Emergency Planning

National Advisory Group on Emergency Planning (NAGEP)

Note: This group is currently in hiatus. The membership list at the end of this page is not current membership, but final membership.

Code of Engagement

Download a copy of the Code of Engagement [PDF]

A dynamic witness of the Christian faith has been the way in which communities of faith have responded to the needs of those who are living through emergencies or catastrophic events. As God calls all people of faith to care for one another, Christ invites all Christians to reach out in times of urgent need to “clothe the naked, feed the hungry, tend to the needs of those who are ill and welcome the stranger” (Matthew 25:40-48). It is this teaching of faith which underpins the work of the National Advisory Group on Emergency Planning (NAGEP).

Other Documents

Understanding the Role of Spiritual Care in Times of Disaster (for Disaster Response Volunteers, First Responders and Disaster Planners) [PDF]. En français.

 

Who We Are

Established in 2002, the National Advisory Group on Emergency Planning (NAGEP) is a standing committee of the Commission on Faith and Witness. Its original purpose was to consult with appropriate government offices to learn about existing pastoral care provisions within the mandates and protocols of the Emergency Measures Offices (EMOs). Out of this has grown the recognition that emergency/disaster management has to be coordinated first at the local/regional level and that local congregations need to know how to connect with these offices in order to be able to respond.

Mandate

  • To assist in the development of Regional Advisory Groups.
  • To facilitate the networking of these groups across Canada.
  • To develop guidelines or protocols for Pastoral Care Provision that may be used as resources in implementing pastoral care response within provincial EMOs and in other contexts.
  • To develop and to share educational resources related to pastoral care provision, as well as commemoration of workers, survivors and victims of disaster.
  • To prepare the way for a multi-faith Pastoral Care endeavour in disaster relief operations.
  • To facilitate the participation of church houses through all phases of disasters to ensure the care of the people involved.
  • To validate the role of all member churches in disaster ministry.
  • To develop an information network among participating church houses using e-mail and web sites so that member groups would know about planned exercises, training opportunities and other activities that would enhance response capacities.
  • To investigate the possibility of establishing a link with the appropriate federal body.

 

Guiding Principles

There are four Guiding Principles that inform the work of providing pastoral care in emergencies. They are:

  1. An open, ecumenical pastoral care model rather than a parochial approach is most fitting to deliver Pastoral Care in disasters. Teamwork, partnering and collaboration with other faith groups will ensure that optimal Pastoral Care services are provided.
  2. Participating churches would adopt an all-hazards and all classes of disasters approach. That is, the delivery of pastoral care will be initiated in all natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, extreme weather conditions, etc.) and man-made disasters (terrorist attacks, bombings, major collisions, oil fires, etc.). Churches would be encouraged to attend to the life cycle of disasters that consists of four phases: Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery.
  3. The NAGEP will continue to make approaches to the federal, provincial and territorial governments to make the emergency response authorities (Emergency Measures Organizations; Emergency Services Offices; Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada; etc.) aware of the resource potential which exists in the Canadian Council of Churches. Local church groups will be consulted to determine their interest in working with the NAGEP and, if desired, establishing a Regional Advisory Group on Emergency Planning. The intent will be the signing of memoranda of agreement with as many levels of government as possible.
  4. The NAGEP will serve in a coordinating and resource capacity, facilitating local groups interested in being involved.

 

 

Current Members

Dianne Algera – Christian Reformed Church in North America

Diana Bogosyan – Armenian Holy Apostolic Church, Canadian Diocese

Plato Boyko – Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

Rev. Wayne De Jong – Christian Reformed World Relief Committee

The Rev. Douglas Graydon (chair) – Anglican Church of Canada

Ben Kidd – The United Church of Canada

Rev. Don Muir – Presbyterian Church in Canada

Bev Oag – The United Church of Canada

Major Rick Shirran – The Salvation Army

Commander John Wilcox – Canadian Forces Chaplain Branch

The Rev. Tim Purvis – Liaison for the Commission on Faith and Witness

Aileen van Ginkel (observer) – L’Alliance évangélique du Canada

Dr. Thomas Hentrich (ex officio) – Assistant Coordinator, Faith and Witness

Dr. Mary Marrocco (ex officio) – Associate Secretary, Faith and Witness

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