Metropolitan Community Churches Presents

Deconstructing Meth©

An Experiential Seminar to Open Honest Dialogue About Meth

“Crystal meth knows no boundaries.

Its impact cuts across all lines of human difference: age, race, gender, sexual identity, nationality, social circumstance, and economic condition.”

Joshua L. Love

Director, Metropolitan Community Churches’ Global HIV/AIDS Ministry

“Whether it is experienced as a pathway for addiction and HIV infection, the cause of individual suffering, or a vehicle of the stigmatizing that often comes with recreational drug use; it is clear that crystal meth cannot be ignored by communities of faith.

We need to come out about crystal meth use and its consequences, without judgment, but with compassion, up-to-date information and commitment to healing.

Many lives depend on it.”

The Rev. Nancy L. Wilson

Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches

“We often think of the topic of drug use or abuse as reserved for those who’ve lost everything or hit bottom. Joshua’s honest and open presentation — his realness around his own journey, as a young, vital, together young man — was an empowering and life-saving experience for many of us at MCCNY. We are having him come back to present Deconstructing Meth again because of all the folks who found the courage to come out and get honest about their drug habits and the risks they were taking with both their sexual and their spiritual lives. He has a disarming, compassionate, yet soul-searching presence that makes it possible for others to trust him and to come out — and coming out, as we know all too well in MCC, is always the first step toward healing and wholeness.”

The Rev. Pat Bumgardner,

Senior Pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of New York,

Long-time Community Activist and Chair of MCC’s Global Justice Team

2009 Presentations of Deconstructing Meth© will include:

Washington, DC

Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, DC

August 8-9, 2009

Minneapolis, Minnesota

All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church

August 15-16, 2009

Los Angeles, California

Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles

August 22-23, 2009

New York, New York

Metropolitan Community Church of New York

August 28-30

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto

October 9-11, 2009

We, at Metropolitan Community Churches Drug and Addictions Ministry, know that drug use is creating powerful and often dangerous social, spiritual and economic changes in the lives of individuals and communities all over the world.  When silence born of stigmatization prevents open dialogue it can mean the difference between life and death.  With this awareness we have facilitated educational workshops, retreats, and spiritual events around the world to break down the barriers to honesty and disclosure.  When an active drug user can speak openly to friends, family members, faith leaders, and social service providers the possibilities of making choices that support a healthy life become a reality.  

Local churches and faith-based organizations often become the support system of last resort for vulnerable people.  A well-informed local faith leader can make vital referrals and offer ongoing support to people who might otherwise fall between the cracks of available services.  This ministry takes seriously the need to equip local churches and faith-based organizations to provide helpful partnerships within the larger community of service providers while also addressing the need to end religious-based stigma towards drug users. 

When drug and alcohol use, social stigma and discrimination, poverty, gender-inequity, and other factors are present in the life a person their vulnerability to drug addiction and HIV infection increases.   No single approach by social service or faith-based organizations can address all of the root causes of vulnerability while also supporting long term behavior and societal change.  It takes a collaborative effort of systemic support and education.

Metropolitan Community Churches Drug and Addictions Ministry holds seminars and workshops around the world with faith-based organizations, and community partners. Our presentations and community events are open to persons in recovery programs (abstinence, harm reduction, and rational users), as well as those still actively using drugs (recreational and addicted users, too), family and friends of the drug users, and people who provide support services to these communities, including educators, community leaders, social service providers, and religious leaders.  We help communities assess their own best responses and strategize on plans to take next steps.

With this in mind, we developed a seminar entitled, Deconstructing Meth©. We evolved the workshop to meet the needs of local communities and individuals through presentations, workshops, and spiritual events in dozens of cities worldwide beginning in 2005. We took the workshop to local churches, health conferences, and community service groups, inviting people to attend without any barriers…all were welcome.

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