Photo By Leo Jenkins | U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mark C. Lee, chaplain, chief, theater spiritual resilience and U.S....... read more read more
Subscribe
WIESBADEN, Germany -- COVID-19 has shuttered places where people congregate to prevent its further spread. For Army Chaplains in Europe, outreach to their congregations has gone on-line.
Chaplains and religious volunteers are using digital means to maintain continuity of religious service and support.
“Chaplains are exploring ways to create a stronger sense of ‘virtual community',’” Lt. Col. Jeff Dillard, garrison chaplain, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden said.
Ministry teams and volunteers are providing worship service videos over the Religious Support Office Facebook pages; sending weekly emails on religion and spiritual resilience, and conducting small group video chats to keep community members connected.
“Our volunteers are the very heart of the chaplains' ministry,” Dillard said. “These sometimes daily face-to-face engagements in small groups are building a greater sense of spiritual community in this time of required isolation.”
This does not mean that in-person chaplain counseling is not still available.
“All chaplains can provide counseling over the phone or in person, as long as both observe social distancing,” Dillard said.
Despite the limitations that have come from the spread of COVID-19, chaplains have been working to keep the routine of worship and support.
“Our desire is to provide a rhythm of regular pastoral care to help people connect to God and each other,” Dillard said.
For more information on religious services visit: https://www.facebook.com/RSOWiesbaden/.
For more information on COVID-19 visit: https://www.coronavirus.gov?source=GovDelivery and https://www.usa.gov/coronavirus?source=GovDelivery.
| Date Taken: | 03.27.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 04.01.2020 06:30 |
| Story ID: | 366064 |
| Location: | WIESBADEN, HESSEN, DE |
| Web Views: | 73 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Chaplain Services During COVID-19 Outbreak, by SSG Kaden Pitt, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
