Trauma and the Church: Exploring the Theological, Pastoral, and Moral Challenges and Possibilities During and After Trauma

The three purposes of this course:

To speak honestly and openly about the pervasiveness and consequences of trauma and suffering in our own lives, our communities, and in our churches. Our unwillingness or inability to understand the impacts of trauma and suffering adds not only to the loneliness and secrecy that surrounds these experiences, but also undercuts our ability to respond in conscious and life-giving ways.

To speak honestly and openly about the ways that some of our language and practices have made life and faith more difficult or more painful for those whose lives are marked by trauma and suffering. This is not to suggest that this is a conscious or premeditated choice, but to admit that it is a reality that must be acknowledged and disrupted.

To explore the theological, pastoral, and moral questions and resources available to us that can transform our nurture and care for people in the midst or aftermath of trauma and suffering. Drawing on the depths of the Christian Tradition as well as cutting-edge work on trauma both clinical and theological, we will begin to cultivate the language, postures, and practices necessary to care for ourselves and those we share community with.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for all people of faith to inform and equip you the people you serve to better engage the inescapable realities of trauma and suffering in your communities.

For Clergy and Church Leaders:
This course will help you think meaningfully about the ways in which power and practice are leveraged in your faith community.

For Survivors:
This course will help you to think about your own experience and to find resources both theological and pastoral that can contribute to your ongoing resolution of those wounds.

For People in the Helping Professions:
This course will help you to think more deeply about the nature of your work and the realities of the lives of those you serve.

What is included in this course?

• 10 asynchronous and comprehensive units of video teaching exploring the theological, pastoral, and moral dimensions of these realities.
• Extensive additional resources and readings (full-text provided for free when possible)
• Regular Live Online Gatherings for additional discussion/exploration with others
• Access to the entire course space with opportunities for additional dialogue, networking, and opportunities for collaboration.
• Access to the larger Intersections.Community space.
• Lifetime access to the course.

How is the class designed?

Asynchronous Learning. All ten units are available to you as soon as you enroll in the course. We call those ten units the “foundational learning” because this course space is open-ended with ongoing contributions of resources, content, and opportunities.

Collaborative Engagement. There are numerous spaces to participate in dialogue and to respond to content in the learning space. You also have the capacity to privately and confidentially interact with other members of the learning community.

Ongoing Community. Everyone enrolled in this course will gain access not only to the content but to the ever-growing community of participants. Upon entry you will find yourself included in a group of people who have and continue to engage the materials alongside you.

Permanent Access. All participants receive lifetime access to the materials, course lectures, and learning community, allowing you to continue to benefit even after you engage all the materials available (for now).

Course Units

UNIT 1: The Prevalence and Consequences of Trauma + Suffering

UNIT 2: When the Church is (Part of) the Problem

UNIT 3: Trauma + Suffering as Theological Crisis for Leaders

UNIT 4: Trauma + Suffering of Persons as Real Life

UNIT 5: Trauma + Suffering and the Loss of aith

UNIT 6: Pastoral Challenges in the Midst or Aftermath of Trauma + Suffering

UNIT 7: Pastoral Opportunities in the Midst or Aftermath of Trauma + Suffering

UNIT 8: Moral Care as a Theological + Pastoral Response to Trauma + Suffering

UNIT 9: Practices of Hope and Anticipation Amidst Trauma + Suffering

UNIT 10: Trajectories for the Work of Interruption and Care

About Your Guide

Michael Hanegan is a Theologian and a Senior Fellow at the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute. His work about the intersections of trauma and the church began in his graduate work in divinity school for which he was awarded the 2016 Stone-Campbell Journal Promising Scholar Award. Work in this field has been presented at the 2018 American Academy of Religion Conference, 2019 American Academy of Religion, Mid-Atlantic Region Conference (where Michael served as Co-Chair of the Trauma and the Language of Theology Unit). He has a forthcoming book A Manifesto for Moral Care that has emerged from this work to help both individuals and communities at any scale to protect, nurture, and sustain communities of care.