Community Clergy Training Program: The Theology of War

5201 HR Ranch Road,Cheyenne WY 82007

19 April, 2022

Description

This free interactive training is co-sponsored by the Wyoming Air National Guard Chaplain Corps and Miracle Valley Ministries. Please REGISTER to RESERVE your seat now for this event. This training will be facilitated by Chaplain James Patterson, who can be reached at [email protected]. 70% of combat Veterans abandon their religious beliefs because they don’t know what to do with their combat experiences. They don’t believe anyone understands or cares about their guilt and questions. Trauma may cause combat Veterans to move away from religion and toward secular counseling or, toward risky behaviors, such as illicit drug use, and even suicidal thoughts to numb emotional pain. Many Veterans, military personnel, and the congregations they come from struggle to put together a coherent and rational thought as to their theological beliefs regarding lethal force in particular and warfare in general. As a result, many men and women enter into the battlespace less equipped and more likely to experience psychological and spiritual injuries that could have been avoided or at least minimized as the result of their experiencing first hand the horrors of war. This training will explore the Judeo-Christian theology of war with its practical implications for a faith filled life, community, and mission. The Community Training Partner Initiative offers critical resource to educate and support the faith community. Training Objectives From the Judeo-Christian perspective, the participant will-- Be able to explore and articulate the concepts addressing the following questions: Is it right to bear arms? What is the proper role of government in society? Is it possible to serve in the military and also obey the Ten Commandments? What about, "Thou shalt not kill?"Be able to conceptualize and answer some of the most pressing ethical questions being asked in the military today?`* Contact hour certificate available upon request. Trainer Biography James V. Patterson serves as a Clinical Chaplain for Montana VA Health Care System (MTVAHCS) in Fort Harrison, MT. His 31 years of extensive experience as a clinician and member of the clergy include being a youth pastor, senior pastor, chaplain, and thousands of hours engaged in individual, marriage, family, crises, group, and spiritual/pastoral counseling. Chaplain Patterson has been with MTVAHCS for over eight years. He has served with the Active Duty Air Force for over 11 years, an additional one year in the Air Force Reserves, another three years with the Montana Air National Guard and another seven years with the Wyoming Air National Guard where he serves with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Chaplain Patterson is a Veteran of the Bosnian and Iraq wars. He holds a MA in Counseling and a MDiv from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. He has taken four units of Clinical Pastoral Education and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the States of Wyoming and Montana and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with the State of Montana. Tommy Nelson has served at Denton Bible Church for nearly 40 years, much of it as Senior Pastor. One of four boys, he is from Waco, TX and grew up playing football and baseball. He holds degrees from the University of North Texas (where he quarterbacked) and Dallas Theological Seminary. Tommy is the author/teacher of several books and DVDs, and is the Song of Solomon Conference Speaker Emeritus. He still travels as the featured speaker for several ministries, but finds himself most weekends in the pulpit of Denton Bible Church teaching his congregation. Tom married his best friend, Teresa, in 1972. Their two sons, Benjamin and John Clark, are both married and, together, have given them six grandchildren.