Chaplain offers advice for congregations
9/19/2001 News media contact: Tim Tanton · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn. NOTE: This is a sidebar to UMNS story #409.
A UMNS Report By Kathy Gilbert* The Rev. Bruce Cook, a United Methodist chaplain working with the Crime Victims Advocacy Council in Atlanta, has advice for people who are feeling stress, fear and anger over the recent terrorist attacks:
· Be aware that you have experienced a heinous crime and are secondarily victimized by it. It did not directly happen to you, but indirectly and vicariously you feel the horror of it.
· Be aware that it is common for you to feel shocked, numbed, confused, mesmerized by television coverage of the event, angry, depressed, unable to work (dysfunctional and unfocused at work), and later, to experience deep grief and pain.
· Be aware that you may experience "stress reactions" and be unable to sleep; want to sleep too much; be unable to eat; feel inclined to overeat to fill a nervous stomach; be hypervigilant; be hyperaroused and in an agitated state.
· Be aware that you may feel fearful of being attacked in your town and may feel unusually vulnerable now that personal safety has been breached by terrorists on a scale that was unimaginable until now.
· Be aware of the need to talk to friends, family, neighbors and clergy to try to make sense out of a senseless act of terror. You may be obsessed with finding out details to explain the event and the unexplainable.
· Be aware that this event may shake or strengthen your personal faith in God. The "why" and "how" question will be asked of God, and the answer will depend on your theology. Remember "the basics:" God wills for us love, good, shalom and obedience to God. Humanity disobeys God's will by choosing to be hateful and unloving and evil, which often causes pain and destruction.
· Be aware of your faith community and the sacred space and caring spiritual leaders it offers. These resources can help you pray and work toward your healing during this national crisis.
· Be aware of your need to take action to help and be reasonable in your response. Donating money, giving blood and volunteering to help can be good and bad. Check to see if your help is needed and wanted before providing it, or you may be more in the way than helpful.
The Crime Victims Advocacy Council in Atlanta has been counseling crime victims since 1989. It is an endorsed ministry of the North Georgia Annual (regional) Conference and is supported by local church and conference funds. More information is available at www.gbgm-umc.org/cvac online.
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*Gilbert is a member of the staff of the Office of Interpretation at the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry in Nashville, Tenn.
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