VIRGINIA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES 62nd Annual Meeting • November 15–16, 2006 November 15 • Greater Ebenezer AME Church: Coordinating Cabinet, Dinner and Worship November 16 • Emergency Operations Center: Annual Meeting, Installation of Officers, Luncheon and Symposium • Photo ID required The Changing Role of the Church in Disasters There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4–6 or sixty-two years the Virginia Council of Churches has sought in humility and gentleness to make every effort to maintain the Funity of Christ in the bonds of peace within the Commonwealth. We are presently 36 member bodies from 18 Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox denominations. While joined in prayer for one another and engaging in conversation with one another in matters of faith and order, we have also served together for decades in areas like rural family development which provides migrant head start classes for Hispanic workers on the Eastern shore, the resettlement of refugees throughout Virginia and Maryland, the teaching of Bible to public school students on release time, and the coordination of disaster relief efforts in times of natural or man-made disasters. In these coming years we are challenged to grow in dialogue and membership with other Christian denominations; we are challenged in increasing the number of heads of judicatories attending our assembly; we are challenged to not only speak in love and concern for a common faith in Jesus Christ, but also to speak and act in love and concern for every child and weak one within our commonwealth. So that our Mission Statement will ring true that we ‘manifest ever more fully the unity of the Church. Relying upon the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we gather in common mission, serving in all creation to the glory of God and our neighbor’s good.’ James F. Mauney 1 Virginia Council of Churches Mission Statement The Virginia Council of Churches is a community of Christian communions, which, in response to the Gospel, as revealed in the Scriptures, confess Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, as Savior and Lord. Therefore, we covenant with one another to manifest ever more fully the unity of the Church. Relying upon the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we gather in common mission, serving in all creation to the glory of God and our neighbor’s good. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:22-23 2 Virginia Council of Churches cordially invites you to attend the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Virginia Council of Churches The Church and Disaster Response/Recovery/Prevention Coordinating Cabinet Meeting Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Greater Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church Richmond, Virginia Annual Assembly Thursday, November 16, 2006 Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) Richmond, Virginia Bishop James Mauney, President The Rev. Jonathan Barton, General Minister 3 Virginia Council of Churches Agenda Coordinating Cabinet Meeting Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Greater Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church 1:00 Check-in for Cabinet Meeting 1:30 Coordinating Cabinet Business Session Election of officers President: The Rev. Thomas L. Joyce, United Methodist Church, Virginia Conference Vice President: The Rev. James E. Parke, Roman Catholic, Diocese of Richmond Treasurer: The Rev. David K. Shumate, Church of the Brethren, Virlina District Secretary: Mrs. Betty Altic, Church of the Brethren, Virlina District 6:00 Dinner 7:30 Worship Annual Assembly Thursday, November 16, 2006 Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) A photo ID will be required to gain access to the complex. Upon check-in at the VEOC a “Photo ID Name Tag” will be issued and must be visible throughout the day. 9:30 Welcome and Introductions Devotions Greetings from Bishop Mauney General Minister’s Report Installation of Officers Noon Luncheon 1:30 Symposium 4:30 Adjourn The Church and Disaster Response/Recovery/Prevention “‘Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on earth’. So God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.’” Genesis 9:16-17 Reflect back on a recent disaster when In moments of quiet reflection we Disasters reveal our level of you were moved to help … perhaps may say with the Apostle Paul that preparation. In the wake of 9/11 it was in response to the devastation “nothing can separate us from the emergency planners began to rethink of 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, or a school love of God.” But events such as these and redesign response plans all across shooting. Most of us ache to help in not only defy this belief, they provide the country. Pastor Lyndon Harris of St. times of disaster, whether the calamity is us with the practical opportunity to Paul’s Chapel at Ground Zero also began near or far, large scale or personal. become instruments of the love of God to rethink the response of the faith The worst moments can bring out to our neighbors through our response. community. the best in people. Witness small communities that join together to raise funds for a family whose home has burnt. Weather or war-induced disasters at a global level require relief and volunteers on a grand scale. The smallest act of compassion and attention honors God and can make your corner of the world, or one far away from yours, a happier, healthier, safer place. Hurricanes, Airline crashes, Tornadoes, Mass shootings, Floods, and Terrorism Epidemic are events that happen somewhere in the world on a regular basis. Whether they are acts of nature that overwhelm our resources, outbreaks of disease, accidents, or deliberate acts of human evil that challenge our core beliefs, these events call forth our deepest spiritual resources. 5 Forgiveness is a powerful tool for personal transformation and healing and is the culmination of the grief process. As he ministered to the victims, their The recent school shootings in families, the responders and others Pennsylvania are an example as in the days immediately following members of the families of the murdered the attack he observed the need for girls embraced the family of their killer forgiveness. Not merely a forgiveness in an act of compassion, forgiveness of those who were responsible for the and shared grief. Forgiveness is a means attack, but those who felt guilty because through which we create the future— a they survived, or family members future free of repaying violence for who could not deal with their anger violence and pursuing any desire for over a loved one going back into the revenge. “Forgiveness is the peace towers to help others. As a result of you learn to feel when you let go of this experience, Lyndon has begun a unresolved grievances.” new ministry in designing “Gardens of Forgiveness means the ability cruelty is imposed upon us. There is no Forgiveness.” to release resentment and hostility easy answer. Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop after a period of mourning and When we provide space to sit in Desmond Tutu in his recent book grief. Forgiveness never condones peace and contemplate the horrors of declares: “There can be no future violence nor is it a substitute for the unmerited violence and the possibility without forgiveness.” Forgiveness search for justice, nor does it demand of offering forgiveness, we can forge is a powerful tool for personal reconciliation with those who have ahead into the future. Without this transformation and healing and is the injured us. We understand that each of space we become trapped in an endless culmination of the grief process. us struggles to know what to do when cycle of revenge and retribution and the 6 blame game. changes if we want to remain effective fundamental understanding of God. In Forgiveness is one of the steps toward in our response. most disasters there seem to be plenty healing that will lead to a peaceful Before you respond—know what you of room for blame, but in the final round future. Forgiveness is a means through are doing; where you are going; who we will always come back to God. which we create the future—a future you will be working with; and where you Where was God? Why did God allow this free of repaying violence for violence and will be staying. It is important that you terrible thing to happen? As we in the pursuing the desire for revenge. are affiliated with your denominational faith community plan and prepare for Hurricane Katrina pointed out that networks or other non-profits. Where disasters we must first stop and realize we still faced major gaps in our response possible it is always wise to work that every crisis is a matter of faith. to a “Catastrophic Event”. What was through a local VOAD (Voluntary The best possible way of preparing very clear was the Church was able to Organizations Active in Disaster). to endure a disaster and to rebuild respond even when government was Since the Christian faith insists that after a disaster is to form caring, loving paralyzed in their efforts. God is intimately concerned with each communities that watch out for each In the year following Katrina, Virginia individual life (Matt.