Welcome Home project helps returning military personnel in the church.

Congregations are invited to take part in the Welcome Home Project: A Living Peace Church Response for Returning Military Personnel and Others. The project is a joint effort between the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) and On Earth Peace.

The project's mission is to help congregations become places of healing and reconciliation for military personnel and others as they deal with the physical, mental, psychological, and spiritual wounds from war zones, and to strengthen the circles of care surrounding them. The project's mission statement provides a context for the work: "Congregations around the country are experiencing the return of soldiers who have been in active military conflict. While some return with physical injuries, there are others who are affected emotionally or spiritually. Many individuals and congregations desire to address with wisdom and compassion the needs of returning military personnel and the communities to which they return."

Committee members for the Welcome Home Project see the group's purpose as ideal for a living peace church that seeks to accompany those who have experienced the violence and trauma of war. Organizers state, "We believe that the peace church's message of love, justice, service, and humility includes responding to soldiers, who may be hurting, afraid, silent, and marginalized."

Although US casualties from the war in Iraq are less than the number of casualties from previous wars, the war in Iraq has produced significant numbers of injured and disabled military personnel, said a release about the project from ABC. According to CNN.com's news statistics report, an estimated 12,000 soldiers have been wounded, the release said. In February, the "Christian Science Monitor" reported concern from veterans organizations about the number of returning soldiers showing up in the nation's homeless shelters due to the loss of jobs or difficulties in reintegrating into civilian life. "Although the military branches are providing more services to deal with post-traumatic stress and reintegration for returning military personnel and their families, churches can assist these individuals and families by providing a community of support and care," ABC said. "This role becomes more important for rural congregations as services for returning military personnel may be more limited in rural areas."

At Annual Conference, the Welcome Home Project held an insight session "Helping Soldiers Heal from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" with panelists Doris Abdullah of On Earth Peace; Joel Bonnette, a counselor and veteran; and Peter Leddy, a veteran and retired district minister. More than 75 people attended.

Another workshop will be held at ABC's Caring Ministries Assembly in Bridgewater, Va., on Friday, Aug. 12. "Faith's Imprint During Times of Stress and Violence" will explore how people living in conflict zones experience common situations, whether they are there in the role of Christian peacemaker or armed military. A panel of speakers will describe their experiences and reflect on how their faith impacted the experiences.

The Welcome Home Project organizers hope to create a network of congregations working toward creating safe places for returning military personnel and others. Networking may take the form of conference calls on related topics, regular e-mails, and consultations with committee members.

To join the network, e-mail Mary Dulabaum, ABC staff member, at mdulabaum_abc@brethren.org, or Matt Guynn, On Earth Peace staff member, at mattguynn@earthlink.net. Resources for congregations wanting to participate in the project are available at www.brethren.org/oepa/WelcomeHomeProject.html. Links to other sites offering resources also are available.

Source: 7/20/2005 Newsline
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