BERGEN COUNTY, NJ, 23 April, 2010 –
Disaster Chaplaincy Services (DCS) is pleased to announce the signing of an affiliation agreement with Bergen County, New Jersey. Disaster Chaplaincy Services–Bergen County (DCS-Bergen County) will be at the forefront of spiritual care in disaster response in New Jersey.

The signing ceremony was attended by County Executive Dennis McNerney, Lt. Dwane Razzetti of the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management, DCS board members Rev. Dr. Willard Ashley, Fr. Emile Frische, Deacon Robert Gontcharuk, Rev. Julie Taylor, and Bergen County clergy Rabbi Elliot Schoenberg and others. Rabbi Schoenberg brought the idea of a DCS-Bergen County to Lt. Razzetti over a year ago and the teams began to work together.

County Executive McNerney said this of the agreement, “Thanks to Disaster Chaplaincy Services whose experience in the past decade has helped innumerable people in the emotional aftermath of disasters and other emergencies. We are embarking on a new program in New Jersey. The first affiliation agreement anywhere with Disaster Chaplaincy Services to improve the services to our residents in their most vulnerable times.”

Rev. Taylor commented, “We never know what community will be affected by a crisis. We need clergy from all faith traditions to be trained to work together and know how to respond within the incident command structures. This is a great opportunity for Bergen County.” It is DCS’ commitment to assist Bergen County’s OEM in training a multi-faith cadre of clergy from Bergen County and prepare them to respond to disasters, crises, and emergencies.

We are looking forward to this new affiliation, working with OEM and the new DCS-Bergen County in helping to provide direct spiritual care to support those in need.

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