SYNOD OF ALASKA NORTHWEST
ANNUAL MEETING 7/12-7/15 2009
VETERAN’S INITIATIVE TASK FORCE REPORT
The subject of Veterans affairs is a huge area where there is much activity and still greater need. We were tasked to try to find some area in which the church could play a beneficial role.
We were fortunate to have Chaplain Meisner from Fairchild Air Force base come speak to us on Tuesday. He gave us much food for thought. As did Chaplain Loney from North Puget Sound Presbytery, an ex-officio member of the task forces.
We identified 4 avenues of approach to this problem and I would like to have each of you ask for docket time at your next Presbytery meeting to mention them.
#1 is awareness. We need to raise the awareness of our congregations to the needs of our armed forces personnel both veterans and those now serving. As a congregation, we need to understand that their service has changed their lives. Some will need to ‘tell their story’ and some won’t. Post Traumatic Stress can develop years after a vet. comes home. We need to remind them all of their value as a human being. We need to welcome them back into our congregations. For those being deployed, we need to see what we can do for their families left behind.
#2 is to develop a relationship with the chaplains of near-by bases, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion or any other veterans group near us to see what we could do.
#3 will be to encourage seeking out opportunities and acting upon them.
#4 will be to report to the Synod what each congregation is doing., how it is working and see if anyone wants to partner with you, This can be done on the Synod WEB site on Veterans Affairs.
Each individual church will have different circumstances or areas in which they can work. Our church in Port Townsend partnered with other churches in the neighborhood and with the American Legion to run a shelter for the homeless during the winter months. Our share consists of donating at least one week to provide food to the homeless and have a couple of members in the shelter over night.
Another member of our team told of holding a baby shower for an expectant mother whose family is being transferred. Their church makes a special effort to extend hospitality to service people attending their church and, of course, these people talk to others at the base about this and more people want to come.
We would like to see all churches use our WEB site exchanging ideas and, maybe, partnering with each other to do something. We, as a team, feel we are just getting started and all want to continue. Most of our work now will be done by email or a conference call if necessary. We welcome input from all of you. Our individual names and email addresses will be listed on the WEB site.