Resolution 2026-02

“Creation of an Ohio Area Substance Abuse Task Force”

Whereas: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) are diseases of the mind and body and are not the result of moral failure and they do not need to be the end of one’s ministry.

Whereas: addiction to alcohol and drugs has become a pervasive crisis across the United States, representing a significant public-health emergency.

Whereas: the disease of addiction does not discriminate, affecting United Methodist clergy and laity, their families, local congregations, and the wider community.

Whereas: we are bound in covenant with one another, affirming that when one member suffers, all suffer. As people committed to grace and compassion, we pledge to care for all those impacted by addiction without judgment or distinction.

Therefore, Be it Resolved: we encourage and support the creation of an Ohio Area Substance Abuse Task Force to help increase awareness, provide support, and develop practical resources for clergy, laity, and conference or district staff who are facing substance-related challenges. The task force may review current practices, identify best practices for prevention, support, and recovery, and develop educational and communication resources such as E-News articles, podcasts, Portico resources, and other appropriate tools to strengthen understanding and compassionate response within the Ohio Area.

We invite the East Ohio Connectional Table to consider convening such a task force. Should a task force be formed, it could include five persons from each annual conference to participate, in consultation with appropriate conference leadership bodies such as the Cabinets, Connectional Ministries, Offices of Financial & Administrative Services, and Boards of Ministry. In forming the task force, careful attention should be given to individuals with lived experience in recovery.

Coordination of this work may be supported through Connectional Ministries, recognizing that substance-related challenges affect both clergy and laity and require a coordinated approach to wellness, education, and recovery support.

Financial implications related to this work should be considered in consultation with the Offices of Financial & Administrative Services and conference leadership and carried out within available resources.

Submitted by the Ohio Addiction/Recovery Ministry Team.

Douglas Damron, Clergy, West Ohio
Darryl Fairchild, Clergy, West Ohio
Allyssa Graves, Clergy, West Ohio
Nichole Fewell, Clergy, East Ohio
Jennifer Whitmore, Clergy, East Ohio 
James Waugh, Clergy, West Ohio
Bryan Bucher, Clergy, West Ohio
Marcella Ciccotelli, Clergy, West Ohio

The following persons from East and West Ohio have signed in support of this legislation:

Rev. Rosario Picardo, West Ohio
Rev. Douglas Dean, West Ohio
Rev. Jason Hockran, East Ohio
Rev. Kathleen Herington, West Ohio
Lisa K. Wachenfeld, West Ohio
Bobbi Ruddock, West Ohio
Rev. Taelor Hickey, West Ohio
Rev. Tamara Wilden, East Ohio
Rev. Deborah Stevens, West Ohio
Rev. David Meredith, West Ohio
Rev. Karen Muntzing, West Ohio
Rev. Matthew Anderson, East Ohio
Rev. Christopher Heckaman, West Ohio
Rev. Todd Anderson, West Ohio
Rev. Brian Law, West Ohio
Rev. Jennifer K Bailey, West Ohio
Rev. Paul Risler, West Ohio
Rev. Dennis W. Miller, West Ohio
Rev. Nancy Day-Achauer, West Ohio
Rev. Rae Lynn Schleif, West Ohio
Rev. Larry C. Clark, West Ohio
Rev. Robbie Scott, West Ohio
Rev. Jason Wellman, West Ohio
Rev. Lisa Kerwin, West Ohio
Rev. April Blaine, West Ohio
Rev. Barb Sholis, West Ohio
Rev. Scott Russ, West Ohio
Rev. Joon-Sik Park, West Ohio
Rev. Barry Burns, West Ohio
Rev. Colleen Ogle, West Ohio
Rev. Don Wilson, West Ohio
Rev. Thomas A. Snyder, East Ohio
Rev. Jennifer Miller, West Ohio
Rev. Peggy L. Welch, East Ohio
Rev. Joseph M. Payne, West Ohio
Rev. Michele (Mimi) Luebbers, West Ohio
Rev. Deborah K. Stevens, West Ohio
Rev. Jessica Stonecypher, West Ohio
Rev. Joe Ziraldo, West Ohio
Rev. R. Scott Miller, West Ohio
Rev. David Weaver, West Ohio
Rev. Alexandra J. Rode, West Ohio
Rev. Suzanne Fountaine, West Ohio
Rev. Don Wallick, West Ohio
Rev. Michael Slaughter, West Ohio
Rev. Andrea Curry, West Ohio
Rev. Bruce Dickerson, West Ohio
Rev. Linda Wallick, West Ohio
Rev. Stanley T. Ling, West Ohio
Rev. Rachel Billups, West Ohio
Rev. Stephen Bennett, West Ohio
Rev. Glenn Schwerdtfeger, West Ohio
Rev. Jeremy Moyers, West Ohio
Rev. Henry Stringer, West Ohio
Rev. Marla Elifritz Brown, West Ohio
Rev. Joe Ziraldo, West Ohio
Rev. Andy Wagner, West Ohio
Rev. Caleb Henry, West Ohio
Rev. Christian J. Taylor, West Ohio
Rev. Bradford Olson, West Ohio
Rev. Angie Cox, West Ohio