Explanation

Following their honorable service in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and other conflicts of living memory, countless veterans are suffering from loneliness, homelessness, alienation, discrimination, depression, and other physical and emotional ills. Too many are also afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and, in particular “moral injury,” an increasingly recognized form of PTSD involving the wounding of veterans’ souls resulting from the ethically wrenching combat experiences they have witnessed or engaged in.

The Episcopal Veterans Network is being launched under the auspices of the Standing Commission on World Mission (SCWM), building upon the Commission’s recent work to provide additional educational resources to military chaplains in coordination with the Office of the Suffragan Bishop for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries (AFFM).

By elevating the unique pastoral, liturgical, and prophetic charisms of our church, and our special, historic relationship with the U.S. military, the goal of this network is to facilitate greater life-enhancing, life-healing, and even life-saving care for veterans who identify with The Episcopal Church. Many veterans lack the awareness and wherewithal to find the fellowship and assistance they need to overcome these challenges and avoid heartbreaking outcomes, including substance abuse, domestic violence, and suicide in shocking numbers. The Episcopal Church has much to offer to these hurting veterans and their loved ones, and many congregations, especially those near military bases and communities, are already engaged in thriving ministries to this substantial segment of our membership.

Initially, the Episcopal Veteran’s Network (EVN) will focus on several pillars, including:

• Helping point veterans toward existing public, private, volunteer, and religious resources that can help them access the services, benefits and care they have earned and deserve.
• Organizing and connecting the church’s congregations, dioceses, provinces, commissions, and partner organizations around this critical mission.
• Developing and instituting liturgies and other worship resources devoted to veterans and their unique spiritual needs.
• Marshalling and sharing best practices for veterans’ outreach and care from within and beyond the Episcopal Church.

EVN aims to complement and amplify these good works and those of the Veterans Administration, Military Chaplains Association, and other governmental and non-profit service organizations, by helping connect more hands and hearts with our nation’s under-cared-for veterans.

In addition to the funding requested by this resolution, EVN will seek grants, contributions and donations from supportive bishops, congregations, agencies and organizations. All of these resources will be devoted to supporting a part-time clerical director; launching and maintaining a resource-rich website; engaging partner congregations and communities, including participating in relevant conferences and gatherings; and developing liturgies and programming in conjunction with church authorities.