Transcript Spiritual Wounds of War and the Church

SPIRITUAL WOUNDS OF WAR AND
THE ROLE OF CONGREGATIONS
CHAPLAIN (MG) DOUG CARVER
UNITED STATES ARMY, RETIRED
PURPOSE

To review the demographics and unique culture of our
military communities

To describe the scale and scope of problems faced by
our military veterans and their families

To identify the spiritual wounds of war

To discuss the resources congregations have available
to provide ministry to our military communities
CAUSES FOR CONCERN:
REALITY AFTER TWELVE YEARS OF
WAR
•
Multiple Deployments stress and family attachment issues (40% have
deployed 2x or more)
•
38% suffer either PTSD, mTBI, or significant mental stress (2008 Rand Study)
•
Suicide epidemic (“A veteran commits suicide every 65 minutes.”)
•
Alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic abuse, violent crimes are on the rise.
•
High rate of infidelity among soldiers and spouses during deployments.
•
Sexual Assault or trauma rates have increased (23%).
•
Unemployment rates among post-9/11 veterans is 15.2% (9% non-vets).
•
Approximately 100K OIF/OEF veterans are homeless, especially women.
CAUSES FOR CONCERN:
REALITY AFTER TWELVE YEARS OF WAR
(CONT’D)
•
Military children with mental health issues has increased by 20% since 2003.
•
DoD and VA medical facilities are stretched…often inadequate…and backlogged.
•
Reservists and National Guard have deployed more than in previous wars (all
3300 counties and parishes have sent troops to SWA). Their families are often
distant from DoD and VA support facilities
•
PTSD and depression among our service members will cost the Nation up to $6.2
billion in the two years after deployment.
•
ALL VETERANS STRUGGLE, TO SOME EXTENT, WITH THEIR WAR WOUNDS
•
CHAPLAINS, WHILE CARING FOR THE WOUNDED, NEED PASTORAL CARE
•
DO YOU KNOW THE VETERANS IN YOUR CHURCH/COMMUNITY? ARE YOU
MILITARY FRIENDLY?
WHY ARE THE POST- 9/11 WARS
DIFFERENT?
 All
Volunteer military vs. draft
 Multiple deployments
 Frequency and type of suicide bombings
 Never any sense of safety (no front lines), no real
recovery time  hypervigilance
 Use of civilians as shields, decoys
 Deliberate targeting by terrorists of our moral code
 Instant Communication (email, Skype, cell phone, etc.)
 IEDs, RPG (TBI, hearing loss, neuro-chemical effects)
 Advancements in medical treatment (“Golden Hour”)
 Nation-building activities, RLL with locals
THE MILITARY CULTURE

Structured

Service before self

Standardized

Multi-faith, multi-cultural

Authoritarian

Mobile

Esprit de Corps

Family is often secondary

Focused on the mission

Technical

Disciplined
MILITARY CULTURE…DEMOGRAPHICS

Mean age:

