Episcopal Press and News
Diocese of Maryland Seminar Unveils New Substance Abuse Booklet
Episcopal News Service. June 21, 1990 [90164]
Charles Houser, American Bible Society
The American Bible Society (ABS) recently unveiled a new Scripture booklet for people recovering from alcoholism and substance abuse at a daylong seminar conducted by the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.
Turning to God: Finding a Spiritual Path to Recovery, was presented at Emmanuel Episcopal Church to more than 200 civic and religious leaders celebrating the 25th anniversary of diocesan involvement in substance abuse issues.
Participants in the Maryland diocese's Cathedral House Reentry Program played an important role in developing and reviewing Turning to God. The program assists recovering alcoholics and drug abusers in their efforts to find employment, live independently, prevent relapses, and develop strong inner spiritual resources.
ABS staff chose the Baltimore program to field-test the booklet because of its emphasis on spiritual issues in recovery. Participants drew on personal experiences to recommend Bible passages most helpful to people in recovery.
The 41-page ABS booklet is "simple enough to minister to people new to recovery and spiritual enough to satisfy people who have begun to experience the many challenges that await anyone making the difficult journey of recovering," according to Charles Houser, ABS manager of Scripture Resource Development, who presented the publication at the meeting.
Divided into three sections, "Surrender to God, "Walk with God," and "Grow with God," the booklet contains Bible passages that offer encouragement and support to people seeking spiritual answers to their addiction problems.
Turning to God was prepared in response to numerous requests from church youth workers, prison and hospital chaplains, and concerned lay persons for spiritually motivated resources on addiction
"I hope this Scripture portion will be wonderfully used by God for all kinds of people who are in pain because of addictions or other kinds of spiritual distress," said ABS board member Sally Shoemaker Robinson, canon for social ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland and a member of the planning committee for the event.
ABS will distribute the booklet to churches and social service agencies serving people in recovery. It has expressed the hope that the booklet will be useful to 12-step recovery groups including Alcoholics Anonymous.