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"Church members and pastors may feel at a loss about how to best welcome veterans from war zones as well as minister to those still serving.

"What should a person say . . . or not say? What services can they provide? What kinds of things would be most helpful?

"Evangelical Covenant Church chaplains point to the example of Jesus’ ministry to soldiers as a model for churches. He was interested only in offering them grace and meeting their needs as well as the needs of their families."

Outline of a service addressing concerns in a time of war, © 2003 by The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship.

by Joel Brende and Elmer McDonald

"Mental health professionals have given morality a place of little importance as a factor in the production of psychological symptoms. But unresolved moral and spiritual problems cannot be overlooked when an estimated 800,000 Vietnam veterans continue to suffer from guilt-ridden memories and festering emotional wounds that have never healed.(5) Unresolved moral and spiritual problems must be taken into account when these veterans suffer from an unprecedented degree of destructive and self-destructive behaviors. Approximately 400,000 veterans were arrested or convicted of crimes by 1978,(6) and between 12,000 and 14,000 are estimated to be victims of suicide and self-destructive behavior yearly."

Extensive "preview" of the book on Google (you can read most of the book online).

About the book: "In this ambitious follow-up toAchilles in Vietnam,Dr. Jonathan Shay uses theOdyssey,the story of a soldier's homecoming, to illuminate the pitfalls that trap many veterans on the road back to civilian life. Seamlessly combining important psycho- logical work and brilliant literary interpretation with an impassioned plea to renovate American military institutions, Shay deepens our understanding of both the combat veteran's experience and one of the world's greatest classics."

The Clergy Recovery Network exists to support, encourage and provide resources to religious professionals in recovery. If you are a pastor, missionary, religious professional--or a spouse of one--and you need help . . .welcome home. We have been waiting for you.

Annotated bibliography of articles and resources on the Kentucky Council of Churches website.

Quick list of simple things that churches can do to reach out to returning veterans. Adapted by VA chaplain David Lundell from speakingoffaith.org–The Soul of War.

A quote: "If you see people in uniform, take the time to let them know that you are thankful for their contribution to the country. They will probably respond with surprise because most have never been thanked for their service to America. We need to say it often.

"It is completely appropriate to ask if a family has a deployed member, but do not ask for any specifics, especially of the children. While we are curious about current events, it is never a good thing ask them where and when they will be deployed if they are waiting for orders. The military members and their families have been explicitly instructed not to share details of their deployments in order to protect crucial information that could fall into the wrong hands or cause speculation and rumors. "

"A practical introduction for pastors and other religious professionals. Most of the material on this site began with lectures presented in a class entitled "Pastoral Care and Abuse" at Fuller Theological Seminary. So. . . expect it to feel like the kind of thing pastors-in-training might need. You will notice in particular that much of the recommended reading is books or articles from theological journals that would be difficult for the average reader without a theological education. "

Classes, lectures, and chapel presentations related to recovery.

"With Iraq veteran and chaplain Major John Morris, we explore how war challenges the human spirit and the core tenets of a life of faith. The War on Terror, he says, presents its own spiritual challenges. He is working to support the reintegration of National Guard and Reserve personnel, who are being mobilized for active duty at record levels in Afghanistan and Iraq."