Churches
Promoting Recovery

Mobilizing and supporting churches to promote healing and recovery from substance use issues.

Foundations of our work—

  • Research

    Our work is grounded in research. In 2021, we conducted a needs assessment of faith leaders responding to substance use issues through a statewide survey and representative listening sessions.

  • Resource Hub

    We aim to create and provide accessible, theologically-grounded resources for Christian faith communities of all denominations to respond to substance use issues in their congregations and communities.

  • Dissemination

    In addition to providing resources for faith leaders, we are contributing to the body of academic research on substance use issues by highlighting the responses of faith communities.

Faith, Substance Use Issues & the Need—

Churches have a long history of engaging in health promotion activities for their members and local communities. While community resources for supporting individuals with substance use issues now include a variety of complementary options—from medication-assisted treatment to harm reduction to recovery support groups—little has been known about what faith communities need as they care for those affected by substance use issues.

The Churches Promoting Recovery Project launched as a study seeking to better understand what clergy and church leaders need as churches respond to opioid use issues and substance use issues more broadly. The resources that are shared on this website were created and/or gathered in response to the needs expressed by churches from a variety of theological and denominational backgrounds.

Partners

  • Duke School of Medicine Opioid Collaboratory

    This project is included as part of the Duke School of Medicine Opioid Collaboratory which is administered through the Duke Department of Population Health Sciences and supported by grant funding from The Duke Endowment. The Collaboratory's mission is to save lives and reduce the harmful impact of opioids in North Carolina through the development, implementation, and/or evaluation of system-level interventions.

  • Theology, Medicine, and Culture

    The TMC Initiative creates opportunities for students, clergy, and health care practitioners to reimagine and to re-engage contemporary practices of health care in light of Christian tradition and the practices of Christian communities.

  • Ormond Center

    Ormond Center fosters the imagination, will, and ability of congregations and communities to be agents of thriving. We do this by equipping practitioners with the mindsets, skillsets, toolsets, and soulsets they need to serve their field, place, and neighbors

  • Clergy Health Initiative

    The Duke Clergy Health Initiative is a program to assess and improve the health and well-being of United Methodist clergy in North Carolina.

  • The Duke Endowment

    Since 1924, The Duke Endowment has worked to help people and strengthen communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits.

Project Team

Acknowledgements

  • Research Participants and Advisory Committee

    This project was made possible by the participation of clergy and lay leaders from across North Carolina in our statewide survey, listening sessions, and advisory group. We are deeply grateful for their time, wisdom, and contributions to this work.