The clergy often deal with bereaved families on a weekly basis, and are called upon to comfort those families who are experiencing grief.
Ministers in Harrison County will have the opportunity to receive additional training to help those dealing with loss during a one-day training on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
The free workshop, called "Good Grief," will be held at the Bridgeport United Methodist Church in Bridgeport, 251 Worthington Drive. The half-day class is being sponsored by the Ford families of the Allen Funeral Home.
"We've never held a class like this in the area, but we wanted to do it as part of our community service, to give something back to the community," said Bradley Ford, the manager/owner of the Allen Funeral Home.
The speaker for the two-hour class is Dr. Ed Jacobs, a professor at West Virginia University. Jacobs, a licensed professional counselor, presents about 30 workshops each year on grief counseling.
The Rev. Steven Dorsey, pastor of Bridgeport United Methodist, said the workshop should give pastors some fresh insight into dealing with grief.
He noted that grief management often covers more than the loss of a loved one.
"It can be the loss of a job, the break-up of a relationship, or anything that is a huge loss in your life. Pastors need to be able to effectively work with people to help them manage their grief," Jacobs said.
Registration for the "Good Grief" workshop will take place between 9 and 10 a.m. Following the workshop, a free lunch will be provided.
For additional information or to sign up for the class, people can call Pastor Sharon Carr, with the Bridgeport Ministerial Association, at 842-4137 or Pastor Craig Michel, Harrison County Ministerial Assoc., at 623-3397.
Staff writer Gail Marsh can be reached at 626-1447.