Racial minorities: 32.9% enlisted, 18.3% officer

Females: 14.8%

Married: 50.9% enlisted, 71.4% officer

Faith groups: 89% are Christians; growing number
or NRP or “NONES”
27 years (80% are under age 35)
Office of Army Demographics
FY12 ARMY RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS
Faith Group
Active
%
ARNG
%
USAR
%
Atheist
2,930
0.5
1,548
0.4
748
0.4
Buddhist
2,236
0.4
889
0.3
871
0.4
286,186
102,904
611
52.4
18.9
0.1
168,169
59,696
405
47.0
16.7
0.1
94,371
36,653
329
46.9
18.2
0.2
523
0.1
155
>0.1
170
0.1
Jewish
1,932
0.4
792
0.2
758
0.4
Muslim
1,880
0.4
547
0.2
658
0.3
Other Religions
4,024
0.7
1,453
0.4
805
0.4
No Preference/ Unknown
142,831
26.2
124,424
34.8
65,803
32.7
TOTAL
546,057
Protestant
Catholic
Orthodox
Hindu
358,078
201,166
Data Source: DMDC West
Dr. Betty D. Maxfield, Chief, Office of Army Demographics
MILITARY FAMILY AT-RISK FACTORS
 Frequent Relocation
 Previous Deployments
3.3 years average
87%
 Longer Separations
7.3 month average
 Larger Families
42% ≥ 3 children
 Younger Mothers
26.5 median age
 Blended Families
31% step-parents
 Education
21% w/o HS diploma
 Median Income
< $30,000 (34%)
The Military Deployment Cycle … or
The Military Family Life Cycle
Pre-deployment
Conflict & Previous
Stressor pile-up
Family readjusts Consequences
for behavior
Revitalize
Relationships and
“honeymoon”
Pre-deployment
Stress – anxiety
and concern
Reunion and
homecoming –
joy and
anticipation
Soldier
Deployment
Separation
Stress –
Depression &
Anxiety
Family Adjustment w/o
Soldier in Home – Out-ofOrdinary Behaviors
Pre-reunion Stress
– anxiety and worry
about behavior
away
10
THE WOUNDS OF WAR
•
•
•
•
•
Fear of Death
Seared Memory
Killing
Multiple losses
Survivor Guilt
•
•
•
•
•
“Survival” mindset
Unreality
Cautious of people
Strong bonds/
”band of brothers
Soul searching
THE MOST PAINFUL WOUND OF WAR?
FINDING A WAY BACK HOME…TO
“NORMAL”
•
•
“Home– the place many think is the safe haven
to find relief from the stress of war—may
initially be a letdown. When a loved one asks,
‘What was it like?’ and you look into eyes that
have not seen what yours have, you suddenly
realize that home is farther away than you ever
imagined.”
-- Down Range: From Iraq and Back, by Cantrell and Dean, 2005
SPIRITUAL WOUNDS OF WAR
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fear
Crisis of faith
Loss of meaning and
purpose
Self-condemnation
Abandonment by God
Hopelessness
Guilt, shame, despair
Unforgiveness
•
•
•
•
•
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Loss of intimacy
Depression
Isolation
Loss of trust
Confusion over good
and evil
“Moral injury”
SPIRITUAL WOUNDS OF WAR…
REQUIRE A SPIRITUAL CURE
“Medical-psychological therapies are not, and
should not be, the only therapies available for
moral pain. Religious and cultural therapies are
not only possible, but may well be superior to
what mental health professionals continually
offer. Trauma (like moral pain or wounds of
war)…is fundamentally a religious issue.”
--Jonathan Shay, Odysseus in America
SPIRITUAL WOUNDS OF WAR
EFFECTIVE CURES
 Scripture on war, self-defense (Psalm 23, 31, 144)
Expressive art (poetry, paintings, journaling)
Music therapy
Addressing theological issues (e.g., good vs. evil)
Restoration of trust in God, self, people
Praise and worship, prayer, meditation
Congregational honesty about our own brokenness
Build spaces of love, grace, compassion to listen to
veterans’ sacred stories
Confession
SPIRITUAL WOUNDS OF WAR
THE RITE OF PURIFICATION
Primitive cultures often required warriors to perform
purification rights before letting them rejoin the
community
 “…stay away from the church one or two weeks, and abstain
from meat and drink during this period.” (Bernard Verkamp, The Moral
Treatment of Returning Warriors in Early Medieval and Modern Times
 Numbers 31:19,23-24 (ESV) “Encamp outside the camp seven
days. Whoever of you has killed any person and whoever has
touched any slain, purify yourselves and your captives on the
third day and on the seventh day. Everything that can stand the
fire, you shall pass through the fire, and it shall be clean.
Nevertheless, it shall also be purified with the water for impurity.
And whatever cannot stand the fire, you shall pass through the
water. You must wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you
shall be clean. And afterward you may come into the camp.”
SPIRITUAL WOUNDS OF WAR
THE RITE OF PURIFICATION (CONT’D)
In Mozambique, healers are used to (1) purge the
returning warrior of the contamination of war and
death; (2) purify him of sin, guilt, and grief; and (3)
protect him from the spirits of those he killed in battle. ----Friedman and Stone, After the War Zone
A key lesson learned from Viet Nam:
We sharpened the swords of war …sent our troops into
battle…brought them home and, due to the anti-war
effort, re-sheathed the swords without cleaning them.
--Shay, Odysseus in America
Result?
THE CHURCH’S ROLE AND VETERANS
 “…With research consistently showing that clergy – not
psychologists or other mental health experts – are the most
common source of help sought in times of psychological
distress…” (Based on a Baylor University study, Mental
Health, Religion, and Culture, Oct 2008)
 Congregations already know their local community, including
military families
 Churches know about and often address needs through
ministerial alliances
 Churches have personal relationships with chaplains, service
members, and their extended families
A “MILITARY FRIENDLY”
CONGREGATION

Maintains an awareness of the needs and sacrifices of those
serving, or who have served, our country

Creates an environment of acceptance for our military members
and their families through phone calls, letters, support groups, etc.

Provides pastoral care to deployed troops, chaplains, veterans,
and their families

Ensures veterans are provided “Welcome Home” ceremonies,
“redirection”, and reintegration ministry

Establishes an intentional military ministry strategy
A MILITARY MINISTRY STRATEGY
EMBRACE OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
 Provide a reintegration strategy for troops returning from
deployment or “redirecting” from a military career
 Offer pastoral care for veterans suffering PTSD, mTBI,
combat fatigue, or “moral injury”
 Provide tangible tokens of appreciation and special
events to honor your veterans and military families
 Give veterans the opportunity to share their sacred stories
 Adopt an active duty service member, veteran, and their
family members
A MILITARY MINISTRY STRATEGY
EDUCATE OUR CHURCHES ON THE MILITARY
• Provide resources to your congregation on the role of the
military chaplain
• Educate congregations on ministry to the military
• Invite veterans as guest speakers to church events
• Challenge your congregation to “adopt a veteran”
• Include veterans on congregational leadership councils
• Network with military chaplains and other faith-based
organizations who provide ministry to the military
A MILITARY MINISTRY STRATEGY
ENGAGE PASTORS AND DENOMINATIONAL
LEADERS
• Establish a relationship with military community leaders,
chaplains, VA, organizations, etc. in your area
• Plan an annual military ministry training event
• Learn the history of the military base and units near the
vicinity of your congregation
• Ensure ministerial alliances include veterans, chaplains,
and faith-based organizations who support the military
• Establish an intentional military ministry or military
church plant in your congregation or community
A MILITARY MINISTRY STRATEGY
ENLIST VETERANS IN YOUR STRATEGY
• Identify veterans within your congregation
• Assign veterans to lead the congregation’s military ministry
• Train and equip veterans as small group leaders, mentors,
counselors, etc. to support your congregation’s veterans
• Network with military chaplains, VA Medical Centers, and
military auxiliaries (e.g, VFW) in your community
• Include chaplains on your congregation’s newsletters
• Ensure veterans and the local military community are
aware of your congregation’s ministry resources in support
of our troops, veterans, and their families