The wounds we can see are bad enough, but for many the internal wounds to self-worth, the moral dissonance, and a sense of isolation can be unbearable. For soldiers and veterans, the rate of suicide is climbing at an alarming pace and one Disciple chaplain wants to do something about that.
“It’s like the building is on fire and no one is saying anything,” Chaplain (Major) Craig Johnson said. “I believe our Church and our faith have something to say here.”
Johnson, the Instructor of Homiletics in the Army’s Chaplain School who has seen combat himself, acknowledges that suicide is a tricky subject to raise. Not only is there fear of upsetting those who have lost family members to suicide, but there are also a lot of myths surrounding the subject. Johnson is calling for Disciples pastors to find ways to address some of the main issues from the pulpit, targeting Sunday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day. And he’d like to collect the resulting sermons.
According to a summer story in TIME magazine (July 23, 2012; pages 24 – 31), an active duty soldier commits suicide every day. However, not all of them have seen combat. Many have sought help. But the fact remains that more U.S. military personnel have died by suicide since the war in Afghanistan began than died in the fighting in that war.
In addition to Johnson’s call to preach on the Church’s role in ending the isolation and proclaiming God’s love, the General Assembly in 2011 received a proposal for reflection and research, “Moral Injury and Spiritual Care in a Time of War (#1119).” Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University has taken on the study and research task with the Nov. 12 opening of the Soul Repair Center to find ways to help combat veterans in particular. The programs the center plans to implement range from a think tank to congregational programs and training. Selected resources from the project
But that doesn’t help the person in the pew this week who is hiding pain and needing the reminder of God’s love whether they are active duty, a veteran or simply someone who is feeling very alone. Johnson offers resources along with suggested books from the Soul Repair Center.
Pastors are asked to please send their resulting sermons to: [email protected]
