By Anna Lisa Gross
After a day of challenging business–challenging both in themes and understanding of process–90 people gathered for the Womaen’s Caucus dinner to explore how collective trauma impacts the Church of the Brethren. Singing the African-American spiritual “There Is More Love” grounded the gathering in God’s healing presence.
A panel explored collective trauma in four ways.
Bethany Seminary professor Denise Ketting-Lane shared a foundational definition of trauma. She discussed persecution of Anabaptists in Europe, as well as the traumatic experiences of early Brethren immigrants to the United States.
District executive minister and spiritual director Laura Stone developed a theological framework for trauma, naming the world-ending experience of an event like Jesus’ death on Friday, the Spirit’s witness to the waiting of Saturday, and our tendency to rush toward the relief of Sunday. Stone invited us to know the Spirit is present with us in the thick of Saturday, and not to ask traumatized people to make more meaning of their situation than is authentic.
Pastor Jennifer Keeney-Scarr spoke about trauma-informed preaching, raising awareness that every person in the congregation lives with trauma. At times, the preacher and congregation are experiencing the same traumatic event (natural disaster, for example) but each person’s trauma is unique. Preachers can be intentional about words, sounds, and illustrations in preaching and worship to cultivate safety in worship.
Congregational and district leader Lindsay Wenger shared viscerally, vulnerably, and courageously about coming to awareness, and eventually peace, with her sexuality. She discussed leading in her congregation and district during processes of congregations leaving the district and denomination due to their convictions about sexuality. She also shared about the pain in her own congregation’s ongoing process regarding inclusion.
The gathered body held this wisdom and these stories in prayer and gratitude, eagerly anticipating Saturday’s equipping session with the same panel, now turning toward community resources for healing collective trauma.
Book recommendations include
- Torture and the Eucharist by William T. Cavanaugh
- Spirit and Trauma: A Theology of Remaining by Shelly Rambo
- Fractured Ground by Kimberly Wagner
— Anna Lisa Gross is a pastor with Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren in Fort Wayne, Ind.
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- Feature for Black History Month: Martha (Mattie) Cunningham Dolby, 1878-1956
- Annual Conference registration opens March 4, special events will welcome attendees to Fort Wayne and encourage local participation
- Brethren Press and MennoMedia announce adult curriculum partnership ‘Salt & Light: A Guide for Biblical Studies’
- District executives, denominational leadership join in Atlantic Southeast District’s first Multicultural Festival
- Children’s Disaster Services offers next series of training events for new volunteers