Discussing Suicide from a Pastoral Perspective: Interview with Hans Ewen
In a groundbreaking move, Pastor Hans-Claus Ewen, a collaborator of the Pastoral and Suicide Group of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance, recently spoke at a free online workshop aimed at helping leaders and community members understand and address the issue of suicide from a biblical and compassionate perspective.
The workshop, organised by the Spanish Evangelical Alliance, was prompted by the increase in suicides during the pandemic in both Germany and Spain. Pastor Ewen, who has written a short book about the pastoral challenges surrounding suicide, emphasised the importance of the church being a source of support for those grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide.
In his book and during the workshop, Pastor Ewen highlighted several cases of suicide in the Bible, such as Judas in the New Testament and several cases in the Old Testament. He also stressed the importance of distinguishing between the identity of the sinner and committing a sin, especially in the context of suicide.
Pastor Ewen's interest in the subject of suicide was first piqued through his contact with Gina Campalans from Ibiza, who runs the bereavement association 'Say Goodbye'. He believes that the church can meet almost all the needs of a grieving person, assuming it is a church that really works.
During the workshop, Rosa Burguera and Miguel Lara, from the Christian band Sal150, shared their personal experience of the suicide of their daughter. They spoke about the importance of having a community to support a person mourning a loved one who committed suicide.
Pastor Ewen acknowledged that the church is moving forward in addressing the issue of suicide, but very slowly. He encourages churches to learn to mobilise all the richness of experience they have and to recognise that having pastors as the only source of help for those going through mourning or suicide is not enough.
In a comforting message, Pastor Ewen stated that if a person who committed suicide had put their trust in Christ during their lifetime, this act would not cause them to lose their salvation. He also emphasised that the Bible states that there is good in all the bad if one walks with Jesus.
In conclusion, Pastor Hans-Claus Ewen's work in addressing the issue of suicide from a pastoral perspective is a significant step towards breaking the stigma surrounding this sensitive topic within the church community. By educating and empowering leaders and community members, the church can become a beacon of hope and support for those affected by suicide.
The workshop organized by the Spanish Evangelical Alliance, addressing the issue of suicide, highlighted the importance of the church being a source of support for grieving individuals, as proposed by Pastor Hans-Claus Ewen. Pastor Ewen, in his book and during the workshop, discussed the importance of mental health, emphasizing the role of the church in health-and-wellness, which includes mental health support.
