CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and other faith organizations will participate in "Responding to Tragedy: A Live Video Forum for Pastoral Care Workers" on the Internet at www.faithandvalues.com Sept. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m., Eastern Time.
The forum, conducted in real-time through FaithandValues.com, Lexington, Ky., is designed to provide "practical help" for care-givers dealing with the aftermath of Tuesday's terrorist attacks in the eastern United States.
The forum will include a panel of counselors, spiritual directors and disaster response professionals, who will provide ideas for care- givers in the areas of long-term pastoral support, youth concerns and worship. Care-givers and congregational leaders will learn ways to help congregations and communities deal with the emotional and spiritual dimensions of the Sept. 11 tragedy.
The forum will be available as streaming video and audio through FaithandValues.com, an interfaith Web site supported by mainline faith groups in the United States. It will include live feeds from Baltimore, Md.; Lexington, Ky.; Phoenix; and St. Paul, Minn.
The forum is believed to be the first use of video-streaming technology to coordinate pastoral response in a crisis, according to John Lynner Peterson, executive vice president for business development, FaithandValues.com, Lexington, Ky.
"Participants will be invited to join an online discussion during and immediately following the live Web cast to exchange liturgy and worship materials. The forum and the moderated discussion are free for all pastors and pastoral professionals," Peterson said. - - - Information about "Responding to Tragedy: A Live Video Forum for Pastoral Care Workers" is maintained at www.faithandvalues.com on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
