You can almost hear the church leadership groan. Another policy! Yet setting out a policy in writing can be a very liberating experience. If done properly, a policy sets out what a church is prepared to do and the means to translate this intention into reality. It is impossible for any church or Christian group to do everything and a policy should help focus resources and avoid worry about ‘what can we do?’.

So, why bother:

a) Clarity of purpose

There is less danger of misunderstanding the written word because it is there for all to see. It can set out intentions and specify what will not be done as well as what is hoped for.

b) Accountability

A good policy will enable people to plan, take action and then review before deciding what to do next. It enables everyone to be aware of who is responsible for doing something as well as what should be done. This means that expectations can be met and those responsible will get on with the job – or – know that it is their responsibility to find somebody else to do the job.

c) A framework for action

Any policy is only as good as the action that follows it. A drug policy, such as the example provided, sets out areas of concern and provides a framework for action.

d) Enables priority setting

Since a church cannot do everything, it needs to give priority to certain activities. Priorities may change and a policy will show what needs to be done and help people to judge what priority to give different issues.

e) Acknowledging the Christian imperative

When Jesus told the disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19) he also said in the same sentence “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…..” (Matthew 28:20).

Jesus would have wanted the Church to get involved with alcohol and drug issues. A policy enables a church to accept that and recognise where the imperative comes from.

Where the sample policy comes from

This is a working policy which was adopted by a Baptist Church in South London. It is offered here as an example, but will need to be adapted to fit local circumstances and church structures.

Sample church policy about alcohol and other drugs

The national situation

Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with between 15,000 and 22,000 premature deaths annually. (Safe. Sensible. Social., Government’s National Alcohol Strategy (for England), June 2007)

The number of hospital admissions with a primary or secondary diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease has more than tripled since 1995/6. (Statistics on Alcohol: England 2008, The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care)

Those 11-15 year olds who are drinking are consuming more alcohol more often; average consumption doubled from 5 units per week in 1990 to 10 units per week in 2000, with growing evidence of increases in liver cirrhosis in young adults.  (Drug Education: An Entitlement for All, Advisory Group on Drug and Alcohol Education, 2008)

High risk behaviours are more prevalent (in the UK) than in other EU countries – young people are more likely to misuse substances, have sex early, and drink alcohol under age. (An Overview of Child Well-Being in Rich Countries, Innocenti Report Card 7, UNICEF 2007)

Note: Churches in Northern Ireland and Scotland can access national statistics by clicking on the links. At the time of writing, we took advice and were told that the best source of statistics for Wales is the Welsh Assembly. A Google search for a local Drug Action Team may also yield local statistics.

All of us are affected by the use of both legal and illegal drugs. As well as adverse personal experience, our society has to pay for the police, judicial, health and welfare services needed to address these issues.

It is vital that, as Christians, we should help those who are hurting and work to prevent harm before it occurs.

Our Church

(Remember that this example is a working policy, written from the perspective and rules of a Baptist church. It will need to be adapted for other churches to take account of different traditions and practices. For example, churches differ in their choice of alcoholic or alcohol-free communion wine.)

Alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances are not allowed on the premises.

The traditional Baptist Church ‘policy’ about alcohol has been to recognise the harm it causes in society and ensure that church buildings are alcohol-free environments. (In our case, it is part of our church deeds.) This includes the use of non-alcoholic wines for communion.

Since this stance was adopted, the attitude of many individual Christians to alcohol has changed. Within our church there are those who adopt an alcohol-free lifestyle and those who drink in moderation. We acknowledge this difference and accept that on a personal level, this must remain a matter of individual conscience.

However, there are steps that we can take to ensure that the church is informed on this subject and positive action is taken where necessary.

Biblical principles

There is no direct Biblical teaching about tobacco or any other drug except alcohol. The Bible is clear that drunkenness is to be avoided but gives no definite indication about the moderate use of alcohol. It is likely that the Jewish culture and relatively weak wines of Bible times resulted in a low level of alcohol related harm, particularly when compared to the situation today.

General principles that apply to all drug use – legal or illegal – include:

a. The need to care for God’s creation and acknowledge that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.

b. The need for clarity of mind. (1 Peter 4:7)

c. The need to care for others, including by example.

d. Helping those who are hurting.

e. Obeying the law of the land.

f. Being in the world but not of it.

Practical Action

Our Premises

Alcoholic drinks will not be allowed at any event on the premises and we will encourage the use of a wide range of attractive alcohol-free alternatives.

We will continue to use non-alcoholic wine for Communion.

We will make rooms available for groups working with drug users and/or their families (e.g. Al-Anon).

Events which take place outside church premises

In order to be consistent, we will ensure that events outside the premises maintain this corporate concern. For example, no one should drive for any church event with alcohol in their bloodstream. Where ‘church events’ are held in people’s homes, they should consider carefully the situations, ages and attitudes of those present and take appropriate action.

Leaders and other adults taking responsibility for youth and children’s events will be asked to treat them as if they were on the premises, ie, no use of alcohol, tobacco or any other substances. (Where residential activities are concerned, it will be for the leaders to decide how to deal with a young person who may be dependent on tobacco.)

Education

Drug issues affect all parts of society so we will encourage all organisations to include the subject in their programme.

The resources of Hope UK will be available and we will continue to be associated with it both as a link church and through our schools worker who is a Hope UK Associate Drug Educator.

 Community

We will be aware of drug issues that arise in the community and be prepared to comment on or have an input into them.

Counselling

We will seek to help those who suffer from the use of alcohol or other drugs, supporting them or referring them to other appropriate organisations.

We will try and ensure that, should a drug or alcohol related situation arise, there will be someone available to deal with it and that a list of useful phone numbers, etc, will be kept in the office.

Prayer and financial support

We will offer prayer and financial support to those working in the alcohol and drugs field.

Young people

Young people are at particular risk of experimenting and then regularly using various substances.

We will ensure that those who work with young people have the knowledge to provide both information and support.

We will ensure that there are common procedures to be followed if illegal drugs are found on the premises or used at or near a youth event.

We will consider what should happen if a young person comes to an event under the influence of any substance.

Our Child Protection policy will be applied as appropriate where, for example, a young person needs counselling.

Additional Practical action

i) The first step is to ensure a good level of knowledge. Therefore two or three evening events should be set up for leaders of all church organisations – possibly with one of them being a youth and children’s workers’ evening.

ii) The leader of each organisation should be invited to ask (the named responsible person) to discuss what they might do during the next year to raise awareness amongst their members.

iii) We need to decide what to do if someone is found in possession of an illegal substance, or wants to come on to the premises under the influence, or is found using something. This should then be included in the leadership training evenings and in any follow-up activities which result from meetings with organisations. This would include issues about how to cope with people ‘under the influence’, ensuring their safety and that of others, as well as the legal situation.

There are other areas listed in the policy which will require action from time to time, eg, prayer, gifts etc. However, the above is designed to give an initial impetus to the introduction of the policy with the aim of completing this stage by (date). Part of the discussions with individual organisations will include how to maintain a level of information and take appropriate action in the long-term.