National Coalition on Alcohol Formed
Episcopal News Service. May 27, 1982 [82138]
PHILADELPHIA (DPS, May 27) -- Results of an initial survey of 96 jurisdictions in the Episcopal Church indicated that between 40 and 60 percent of the responding 90 dioceses have no policy on intervention with alcoholics.
Conducted by the recently-formed National Episcopal Coalition on Alcohol, the survey also revealed that the same percentage of dioceses have no policy on serving alcoholic beverages at parish or diocesan functions or on diagnostic criteria of alcoholism as a disease.
The coalition was chartered in the District of Columbia earlier this year to implement a resolution on alcoholism adopted by the 1979 General Convention of the Church in Denver. Its purpose is to offer a spiritual response to dependency on alcohol and other drugs. The Convention resolution called on each diocese to form a Committee on Alcoholism which would work with community groups concerned with alcoholism and which would provide educational and training material on alcohol abuse and the effect on the quality of life.
The coalition's survey found that between 65 and 75 percent of those responding have taken specific actions relative to the 1979 resolution and diocesan policy and resolutions.
The coalition voted to petition the Presiding Bishop on implementation of the resolution to provide non-alcoholic alternatives when alcoholic beverages are served and to request representation on appropriate national Church commissions.
J. Russell Horton, Bethesda, Md., was named president of the coalition and the Rev. Harry Shelley of Baltimore was elected vice president. The Rev. Mark Anschutz of Alexandria, Va., was elected secretary and the Rev. Henry Myers of Washington was named treasurer.
Attending the meeting were representatives of the Dioceses of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Bethlehem, Southern Virginia, Virginia, Southwestern Virginia, Washington, Long Island, Massachusetts and Maryland, and Woodrow Carter of the Episcopal Church Center in New York.
A dues structure was established for membership. Information on memberships at $10 per individual and $25 per organization may be received by writing to the National Episcopal Coalition on Alcohol, Church House, Mt. St. Alban, Washington, D.C. 20016.