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In this track, you will learn from skilled practitioners and Candler School of Theology professors skills and perspectives for trauma-informed care.
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What does it look like to care for communities in the wake of mass trauma, such as gun violence, the pandemic, or racism? How can churches rebuild trust with individuals who have experienced trauma as part of their religious experiences? In this track, you will learn from skilled practitioners and Candler School of Theology professors skills and perspectives for trauma-informed care.
Trauma can manifest in various ways, including anxiety, depression, flashbacks, and difficulties in relationships. Recognizing and defining trauma is essential for healing, as it helps individuals understand their experiences and seek appropriate support.
Interpreting the Bible through the lens of trauma allows for a deeper understanding of its messages, themes, and characters. Many biblical narratives reflect experiences of suffering, loss, and redemption, resonating with those who have endured their own traumas. This approach acknowledges that trauma shapes our perspectives, informing how we relate to scripture and its teachings.
Traumatic experiences often shake an individual's sense of safety and reliability in themselves and others. This course explores the intricate relationship between trust and trauma, examining how trauma can erode trust and the ways to rebuild it.
Jonathan Merritt is one of America’s most popular writers on issues of faith and culture. He is author of several critically-acclaimed books, including Learning to Speak God from Scratch: Why Sacred Words are Vanishing - and How We Can Revive Them, named “Book of the Year” by the Englewood Review of Books. Jonathan is an award-winning contributor for The Atlantic, a contributing editor for The Week, and a regular columnist for Religion News Service. He has published more than 3000 articles in respected outlets such as The New York Times, USA Today, Buzzfeed, The Washington Post, The Daily Beast and Christianity Today.
Kimberly Wagner previously served as an assistant professor of homiletics in the Axel Jacob and Gerda Maria (Swanson) Carlson Chair in Homiletics at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. She earned her BS in Secondary Life Science Education from Miami University of Ohio, her MDiv from the Candler School of Theology, and her PhD from the Graduate Division of Religion, both at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Wagner’s previous experience on the pastoral staff of a PC(USA) congregation in Virginia helps fuel and inform her present scholarship and teaching. She is passionate about supporting students’ formation and helping clergy and communities navigate the realities of an ever-changing world and church.
Amy Valdez Barker works with The Ministry Collaborative as the Congregational and Pastoral Formation Curator, bringing two decades of experience in religious education and church mission. In addition to her executive leadership roles, Amy has been a practitioner in the area of youth ministry education, strategic visioning, and leadership development through church and conference positions in the United Methodist Church.
As a Deacon in Full Connection in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church as well as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Lindsay completed her undergraduate work at Southern Methodist University and graduate degrees at Duke Divinity School and UNC-Chapel Hill (yes, you can go to two rival schools at the same time... as long as you don’t mention it during basketball season!).
AVAILABLE tracks
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Are you wondering what the best practices are for teaching, mentoring, or ministering to young people today?
The Candler Foundry is an initiative of Emory University's Candler School of Theology.
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