A Holistic Healing Movement
The topic of church trauma is complex. It encompasses far more than the scandals that litter our newsfeed. Is not limited to the fallout of church leaders. It does not happen only in megachurches with large platforms. The harm it causes is far reaching, wounding more than individual victims as entire faith communities crumble under its shattering effects. What is the answer to such far reaching pain?
Much of the work being done currently to address church trauma is reactive and individual in nature. Scandals are addressed (some more effectively than others) and more and more resources for victims of religious trauma are becoming available (something we are immensely thankful for). This is all important work but on its own it will not lead to a complete healing of religious trauma within the Christian church. No, the complexity of church trauma requires a holistic healing movement. Only through a multifaceted approach to restoration can we ever hope to see an end to the pain that is religious trauma.
As we continue to study the causes and impact of church trauma, we have come to identify four key areas where healing work must be done. Truly, only through the integration of all four will complete restoration of the church be possible. It is this picture, of a holistic healing movement, to which we cling as we continue to work for the health of the church. Today, we want to invite you to imagine what the church could look like if such a holistic healing movement was a reality. Will you dream with us? Here are the four essential areas of healing to bring restoration to the church: individual healing, congregational healing, pastor and church leader healing, and cultural healing.
Healing for Individual Victims: This is usually the first area of healing people think of when considering church trauma. It is where the most work is currently being done. Wonderful organizations are creating space for victims of religious trauma to process the harm they have experienced. Books are being written to help individuals understand the wounds they received in church and navigate a journey of healing. This is all important and necessary work. Religious trauma does have an individual component to it. Not every member of a congregation will have the same experiences. Sometimes the harm will be directed towards individuals (such as incidences of sexual abuse or physical abuse). Other times the suffering will be directed at many people or the entire congregation (such as verbal/emotional abuse directed at segments of the congregation or a church split). However, even in cases where the harm is directed at more than one person, every individual within the faith community will respond differently to the harm done. When we are speaking of trauma, we are always talking about how the event is experienced by individuals and communities rather than a specific event itself. For this reason, trauma always has an individual component that will need to be addressed as each person’s experience will be different and will lead to different journeys of healing.
Healing for Entire Congregations: Just as church trauma always has an individual component to it, it is also always social and communal. This is true even when we are talking about issues that seem highly personal and individualized. The church is a body, a community of deep relationships. Trauma, by definition, shatters the connections between people and ruptures relationships. Therefore, when trauma is experienced within a faith community, even when targeted at individuals, the pain ripples through the congregation. As we consider how to work for healing from church trauma, we need to recognize the way entire congregations are bearing the pain and work for collective healing.
Pastor and Church Leader Healing: Often when we are discussing church trauma, the emphasis is on wrongdoing done by clergy. Pastors are frequently viewed as the cause or reason for church trauma, and while this may be the case in some circumstances, the issue of religious trauma is far broader than these examples. Often, pastors and church leaders also feel the pain of religious trauma. Recently while leading a training for pastors on ministering to those who have experienced religious trauma and spiritual abuse, I was approached by an older female pastor. She was sitting down and waved me over, I bent slightly, to look her in the eyes, and as I did I encountered a worn face full of pain. She had clearly seen much in her ministry career. Her question to me carried its own weight, as she simply asked, “Will you also be speaking of the trauma clergy experienced?” The truth is, while the media wants to emphasize the scandals of celebrity pastors, most clergy are loving ordinary individuals like this woman simply seeking to shepherd well. They carry burdens no one sees. Of all the caring professions, those serving as clergy have been shown to be most at risk for developing secondary traumatic stress. If we are going to truly work for restoration in the church, then we must address the pain felt by clergy. Yes, we cannot ignore clergy misconduct, but for the majority of pastors who are simply seeking to love Jesus and love people, their tender hearts are in need of care as well.
Cultural Healing: The three areas of healing mentioned so far are all reactive, they are necessary after harm occurs. However, if we want to see an end to church trauma then we will need to work proactively as well. There are clear cultural issues within the church that perpetuate religious trauma. Pastors, church leaders, and congregations will need to work together to undo these harmful components of church culture if we are going to walk towards healing.
These four components are all essential when working for the restoration of the church. We cannot work for one while ignoring the others. As you read through those four areas, we invite you to ask yourself the following questions:
What area of healing are you most familiar with?
Is there an area of healing you have been neglecting?
How could you engage in a more holistic approach to healing?
As you reflect on these questions, dare to imagine what would happen if all of us who desire to see an end to religious trauma came together to form a holistic healing movement? What stories of hope could emerge when every area of pain is addressed? At Restor(y) we dare to imagine the hopeful future possible and we invite you to join us.
