Navigating Communal Trauma in Faith

Full Video Recording | Podcast | Curated Video Clips with Written Resources

In light of the COVID -19 pandemic, we spoke with faith leaders and experts from across the country about their experience in providing leadership, spiritual care and maintaining resilience in the wake of various communal traumas through which they have led their congregations and communities. On April 15, 2020, the Rev. Dr. Katie Givens Kime, Director of Religion and Civic Engagement at Odyssey Impact and Rev. Mark Ramsey, Executive Director, Macedonian Ministry led a thoughtful conversation with experts in communal trauma who shared insights from their personal experiences in leading their congregations through human-caused and natural disasters.

For me, Joy doesn’t pretend that the sorrow and suffering isn’t there.

Resources to help lead congregations, communities and classroom
discussion on topics related to communal trauma.

To help you in your work, please review the video excerpts of the intimate conversation, curated by Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe, Executive Director of the Institute for Collective Trauma & Growth, along with brief expert reflections, discussion questions and suggested additional resources.

When a Disaster Unfolds in Slow Motion
Curated Video Clip #1

Duration [4:21]

Facing Death in Our Life Together
Curated Video Clip #2

Duration [8:19]

Innovative Embodiment amid Turmoil
Curated Video Clip #3

Duration [8:25]

Where is Joy amid Tragedy?
Curated Video Clip #4

Duration [8:26]

Expert Reflection and Discussion Guide

We hope that the accompanying written resources will equip you with support while leading your congregations and classrooms during this time. We have heard from our wider network that these “bite-sized” resources are ideal for clergy cohort groups, deacon/congregational care teams, seminary education modules, and general faith leader edification and support.

Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe

For these curated video clips and written resources, we are grateful to the Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe, Executive Director of the Institute for Collective Trauma & Growth, and our partner on Healing the Healers Series 1: Collective Trauma and Growth. https://healingthehealers.org/project/

Expert Reflection and Discussion Guide

View Resource (PDF)

In terms of resiliency, that sense of agency is one of the things that I think mitigates against trauma.

Panel Moderators:

Rev. Dr. Katie Givens Kime

Director of Religion and Civic Engagement
Odyssey Impact

Rev. Mark Ramsey

Executive Director
Macedonian Ministry

Panelists:

Rev. Matt Crebbin

Senior Pastor
Newtown Congregational Church
Newtown, CT

Rev. Dr. Tyshawn Gardner

Pastor
Plum Grove Baptist Church Tuscaloosa, AL
Vice President of Student Affairs
Stillman College

Rev. Dr. Storm Swain

Assoc. Prof. of Pastoral Care & Theology
United Lutheran Seminary
Author of Trauma and Transformation at Ground Zero: A Pastoral Theology