Ohio National Guard News

Clergy symposium aims to build better spiritual
support network for service members, veterans

By Staff Sgt. Michael Carden, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

More than 60 civilian clergy members recently attended a two-day symposium, organized by the Ohio National Guard and the Department of Veteran Affairs, which provided religious leaders guidance on how to assist service members and veterans with the challenges unique to the military. Attendees of the Community Clergy Training program symposium, hosted at the Ohio Emergency Management Agency in Columbus, Ohio, learned how they can better support military members and their Families and received a ministry toolkit that provides best practices and resources.

Steve Sullivan, a chaplain with the Department of Veterans Affairs, speaks to civilian clergy members.

Brig. Gen. Dana L. McDaniel, director of joint staff for the Ohio National Guard, speaks to civilian clergy members.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (08/24/16) — More than 60 civilian clergy members met recently to learn how to better provide support for military members and veterans during a two-day symposium, organized by the Ohio National Guard and the Department of Veteran Affairs, which provided religious leaders guidance on how to assist service members with the challenges unique to the military.

“Civilian clergy across Ohio are coming together and learning how to develop military ministries that meet the needs of our military and their Families,” said Lt. Col. Kathryn Lowrey, director of community outreach for the Ohio National Guard. “The program is designed around the military model of ‘train-the-trainer,’ where we give them the tools to go back and teach other clergy members what they’ve learned.”

This is the second time the Community Clergy Training program is being offered in Ohio, which was expanded to allow double the number of participants this time due to strong interest.

Since 2011, the Ohio National Guard has hosted 18 clergy outreach events with more than 500 religious leaders attending and have formed the Clergy Working Group, which has developed a military ministry toolkit that provides best practices and resources for working with service members and veterans. The toolkit has been distributed to more than 150 clergy members across Ohio.