This course, taught by T. Patrick Milas at New Brunswick Theological Seminary, explores the problem of addiction and mandate for the Church in the solution: the embrace and elevation of healing ministry using the Twelve Steps. The course begins by reviewing the latest scientific evidence of addiction to delineate the scope of the problem in society today. Students will examine the common concerns of suffering, brokenness, repentance and healing so central to what the Twelve Step Program calls recovery and the Church calls salvation. By discovering the gospel wisdom of the Twelve Steps, they may be applied to any obvious addiction in any person, including the sometimes hidden addiction to sin shared by all. The class will identify strategies for churches to not only assist addicts, but more fully accept and attract them into their church communities. Students will gradually absorb the spirituality of the Twelve Steps experience through increasing immersion in its devotional practices.

Seminary: New Brunswick Theological Seminary
Keywords: addiction, alcoholism, pastoral care, therapy