Baptist Pastoral Care Sponsors Terrorist, Natural Disaster Intervention Seminar

Contact: Robby Channell, 601-968-5135 rchannell@mbhs.org
Al Carden, 601-968-5146

Jackson, Miss. - August 31, 2004 - T he Pastoral Care Department of Baptist Medical Center is sponsoring a seminar entitled "Pastoral Crisis Intervention" from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., September 9 and 10 at the BC Rogers Student Center (2nd floor) on the campus of Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss.

The seminar is set up for pastors to be trained should something devastating occur whether by terror or by natural causes. The purpose of the two-day workshop is to assist the participants in learning how pastoral interventions may be effectively integrated and will combine faith-based resources with traditional techniques of crisis intervention. The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation located in Ellicott, Maryland provides the training. It is anticipated that approximately 150 chaplains (civilian and military) , pastoral counselors, mental health professionals, and ministers will attend.

"Pastoral Crisis Intervention may be thought of as the combination of faith-based resources with traditional techniques of crisis intervention. My hope in providing this opportunity for the pastors of Mississippi is to add to the wealth of knowledge they already have and give them another tool to minister to their congregations and communities," said Al Carden, Baptist Pastoral Care director.

The first day workshop includes the following topics: nature of psychological crisis, crisis intervention, critical incident stress management, overview of faith-based healing, applications of pastoral crisis intervention, pastoral crisis assessment, psychological triaging, and common psychological reactions during crisis. The second day workshop includes: mechanisms of pastoral care, role of religion, mechanisms of traditional crisis intervention, indications and contraindications, practice of applications, and common problems encountered in pastoral crisis intervention.

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