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- Faith Partners Congregational Teams equip people of faith in the development of caring communities that promote prevention of alcohol and other drug problems and value and support recovery from addictions.
- The Faith Partners approach is taught and supported by the Rush Center of the Johnson Institute. Its leadership and staff conduct a variety of trainings, publish products and materials, and maintain phone and internet support to Teams and Team members.
- Information and support is available at 1-888-451-9527 and www.rushcenter.org.
- Team ministries are currently operating in dozens of congregations in more than 12 states.
- Seventeen faith organizations sent 63 delegates to a Rush Center Summit in April of 2005 in Austin, Texas to learn about the Faith Partners Approach, many are now promoting it within their faith tradition.
- The Faith Partners Approach was piloted in Texas and Minnesota over the past ten years, building on earlier work that recognized the potential of lay and clergy partnerships, particularly involving individuals with successful recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction.
- In 2004, two non-profits, Faith Partners, Inc., and the Rush Recovery Institute, merged into a new division of the Johnson Institute known as the Rush Center, beginning a process to take the successful pilot program to national implementation.
- Healing Places, published in 2005, tells the story and practices of the Faith Partners approach. It is the primary text used in developing teams.
- Faith Partners Journal, published quarterly, is the official magazine for teams and team members. Bulk quantities are sent to participating teams and individual subscriptions are available for $18 a year.
- In the past year the Rush Center:
- Conducted training in 12 states;
- Worked with Lutheran, Baptist, United Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Episcopal, Unity, Unitarian Universalist, Catholic, Christian Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal and numerous nondenominational clergy and congregations
- Filled orders for 211 Call to Action kits to 31 states;
- Were endorsed by United Methodist and Presbyterian denominations
- Presented at national conferences – the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, Search Institute, International Parish Nurses, and the National Prevention Network;
- Initiated a pilot project with Jewish congregations in Florida
- Provided leadership for the United Methodist Church to do a broad denominational training effort, and,
- Much more.
This graph, based on more than 4500 survey responses in 22 congregations, demonstrates that people in the pews are ready for this team ministry. They have been affected and they know the need.
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