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'Listening posts' open at NYC churches

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A prayerful
  response
  to this   unspeakable   tragedy
Love in the
  Midst of
  Tragedy
 By Linda Bloom*

The first of a series of "listening posts" at United Methodist churches in New York opened Oct. 5 in the area near "ground zero."

The listening posts, or counseling centers, are designed to assist anyone struggling with the trauma of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The denomination's New York Annual Conference organized the centers, with support from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and in cooperation with Church World Service. The centers will be open on a regular schedule two to three days a week at seven Manhattan churches.

"We're going to go for as long as the need is there," said the Rev. Len Buxton, a retired New York clergyperson who is coordinating the listening post program


Churches involved in the program include John Street, just a few blocks from the World Trade Center; Metropolitan Duane, Chinese, Washington Square, Japanese-American and Church of All Nations, all in lower Manhattan; Park Avenue on the Upper East Side; and the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew on the Upper West Side.

Buxton was at John Street, a historic United Methodist church, as the center there opened from noon to 5 p.m. on Oct. 5. A sandwich board in front of the church advertised the availability of counseling to the tens of thousands of people who pass by every day.

People already had been coming to the church to attend its regular Wednesday noon services or to stop by "just to pray," he noted. Some are leaving with literature, provided by UMCOR, on topics such as how to deal with grief. "Being here and available, I think, is a powerful message," he said.

The plan is for those staffing the listening posts to have several levels of training. Stephen Ministers, who have specialized training in listening and other helping skills, can provide a compassionate ear. Licensed counselors or therapists can probe a little deeper and make referrals for long-term counseling if needed. "One of the things we're prepared to see is persons who have underlying problems that they've been handling or holding onto ... and it call comes out full-blown," said Buxton, who formerly worked at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn. .

The Rev. Chuck Ferrara, senior pastor at New Fairfield (Conn.) United Methodist Church, plans to work at John Street three afternoons a week. "I'll do this as long as they need me," he told United Methodist News Service. "I've got the blessing of my church."

Ferrara is using his connections within the New York Police Department to get the word out about the counseling center and to encourage emergency workers to use its services. He was still a lieutenant with the police department when he entered seminary at Drew University in 1985 and retired from the force the next year to pursue ordination. "I am familiar with NYPD's operation, particular here down in lower Manhattan," he said.

He expects a positive response. "The city of New York, from the mayor down to all the department heads ... is seeking anywhere that can lend some help because of the enormity of this disaster," the former police officer explained. "I would say they are very receptive."

A Port Authority supervisor, who lost 10 employees in the World Trade Center collapse, already was scheduled to talk to Ferrara that day. The success of the listening post, he added, will depend on "word of mouth, some good publicity, making some good contacts."

The listening posts are just a part of the response to the Sept. 11 tragedy by the New York Conference, according to the Rev. Chick Straut, who is coordinating the conference's efforts with UMCOR. "A lot of the stuff we're doing is ecumenical and interfaith."

The conference is cooperating with the New York State Office of Emergency Management to organize volunteers to the apartments of people with special needs who live near ground zero. In addition, Straut said, each district will have a briefing to provide special training for workers with children and youth, and pastoral care workshops will be offered to pastors.

Donations to support United Methodist work, in New York and around the nation and with Afghan Refugees, in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks can be designated to UMCOR Advance No. 901125-3, "Love in the Midst of Tragedy." Checks can be placed in church collection plates or mailed to UMCOR at 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Credit-card donations may be made by calling (800) 554-8583.
October 8, 2001

*Bloom is news director of United Methodist News Service's New York
General Board of Global Ministries
United Methodist Church
475 Riverside Drive - New York, New York 10115
1-800-UMC-GBGM