Discussion guide for November 2024 issue

Leading and preaching in the storm by Kimberly Wagner

Questions:

1. What traumatic experiences have you and/or your faith community experienced? What caused the trauma? What were some consequences of the trauma? How was the trauma addressed?
2. The author uses the phrase “narrative fracture” to describe what happens when individuals and communities experience trauma. In what ways is that phrase helpful for you to make sense of traumatic experiences?
3. The author presents three images to describe ways faith leaders can respond to times of trauma: superhero, midwife, and resident prophet. With which of these three images are you most comfortable? Which do you think will be most appropriate for your context of trauma and disorientation?
4. If someone were to share with you that they are considering going to seminary to prepare for being called as a pastor of a church or worshiping community, how would you respond? What questions would you ask? What advice would you give? 

Taming the power of trauma by Sarah Ann Bixler

Questions:

1. The author states, “Theological reflection on trauma acknowledges the terrible power of theology to inflict and deepen harm.” What are your thoughts about that statement? What are some examples you know of where theological affirmations have caused harm?
2. Identify some insights you have gained from reading this article. How might we be more sensitive to harms that persons have experienced in churches?
3. The author writes,” Within [the Bible’s] pages abound examples of how people of faith have engaged in theological reflection on trauma.” How do you respond to that statement? What examples can you think of where the people of God, in Old and New Testaments, experience and/or reflect on their times of trauma?
4. Thinking about Bible study groups in our churches … how might we introduce and reflect upon narratives in scripture that include examples of individual, corporate or national experiences of trauma?
5. Reread the section “toward a hopeful future.” How helpful do you find this section to be? How do you see these affirmations influencing ministry in your faith community?

The trauma in my bones by Chanequa Walker-Barnes

Questions:

1. In order to achieve better mental health and wholeness, what are some ways faith leaders can help members of their congregations reflect on childhood experiences that today would be diagnosed as traumatic experiences?
2. The author quotes Bessel van der Kolk: “The trauma may be over, but it keeps being replayed in continually recycling memories and in a reorganized nervous system.”
   What are some experiences or insights you have that underscore the truth of that statement?
3. What do you find to be most surprising or most enlightening in this article?
4. The author concludes her article with, “I cannot rewrite my family’s history, but perhaps I can teach my body a new story.” What are some ways you can think of “to teach our bodies new stories?”

Welcoming all children by Melissa Earley

Questions:

1. After reading this article, what were your first reactions? What questions did the article raise for you?
2. If there are foster parents or adopting parents in your faith community, how are the families and the children being cared for by the congregation? How does this article inform you regarding ways the congregation can be more helpful to the children and their parents?
3. If you did a little research on Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), what did you learn that could be helpful to your church’s ministry to families and children?
4. That author shares many stories about children impacted by traumatic experiences. Which story did you find most meaningful? With which story do you identify most closely?