters of behavior and attachment);
(b) from meaningful, loving, freely chosen relationships with other people; and
(c) from God, however God is understood (the transcendent, ultimate meaning, the
good, etc.).
- Recovery
from addiction needs to encompass spiritual healing: a process of reconnection
to true self, others, and God. Such healing always takes place in community, and
a community of faith – a church – can be an ideal environment for spiritual
growth toward wholeness. Perhaps for such purposes there is none better than a
Unitarian Universalist church community, which professes the inherent worth and
dignity of every person and acceptance of one another, and encourages spiritual
growth in our congregations. No matter what one's faith tradition, a UU church
can be a safe, nondogmatic environment in which to find one's spiritual bearings
in community.
Addictions
Service Committee (ASC)The
ASC serves the needs of those in the congregation and the larger community, including
family members and friends, touched by addiction. We understand "addiction"
in its broadest sense to include substance abuse and behavioral addictions, e.g.,
gambling, sexual activity, overeating, and workaholism. The committee develops
and implements programs for prevention and recovery, maintains a resource center
of addictions literature, and sponsors educational offerings for adults and the
Children and Youth Ministries. The committee meets on the first Saturday morning
of each month, and we invite anyone interested in this work to join us. Addictions
Resource CenterA
resource center containing books, pamphlets, videos, and other materials on addiction
prevention and recovery is now available for browsing in the church library. Copies
of pamphlets in the wall display may be removed for personal use, but other materials
should not be removed from the center. Support
GroupsA
support group for people whose lives are being affected by the addiction of a
loved one or friend meets each Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the Winslow House. The
group is facilitated by Denis Meacham and is always open to new participants.
New groups will be starting up in the fall. Watch for details in the Angle and
in the News section (below) of this Web site. CounselingIn
conjunction with the work of the ASC, Denis Meacham provides short-term addiction
counseling (assessment and referral) free of charge to members and friends of
the church whose lives have been touched by addiction. Please call Denis's confidential
church office number (508-896-5600) or stop by his office during his office hours
to make an appointment. Bio
of Denis MeachamDenis
Meacham is the Associate Minister at FPB. He is a certified addiction counselor,
trained at UMass Boston and Harvard Medical School, and has seen clients in hospital
inpatient and outpatient settings and in private practice. Denis was a member
of the First Unitarian Society of West Newton for 21 years, where he was a lay
minister for 12 years, as well as a pastoral counselor to people touched by addiction.
He holds degrees from Princeton, the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard,
and a Doctorate of Ministry from Andover Newton Theological School. He has two
grown children, Kate and Sam, and lives with his wife, Janet, in Brewster. News
- The committee is looking
for people with experience in 12-Step work or who are otherwise prepared to support
people one-on-one who are trying to get sober. Please call Denis for details.
- We are considering
starting a recovery support group for people with at least one years of stable
recovery that will focus on spiritual growth. If you might be interested in such
a group, please contact Denis (508-896-5600) or any committee member.
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