Early in 2005, Presbyterians for Addiction Action (PAA) conducted a survey to identify the number and kinds of addiction concerns that presbyteries face. The specific behaviors that were included in the survey were alcoholism, drug abuse, eating disorders, compulsive gambling, sexual compulsions and family addiction crises.
           
The survey was mailed to the executives of every presbytery in the denomination. Staff members from 58 of 173 (33.5%) of the presbyteries responded. The responses were evenly spread across the denomination — 15 from the Northeast, 15 from the South, 11 from the West and 17 from the Midwest. 
           
Of the surveys that were returned, 41% (24 surveys) reported that there were no addiction problems that the presbytery staff had faced or knew about. Among these replies, a typical response read, “I have no knowledge of any inquiries nor any actions related [to addiction problems].” Another respondent remarked, “No addiction cases have come to my attention in the three years I have been executive presbyter (which doesn’t mean they don’t exist, of course).” 
           
These negative responses might be explained in several ways. It might simply be that addictions are just not a problem in those presbyteries. Another explanation might be that individuals who needed addiction services turned to other sources, including the Board of Pensions. Perhaps the lack of identification of addiction problems is evidence of need for education and training in presbyteries to identify such problems. (Four of these negative responses were from interim executive presbyters who felt they hadn’t been in place long enough to encounter such problems). Finally, these responses might indicate that minister members of presbyteries don’t see the presbytery as a source of pastoral support and do not turn to them for help if it’s needed.
           
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 7.4% of Americans meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or alcoholism, and more than 50% of Americans have a close family member who is an alcoholic.¹  Those statistics suggest that there are barriers between potentially troubled pastors, or their families, and the responders in our presbyteries.

Thirty-four of the presbyteries identified specific incidences of concern.  Part of the intention of the survey was to identify the nature of pastoral concerns, and part of the intention was to measure the rate of interventions. The following table reflects the overall data:

These responses show that the rate overall of follow-up or intervention is 70%, meaning that of the matters that came to the attention of the respondents, seven out of 10 received attention from the presbytery. The responses give no explanation for the rate of response, but the reasons could include interventions from other sources, or the lack of time and resources with which to respond.
           
Using that figure as a baseline, it appears that the three most commonly encountered problems — sexual compulsions, alcoholism and eating disorders — were all responded to within the anticipated range. The surveys showed sexual compulsions receiving a 74% response, alcoholism receiving a 68% response and eating disorders receiving a 70% response. 
           
Written comments on several surveys showed a concern for compulsions associated with internet pornography. The survey did not distinguish between sexual misconduct and sexual compulsions, but the topic of internet pornography is a matter of growing concern. Having pornography so freely available is a new problem and one that has pastoral implications. 
           
It’s interesting that the one concern which has had the most study is alcoholism. However, alcoholism appears to have received slightly fewer responses than the other two most commonly identified problems. While the size of this sample is small, it does suggest that addictions and compulsions other than alcoholism are requiring attention and expertise.
           
Of the listed concerns, “Family Addiction Crises” rates the lowest response, at 57%. That suggests presbyteries are less apt to respond to the family’s concerns than they are to respond to self-reported problems.

PAA appreciates the number of responses to the questionnaire. The responses prompt reflection about how issues of addiction are identified in our denomination. They raise questions about how we respond to the families of our pastors. The number of responses concerning sexual issues has already prompted discussion among the members of PAA about training and response, and the changing nature of sexual-related problems.
 
PAA welcomes your reflections about the results of the questionnaire, by letter or email, to Rev. Robin Crawford, Law Office of Robin Crawford, P.O. Box 905, Pacifica, CA 94044-0905.