When Swiss Air flight 111 crashed offshore in 1998, killing 229 people, Nova Scotia’s faith communities got their first taste of a crisis situation.
Rev. Cindi Chenard, minister at Iona, Dartmouth, remembers the aftermath. She said churches that were close to the crash site held services and offered practical support, like providing sandwiches to search and rescue teams.
But it wasn’t until 9/11 that churches and other faith communities realized exactly what was needed in an emergency.
When 44 planes were diverted to Nova Scotia after news of the crash was circulated, about 9,000 people were put up for the night in the province’s arenas and community centres. Not only was there dire need for spiritual care, but practical items such as toiletries, diapers and colouring books became high priority.
“There are certain similarities between all crises: the feelings of loss and grief and confusion, and the need to get one’s bearings,” she continued. “You need people to help with the big questions–questions of why, is God mad at me, and did we do something to deserve this?
“But we also offered the gift of hospitality,” said Chenard, who is also a police chaplain. “There’s as much of that element in our mission as spiritual care.”
“Churches have something unique to bring to the table in emergency situations,” said Rev. Tim Purvis, who represented the ecumenical Faith and Witness Commission of the Canadian Council of Churches at a conference on emergency preparedness.
The federally sponsored three-day event was held in Toronto in February, and brought together representatives from the National Advisory Group for Emergency Planning, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, churches and faith groups to discuss the possible role faith groups can play in emergencies.
Churches have often been lumped in with social and psychological services because ministers can provide pastoral counseling. But churches have more to offer, said Purvis, a minister at Westview, Toronto.
“For one thing we have buildings. Those can serve as shelters in emergencies. And we have established networks that can spring into action to provide food and other necessities.”
The 9/11 crisis also highlighted the need for an organized response, prompting the creation of an inter-faith regional emergency planning committee, of which Chenard was a member. The group can be contacted quickly and easily by emergency services, and then mobilized as needed.
Some denominations, including Mennonites, the Salvation Army and United Church, have policies or resources available in case of emergency scenarios, including pandemics. While the PCC does not have a policy, Don Muir, associate secretary and deputy clerk, is the church’s representative to the CCC’s National Advisory Group on Emergency Planning. The group helps CCC-member churches prepare for carrying their ministries in times of emergency, and to be prepared to offer practical, organized assistance to municipal authorities or the armed forces as requested.
