Church leaders have faith in disaster preparation
Planning for a potentially catastrophic influenza pandemic doesn’t seem like it would be part of a pastor’s job description.
However, that’s exactly what a group of Calgary church leaders were doing Friday at Emmanuel Community Church, as they worked on what has been dubbed the Faith Emergency Preparedness Initiative.
With the help of an emergency response management consultant, the church representatives worked their way through a fictitious scenario involving a virulent outbreak of avian influenza.
The scenario may have been imaginary, but the role churches play in times of community crisis is not. Whether it’s a fire, flood or a death in the family, churches are often among the first on the scene offering help and support to victims.
“The church’s mandate is to be available to the community to help in any way — not just the spiritual dynamic, but in practical care, as well,” said Lori Glass, pastor of Bonavista Evangelical Missionary Church. “The challenge is to have a process and policy in place. We can’t just show up with a plate of sandwiches.”
So far, 45 churches have signed on to the Faith Emergency Preparedness Initiative. The project is the brainchild of Bridges of Love Ministry, a non-profit organization that aims to connect churches with the communities they serve.
Founding director Marg Pollon said Bridges of Love wants to ensure that when churches respond to a crisis, they are supporting — not hindering — the activities of first responders.
“What I’ve heard from emergency workers is that the churches, in their efforts to do good, will often get in the way,” Pollon said.
“Overresponse is often an issue. Up in Slave Lake, for example, they had so many donations that stuff just went in the garbage. . . . So we need to be trained and we need to learn how to respond properly.”
When disaster strikes, the physical church building can also be a refuge for people in crisis. Ten Calgary churches have already gone through assessments with Disaster Social Services, qualifying them to function as reception centres in the event of an emergency.
Emmanuel Community Church, for example, was put on standby as a result of the blaze at the Ogden metal recycling plant — just in case.
“The great thing about using churches as a reception centre is if they need help, they can call on the people of the church,” Pollon said. “You can use community centres, but where are the people going to come from to help?”
Pollon said developing a proper disaster preparedness plan is one way churches can ensure they’re serving the entire community, not just the congregation members who come to church every Sunday.