wfn.org | East Carolina Episcopalians prepare troops for what lies ahead

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2001-279

East Carolina Episcopalians prepare troops for what lies ahead

by Scott Nunn

     (ENS) A military response to the September 11 terrorist attacks would likely 
involve thousands of troops from bases in the Diocese of East Carolina.

     Both Fort Bragg in Fayetteville and Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville are home to 
troops that often are deployed as front-line forces during times of conflict. 
There are also troops at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro; Cherry 
Point Marine Corps Air Station in Havelock; Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville 
and New River Air Station in Jacksonville.

     Each Sunday the Episcopal churches in these military towns are filled with 
active-duty and retired military personnel, bringing special challenges to the 
parishes, especially in times of conflict.

The Rev. Ray Brown of Holy Trinity in Fayetteville estimates that 25 percent of 
his congregation is comprised of retired and active-duty military. And Holy 
Trinity is taking definite steps to ensure that the church will be there for 
these parishioners in the event of a deployment.

     Lt. Col. Fred Brown, a parishioner at Holy Trinity and a clinical 
psychologist in the US Army, is heading a parish pastoral care team that will 
help meet the needs of military families. In case of a deployment, parish 
families are adopting military families so they can provide support if needed, 
such as helping out with children. The parish is also planning a mom's or dad's 
morning out in which the church will provide child care to allow a parent with a 
deployed spouse some free time.

     The church has established a prayer list for people to list names of their 
loved ones who are serving in the military.

     And although the troops from Fort Bragg's 82nd Airborne Division and Special 
Forces are fighting soldiers, Brown said they are not what you might call war 
mongers. Brown, himself a Vietnam War veteran, said today's troops are much 
better trained and more professional than they were during his days in the 
service. "These people really are professionals and are very well trained," Brown 
said. "They will do their jobs and follow their orders but they are not going in 
somewhere to burn villages."

     At St. John's Church in Fayetteville, assistant rector Jim Taylor made the 
same observation. Taylor said he has heard no one talking about wanting to "go 
bomb something."

     "I have not heard any hatred," Taylor said. "I have heard much more about 
unity and patriotism and supporting the military but no words of hatred."

      The Rev. Marjorie McCarty is rector of St. Christopher's Church in 
Havelock, home to the Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point and a squadron of 
Harrier jets. The church's senior warden is an active duty Marine.

     She said her church has talked about the conversion of evil rather than the 
destruction of evil. 

     "These are very thoughtful people," she said of the military personnel in 
her church and ones she encounters on base where she teaches a class in world 
religions.

     And while these churches mobilize to offer help in case of a major 
deployment, Brown is all too aware that there may be tougher duties down the road 
in case of casualties. He feels good that he has such a strong group of retired 
military in his church, soldiers and spouses who have been through combat before, 
who can help.

     "I know we've got a lot of nervous young families," he said. "But some of 
the older ones have been through this and they have a better idea of what is 
going on."

--Scott Nunn is Director of Communications for the Diocese of East Carolina.