Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence History
The United Methodist Church and its predecessor denominations have been working on substance abuse issues in a variety of ways since the 18th century. Most recently in late 20th Century in 1990, the episcopacy of the United Methodist Church asked the question, "Where is the Church and what is its role in drugs and drug-related violence?" The Episcopal leadership launched the Council of Bishops Initiative on Drugs and Drug Related Violence. For two years, the episcopacy gave its colleague, Bishop Felton Edwin May, now retired, a leave from his Episcopal duties to conduct research across the Church and develop responses to the crisis that he witnessed happening within the Baltimore/Washington Annual Conference. Findings in the Council of Bishops report revealed the devastation that alcohol and other drugs were wreaking in the lives of individuals, their families, and communities.
Initiated through the efforts of the United Methodist Episcopal leadership, the General Board of Global Ministries submitted a proposal to the 1992 General Conference to establish a "special" initiative of the general church, the Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence (SPSARV). The General Conference accepted the proposal which called for The United Methodist Church (UMC) to respond, "in a cooperative effort" to the drug crisis on a national and international level with collaboration among the general boards of Global Ministries, Church and Society, Discipleship, Higher Education and Ministry, and the General Commission of Religion and Race, under the leadership of the Council of Bishops.
During its first quadrennium, SPSARV, through its five program components, waged a spiritual war against drugs and drug-related violence working with United Methodist leadership in the U.S. and Europe. While many accomplishments were made, so much more remained to be done. Although "special" status is retained for programs that last for one quadrennium, the 1996 General Conference reaffirmed SPSARV, making this ministry and on-going initiative of the Church. The "special" status was removed. However, the name of the SPSARV ministry did not change.
SPSARV has been re-affirmed at the 2000 and 2004 General Conferences, solidifying a commitment that spans four centuries to address the spiritual disease of substance abuse and related violence. Outreach has continued to expand with resources delivered to United Methodists and their partners in the U.S., Europe and Africa.
