What should a person say . . . or not say? What services can they provide? What kinds of things would be most helpful?
Evangelical Covenant Church chaplains point to the example of Jesus’ ministry to soldiers as a model for churches. He was interested only in offering them grace and meeting their needs as well as the needs of their families.
The question of how best to respond in such circumstances will be the topic of a one-day workshop – Trauma Ministry to Returning Veterans — during the 2007 Midwinter Pastors Conference in Denver. To learn more about that event, visit Midwinter Conference.
• Listen, listen, and then listen some more. Don’t push questions.
• Regardless of individual church members’ views on the war, support the troops through public acknowledgement of their service.
• Reach out to military families, which must be separated for long periods of time. Be present through service and simply listening. Call the family, offer to take care of children so the parent can have a night out, and help with other responsibilities. Ministers to youth and children should recognize that children often struggle with the separation from the parent as well as the fear of what might happen in the war zone. Church members can spend time with the children in fun activities and listening to their concerns.
• Send care packages and letters to service members.
• Welcome returning service members publicly during a service and through the church bulletin or newsletter.
• Understand that the family probably will undergo stress. Provide occasional meals, pay for them to attend a marriage retreat, or help pay for counseling.
• Provide a safe place where troops can share their experience without being judged.
Additional information also is available from these recommended websites:
• Guides to help troops, families: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD
• Dealing with trauma: Patience Press has articles that deal with different forms of trauma
• One chaplain’s advice: Visit National Guard Chaplain John Morris (not a Covenant minister) for a podcast and transcript of an interview about a program he has developed to help returning veterans
Recommended books include Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming, as well as Down Range: To Iraq and Back.
