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Spiritual Care after Trauma: Reflections on Red Cross Disaster Chaplaincy Training

7/20/2015

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I tend to remember anniversary dates, so as I write this post I am remembering a month ago today, when the mass shootings happened at Charleston’s Emanuel AME church, and a year ago today, when a plane was shot out of the sky in Ukrainian airspace, taking the lives of nearly 300 airline passengers and crew. Last year at this time I also remember watching news of the devastating impact of yet another war in Gaza. The ripple effects of these events, and many others, continue to exert a steady burden on so many people who long for relief from violence, war, racial injustice, and so many other life-threatening realities. Alongside the occurrences of unpredictable natural disasters, too, these events add to what feels like an ongoing timeline of tragedy punctuating our lives. Whether we experience tragedy and trauma firsthand, or are simply exposed to it through media, there is a pressing need for resources that will help us respond with compassion, resilience, and healing.

I learned about further resources when I recently attended a Red Cross Disaster Spiritual Care orientation with some other chaplains in the Association of Professional Chaplains. The Red Cross is currently expanding its Disaster Spiritual Care program, so there will soon be more opportunities for chaplains and local clergy to receive training in order to provide care at the community and regional level when natural or human-caused disasters occur. Spiritual care will be an integral component to disaster response, working in cooperation with physical and mental health care. This is a promising step, one that affirms the importance of responding to the needs of the whole person when trauma and disaster strike. Immediate physical needs for food and shelter are often accompanied by spiritual distress, especially when there is loss of life, livelihood, housing, or loss of a sense of personal and community safety.

As with any organization, the Red Cross has its own reporting structures, policies, and, of course, plentiful acronyms. I marveled as the trainers described the logistical feats of coordination that get put into action when the Red Cross works with a myriad of other organizations to meet the short and long-term needs of an affected population. I also learned more about the National Voluntary Organizations Assisting in Disaster, which contains many faith-based and denominational groups. ICTG has partnered with NVOAD representatives in the past, and you can see films from their presentations here.  I also recommend to you a resource that can be downloaded at the VOAD website, called “Light Our Way: A Guide for Spiritual Care in Times of Disaster.”

When I think about the related work of ICTG, I am reminded of the additional ways in which congregations themselves can be equipped to be places of supportive response and healing. After the initial trauma or disaster response wanes, congregations can provide a grounded, consistent presence in the long and often slow-going recovery process.

There was a phrase that stood out to me in the correspondence leading up to the Red Cross training. The trainers explained in an email that the Red Cross Disaster Spiritual Care programs “help create a safe place for survivors to feel the depth of their pain without embarrassment or alienation.” Without embarrassment or alienation. What a beautiful glimpse of what sanctuary can mean in times when it is needed most. What would it look like to continually cultivate congregations that offer a space where pain can be expressed and addressed effectively?

Part of that work, it seems to me, lies in honoring the sacred trust that we as spiritual caregivers and communities are expected to uphold. Particularly when disaster victims are in shock or disoriented, our responsibility to reflect a deeper source of love and compassion can be both a daunting burden and a holy privilege. When we can withstand the temptation to search too quickly for pat theological answers, and when we can instead truly be present to the pain and the questions as they arise from those in our care, we demonstrate our willingness to enter into vulnerable and confusing situations without having to direct them toward our own ends. This is what it means to be responsive and to pace ourselves according to the needs of others rather than the solutions we hope will one day materialize. The pain of trauma runs deep, and the process of healing and growth may come with many setbacks along the way, but to those of us—both individuals and communities—who have been entrusted with the call of spiritual caregiving, the process can become a deeply meaningful, challenging, and sacred journey.

* Discover more spiritual formation training resources on the ICTG Training menu, including the Spiritual Formation Resource Guide and Spiritual Formation Assessment.

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Rev. Bratt, an ordained minister in the Reformed Church of America and an ICTG Advisor, is a Board Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains and currently pursuing her doctorate in Religion, Psychology, and Culture at Vanderbilt University, where she is a fellow in the Program in Theology and Practice. 

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News Coverage of Oct 2 2014 Forum for Disaster Preparedness

10/3/2014

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Faith leaders, emergency managers, NGO leaders, education administrators, and civic 
leaders gathered on October 2 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of 
Santa Barbara to network, learn from field experts, and actively plan for coordinated 
responses and whole-community care during emergencies and disasters. 

Focusing on “Strengthening Partnerships,” the second Forum for Disaster 
Preparedness co-hosted by Santa Barbara County Voluntary Organizations Active in 
Disaster (VOAD) and the Institute for Congregational Trauma and Growth (ICTG) is a 
practical gathering for networking and constructive learning. Guest speakers David 
Myers, a representative from Homeland Security, and Brie Loskota, USC Managing 
Director of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture, shared models of 
partnering for disaster preparedness from around the country. Congresswoman Lois Capps presented opening remarks of encouragement and the importance of gathering multiple sectors of the community together for disaster preparedness.  

You can view more photos of the Forum on the Events page. 



