Trauma is a reality of life. The way that our brain stores and responds to the experience determines how the body will go on. Sometimes the trauma is negatively stored in our brains and our body. How the body responds to the trauma determines how our bodies remember it.
As pastors, we have people in our pews who have experienced some kind of trauma which can adversely affect their relationship to God and their church participation. This is where trauma-informed theology can make worship spaces safe. Using trauma-informed theology in our churches requires the church to find ways through the suffering to empower the survivor to reclaim their life.
This is an eight-week course which includes reading, multiple weekly posts, two required Zoom meetings and a final paper. It is intended for Certified Lay Ministers or clergy who have had at least one year experience leading a local church.
At the end of the course, students will be able to define trauma and trauma-informed theology. Students will be comfortable with using trauma-informed theology in worship and while providing pastoral care.
The content of this course includes numerous difficult topics such as different kinds of trauma, case studies, etc. If you are recovering from trauma, you may find one or more of the topics triggering of your own trauma. Please be prepared to seek therapeutic support if the need arises. This is the student’s responsibility.
- Teacher: TASMCM Moodle Administrator
- Facilitator: Marcee Binder