Seeking to help prepare their communities for future natural disasters, Anglican churches across the Caribbean have been participating in workshops in Grenada, according to The Anglican News. Hosted by the Church of the Province of the West Indies, with support from the global Anglican Alliance, the US-based Episcopal Relief & Development, and the Canadian Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, these workshops, referred to as “Pastors and Disasters”, look to provide participants with the toolkit to encourage disaster preparedness and resilience.
Of the need for these workshops in the Caribbean, a spokesperson for the Anglican Alliance said, “Churches and communities around the Anglican Communion are increasingly facing the devastating impacts of climate change. Exposed island communities are particularly vulnerable and extreme weather events such as hurricanes, cyclones, sea surges and flooding, as well as rising sea levels, are becoming the ‘new normal’.” According to the alliance, it is the church that is frequently the first responder in these disaster situations and therefore is a natural fit to help build resilience.
“I have gained knowledge and confidence from using the Pastors and Disasters tools,” said Tina Blazer, Long Term Recovery Director of the Virgin Islands Diocese and recent participant in the workshop. “When I go back, I plan to discuss with [the] Archdeacon and start putting it into practice. In fact, I plan to give a copy to the Governor of the Virgin Islands, who I know personally.”