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Oct 2 Forum for Disaster Preparedness

9/10/2014

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For immediate release: September 11, 2014
Contact: Tony Mitchell (805) 964-8857 ext. 130 amitchell@cacsb.com

2014 Forum for Disaster Preparedness: Strengthening Faith-Based 
and Community Partnerships

Faith leaders, emergency managers, NGO leaders, education administrators, and civic 
leaders will gather on October 2 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of 
Santa Barbara to network, learn from field experts, and actively plan for coordinated 
responses and whole-community care during emergencies and disasters. 

Focusing on “Strengthening Partnerships,” the second annual Forum for Disaster 
Preparedness co-hosted by Santa Barbara County Voluntary Organizations Active in 
Disaster (VOAD) and the Institute for Congregational Trauma and Growth (ICTG) is a 
practical gathering for networking and constructive learning. Guest speakers David 
Myers, a representative from Homeland Security, and Brie Loskota, USC Managing 
Director of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture, will share successful models of 
partnering for disaster preparedness from around the country. 

“We value our collaboration with the Santa Barbara County Voluntary Organizations 
Active in Disaster, and are excited to make this forum an annual event to continue critical 
conversations in our community to strengthen our disaster resilience,” said Katherine 
Wiebe, Executive Director of ICTG. “This is especially important in light of recent 
traumatic events that have impacted our residents, as well as natural threats that we will 
continue to confront with extreme drought, wildfires, and earthquakes.” 

The forum is free and will include refreshments, including a continental breakfast, lunch 
and snacks. Free parking is included onsite.

If you would like to participate, attendees are asked to register by September 15.

About Santa Barbara County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (SBC VOAD): 
SBC VOAD is dedicated to improving outcomes for county residents affected by disasters 
by fostering cooperation, communication, coordination and collaboration among non-profit 
organizations, community-based organizations, government agencies, and for-profit 
companies that are active in disasters. More information available at: www.voadsbc.org.

About Institute for Congregational Trauma and Growth (ICTG): ICTG is a 501(c)(3) 
nonprofit that provides research, education, and networking tools for ministers, staffs, and 
trained volunteers leading congregations and organizations after trauma. As a network 
of expertise, ICTG works to form strong interfaces between academies, congregations, 
and community groups to create and sustain access to learning and tools that generate 
effective ministry for thriving. More information available at: www.ictg.org.

To register, complete the form below and email or fax it to Tony Mitchell, VOAD Chair. 

2014_faith_based_and_community_partnerships_forum_reg_form.docx
File Size: 54 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

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Register for Oct 2 Santa Barbara-based Forum for Disaster Preparedness

8/25/2014

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It is time to REGISTER for the October 2 Forum for Disaster Preparedness, cohosted by ICTG and SBC VOAD, and focused on "Strengthening Partnerships."  

Following last year's successful forum that introduced long-term recovery and emotional/spiritual care after trauma, this year's event will provide practical information for your faith-based or community-based organization in taking next steps for coordinated response after natural destruction or mass-violence.  

We are honored to hear from expert speakers, Rev. David Myers, Director of the Department of Homeland Security's Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and Brie Loskota, from USC's Center for Religion and Civic Culture.  They will share about current joint projects around the country and in SoCal among faith-based and community-based partners.  

Beyond the speakers, we will host table-top discussions for networking, active learning and creating ways for Santa Barbara County to model preparedness and whole-community care after disaster. 

This event is FREE to participants and will provide light breakfast, lunch, and refreshments throughout the day.  Register as soon as possible to ensure supplies available.  Do invite colleagues, and encourage them to register soon as well. 
2014_faith_based_and_community_partnerships_forum_reg_form.docx
File Size: 54 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

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Three steps for sustaining congregations after trauma

8/20/2013

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In his ICTG short, "Sustaining Congregational Leadership after Trauma," based on his book When Steeples Cry, Dr. Jaco Hamman discusses three steps that congregational leaders can take to encourage healing and growth in among their congregants.  Dr. Hamman is a member of ICTG's Board of Advisors and is the Associate Professor for Religion, Psychology and Culture at Vanderbilt Divinity School. 

1. Talk about the trauma that occurred
Bring congregants together, beginning with small groups, to discuss the events and how individuals have been affected.  Allow for differing perspectives and experiences.  As the conversations unfold, and as small groups become larger groups over time, empower congregants to explore how they can hold varying experiences for one another. 

2. Bring the conversations into your common worship
Hamman notes how the prophet Joel exhorts us to call a sacred assembly. Through vigils, worship services, prayer services, and services of lament, congregations can come together after the trauma.  Mourning can be practiced through the elements of worship, including preaching, music and corporate prayer, as well as rituals that fit the experiences of the congregation and allow for embodied expressions.   

3. Engage in acts of compassion
Through compassion, listening, being moved, and being hospitable, the congregation will discover together healing steps forward.  Hamman also teaches that "compassion helps us find our new identity" after trauma.  

Trauma events inevitably bring about changes in a group or congregation's identity.  Following these steps, congregations can begin the process of moving forward after tragedy in ways that honor one another, practice integrity, and provide safety for growth.  You can learn more by viewing Hamman's short "Sustaining Congregational Leadership after Trauma," as well as other congregational responses to trauma on the ICTG "Response in Congregations" page.
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