Ten clergy from a variety of faith groups gathered at the West Allis Calvary United Methodist Church for a day long seminar on counseling given a reproductive loss.

Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, former RCRC Clergy Programming staffperson, led the training on April 30, 2009. Rabbi Margulis of Madison is also a Board member of Wisconsin RCRC.

Any Loss - whether through miscarriage, infertility, stillbirth, abortion or adoption - can carry with it a range of feelings. Grief, loneliness, regret, sadness are common. A person or couple experiencing a pregnancy loss may benefit from a sympathetic and supportive clergy person who will listen and provide support. Our trainers' skills as pastoral counselors can do much to help restore emotional health for those who have experienced these losses.

Pastoral Counselors for Reproductive Loss

<> Provide information and/or referrals concerning medical, emotional and spiritual issues;

<> Guide clients to acceptance, mourning and healing;

<> Draw upon spiritual resources - prayer, meditation, ritual;

<> Are present with those they counsel along their path to healing, restoration to wholeness and peace;

<> Draw on an extensive bibliography of resources, both print and on-line.

Several United Methodist Clergy were joined by pastors of the United Church of Christ, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and another Rabbi of the Reformed Movement of Judaism. Participants left the event with a wealth of information and their lives enriched by new acquaintences with people of faith from other faith traditions.