Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

Disaster Chaplain and Religious Literacy & Competency in Crisis Settings TrainingAtlanta (Riverdale, GA) ● July 18-20, 2017 The Southeastern Synod ELCA , the Lutheran Theological Center of Atlanta, a…

Disaster Chaplain and Religious Literacy

& Competency in Crisis Settings Training
Atlanta (Riverdale, GA) ● July 18-20, 2017

The Southeastern Synod ELCA , the Lutheran Theological Center of Atlanta, and the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta in partnership with NDIN (National Disaster Interfaiths Network), invite clergy, religious leaders, and spiritual caregivers of all faiths to take this three-day Disaster Chaplaincy Training, including Religious Literacy & Competency in Crisis Settings.

Participants who complete this certification can volunteer in their own congregation, diocese, synod or faith community – or, affiliate with a local provider. NDIN can also assist unaffiliated volunteers in finding disaster spiritual care volunteer opportunities in local communities across the United States.

Emergency managers and disaster mental health professionals may take this course to develop their knowledge of disaster spiritual care best practices.

Registration Information

Register here

Each registrant must be endorsed for this training by the senior religious leader who has jurisdiction over their ministry and/or by their supervisor, if they currently serve as a chaplain and/or credentialed religious caregiver. Emergency managers and disaster mental health professionals may register using their agency affiliation and supervisor’s endorsement.

Tuesday, July 18 through Thursday, July 20, 8:15 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Christ Our Hope Lutheran Church

2165 Highway 138 SW, Riverdale, GA 30296

Hotel: LaQuinta Inn, Union City, ( 770)306.0049. Group Rate ID: GROFHI (Disaster Relief Group)

Tuition is $525, Paid in Advance Attendance is limited to 35 participants

Limited Scholarships available for ELCA-SES Rostered leaders available via the SE Synod Disaster Ministry Committee Contact: jfboettner@hotmail.com (Continental breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and training materials are included) This course is compliant with NIMS (National Incident Management Systems) and incorporates FEMA Incident Command System (FEMA IS 100.b) training. It also complies with the National VOAD* Points of Consensus for Disaster Spiritual Care.
*Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

The Curriculum Modules

Religious Literacy & Competency in Crisis Settings 

Tools & Resources for Engaging Faith Communities throughout the Disaster 

Faith Communities as a Cornerstone of Whole Communities 

The Value, Landscape, and Language of Faith Communities in Disasters  Ten Field Skills for Successful Engagement 

Engaging Faith Communities through the LEADER Process 

Building a Databank of Local Faith Communities

Disaster Chaplaincy - Operations & Spiritual Care: General Principles; Interventions; Sites and Specifics 

Emotional and spiritual phases of the disaster "life cycle" 

Spiritual First Aid: PCAID (Presence, Connect, Assessment, Intervention, Develop Plan of Care) as an intervention 

Disaster human services operations and disaster site operations 

Practice in applying principles of spiritual and emotional care in various disaster scenarios

Disaster Chaplaincy - Mental Health: Introduction; Impact of Disaster; Response and Reaction 

Phases of psychological reaction to disaster and impact on behaviors, thoughts, & feelings 

Psychological First Aid as a basic intervention that does not require professional training 

Indicators that referrals for professional mental health care may be appropriate

Disaster Chaplaincy - Self-Care: The Need and Techniques; Individual and Community Resilience

The need for caregivers to develop effective self-care practices 

Practices that minimize compassion fatigue ("the cost of caring") and other stresses related to providing care in times of crisis 

Strategies to promote recovery and resiliency, support systems that monitor, nourish and maintain self-care

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First Five Freedoms is proud to join Georgia Lawyers for the Rule of Law, The Temple, and All Saints Episcopal Church for "Faith, Law, & Democracy: A Community Conversation on the Public Good and the Rule of Law" on Tuesday June 2. We hope you will consider joining us for this important discussion. Americans across the political spectrum are grappling with a shared unease: the feeling that something foundational is slipping. Trust in institutions is eroding. The norms that once governed public life are contested. And the concept of the public good — the idea that we share a common stake in fair, just, and accountable governance — is increasingly hard to find in our public discourse. This program brings together faith leaders, legal experts, and engaged community members for an evening of honest conversation about what is at stake. Hosted at All Saints Episcopal Church and co-presented by The Temple, Georgia Lawyers for the Rule of Law (GLRL), and First Five Freedoms, the event weaves together spiritual reflection, legal analysis, and civic dialogue to address one central question: What does it mean to protect the rule of law — and why does it matter for all of us, right now? The evening will include reflection, analysis, and discussion designed to:

Connect faith, law, and civic responsibility in an accessible, nonpartisan framework
Examine current challenges to the rule of law and their implications for democracy
Create space for authentic dialogue across perspectives and institutions
Foster relationships and identify opportunities for collective action

Faith, Law & Democracy, Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, 634 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta 30308. Featured speakers include: Rev. Natosha Reid Rice, Minister for Public Life, All Saints’ Episcopal Church; Rabbi Lydia Medwin, Associate Rabbi, The Temple; Jill Steinberg, former U.S. Attorney for Georgia’s Southern District; Al Pearson, former University of Georgia Law professor; Richard Griffiths, retired journalist, and president emeritus of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation. Registration for this event is free. Complimentary parking, food, and refreshments. REGISTER HERE