Massachusetts Conference Edition
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by Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane, Editor
October/November 2007
When you think disaster, you probably think of floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, and earthquakes. But a different kind of disaster happened in Norton, Massachusetts, late this summer. It was a tragedy that touched so many lives, the Massachusetts Conference Disaster Resource Team responded to help members and the community cope with the crisis.
On Monday, August 27, a mother was killed and two of her daughters critically wounded in a shooting at their home. The perpetrator, the estranged boyfriend of the mother, later took his own life. The Norton Fire Department chaplain called the Rev. Jim Tilbe, pastor of First Congregational Church UCC in Raynham for assistance. Tilbe also serves as a fire department chaplain, and, along with the Rev. Gary Blume of First Church in Weymouth, coordinates the Massachusetts Confer-ence Disaster Resource Team. Tilbe arrived at the Norton Police station before noon and was quickly sent to follow the family to Rhode Island Hospital where the two girls were being treated.
Rev. Mr. Bernard Hinckley, pastor of Trinitarian Congregational Church UCC in Norton, later arrived at the hospital.
“It was at that time that I learned the mother and the girls were active in the Norton Church,” said Tilbe. “This is a tragedy for everyone who knows the family. The mother and her three daughters (the oldest daughter was away from home at the time of the shooting) were active members of one of our churches and active in the community.”
“The tragedy in Norton may not be the type of thing people imagine when they think of disaster,” said Tilbe. “But disasters come in all different shapes and sizes. This didn’t affect as many people as a flood or earthquake might affect, but it was no less of a disaster for those who were involved.”
Indeed, Beverly Beckham, a columnist, wrote in a September 9 Boston Globe article that “Beth was devout. She and her three girls attended Trinitarian Congregational Church in Norton every Sunday. She was a youth counselor. She taught Sunday school. She decorated the altar with flowers weekly. And she led a prayer group.” She was a longtime environmentalist, used her artistic skills to raise money for charities, and lived a lifestyle dedicated to children, church, and family.
“Beth believed that all people are salvageable. She believed that God dwells within us all,” reported Beckham. “She believed in the infinite love of God.”
Hinckley opened the doors of the church on Monday evening for people to gather, pray, talk and write messages of hope to the family. Both Tilbe and Blume were present as a supportive presence, ordering pizza which was shared by many of the young people. On Tuesday night, at least 400 people attended a prayer vigil, overflowing the church.
The Conference Disaster Resource Team was represented by fellow MACUCC members Rev. Don Remick, Rev. Andy Burr and Rev. Donna Tetreault at the funeral services later that week in Canton. The presence of these members helped Hinckley focus on church services knowing that others were there to offer a prayerful, listening ear to those in his congregation. Two and a half weeks later the team returned to Norton for an open session attended by church people who were affected by this tragedy. The team was represented by Tilbe, Remick, Rev. Bill McCoy, and Rev. Sue Remick.
“I cannot say enough good things about having the Resource Team there,” said Hinckley. “Coordinators Jim and Gary thought of all the little things I couldn’t think of during our time of grief, shock and sorrow.
“They were an extra set of hands, eyes, and minds. They were an invaluable resource. Just having my colleagues there, by my side, was a spiritual uplift for me.”
“Our ministry was one of presence, with availability to talk with any who wanted to talk about the event,” said Tilbe. “Whether it was to calm down a panicking woman, keep the media at bay, or offer advice, guidance, and presence to Bernie.”
“The members of the team come from varied backgrounds and experience,” Tilbe explained. “We have clergy and laypeople. A number of us serve as fire department chaplains and have training that is helpful from there. Some of us have worked on disasters with Red Cross. We have a couple of hospital chaplains as well. Since many of us come from pastoral roles, the team is available to help with the pastoral needs of a crisis. We can facilitate times and meetings where people can talk about what they have experienced and how it is affecting them.”
“We do not intend to duplicate the efforts of others, like the Red Cross, and we are not a first response group, like the police, fire or EMTs,” he said. “The purpose of the team is simply to assist our churches in any way we can when they are faced with a disaster in their community.”
“I hope no one else will need the Massachusetts Conference Disaster Resource Team,” said Hinckley. “But I would highly encourage anyone facing a tragedy like this to call them.”
In early 2006 Blume and Tilbe developed a plan for Disaster Response Ministries in the Conference. Their plan was approved by the Board of Directors, and they volunteered and were appointed as Disaster Response Coordinators. Both are Fire Department chaplains with extensive training and experience in disaster response. In addition to recruiting members and offering training, at the invitation of local churches, they assist with response to disasters which occur in communities within the Massachusetts Conference.
For more information, go to www.macucc.org/xnews/disasterresponsecoordinators.htm.