I love the idea that church can create appropriate ruptures with the messages of God’s justice and holiness and then heal them with the message of God’s unconditional acceptance and infinite love for us.
Just like a parent creates a rupture when they yell and scream at their toddler who is run I g into the street, then repairs the rupture by holding them and reassuring the toddler of their love and belonging.
SO much wisdom here. I so often see how churches get it wrong in both directions. Thank you for the clear explanations and summaries. Definitely will inform my thinking and writing moving forward.
Hi guys, Loving how you work through the concerns on both ends about "trauma-informed" worship. As it happens, I just finished up my D.Min. work on a topic that very much overlaps. Where you come to the conclusion about integrating "care and challenge," I use the terms "connection" and "disruption," and how our gatherings must be containers that can hold both of these ingredients that flow out of genuine encounter with God and others. As you re-imagine the various movements in a "traditional" liturgy, I want to offer that we can go back and re-imagine the whole form of our gatherings. At the risk of hubris, I offer my paper on the Eucharistic Meal, as I've found that much of our thinking (and ways of approaching thinking) about worship, spirituality, etc. overlaps. I would love to hear any feedback if you have the time and interest. Blessings, Jon
My worship experience is very centered around Jesus' saying "If you are at the altar and remember your brother/sister has something against you, drop your gift and go make peace." So many times, I have walked out of a service and called someone or tapped them on the shoulder. In my experience, this is the power of worship - self reflection.
I think this is good but I have concern for the way church leaders and cultures (well meaning) actually "encourage" folks who are dealing with spiritual abuse trauma to engage with God and others. For those folks, some would be best served by being offered alternatives to a formal church setting/service where their story can be heard, their struggle with God affirmed, and their walk simply supported until a new foundation of trust has been laid.
I love the idea that church can create appropriate ruptures with the messages of God’s justice and holiness and then heal them with the message of God’s unconditional acceptance and infinite love for us.
Just like a parent creates a rupture when they yell and scream at their toddler who is run I g into the street, then repairs the rupture by holding them and reassuring the toddler of their love and belonging.
SO much wisdom here. I so often see how churches get it wrong in both directions. Thank you for the clear explanations and summaries. Definitely will inform my thinking and writing moving forward.
Hi guys, Loving how you work through the concerns on both ends about "trauma-informed" worship. As it happens, I just finished up my D.Min. work on a topic that very much overlaps. Where you come to the conclusion about integrating "care and challenge," I use the terms "connection" and "disruption," and how our gatherings must be containers that can hold both of these ingredients that flow out of genuine encounter with God and others. As you re-imagine the various movements in a "traditional" liturgy, I want to offer that we can go back and re-imagine the whole form of our gatherings. At the risk of hubris, I offer my paper on the Eucharistic Meal, as I've found that much of our thinking (and ways of approaching thinking) about worship, spirituality, etc. overlaps. I would love to hear any feedback if you have the time and interest. Blessings, Jon
https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/ff7bb166-d08c-4cc6-be27-42dc55b834d6?q=Komperda
(If the link doesn't work for you, I can send a file directly if you're interested.)
My worship experience is very centered around Jesus' saying "If you are at the altar and remember your brother/sister has something against you, drop your gift and go make peace." So many times, I have walked out of a service and called someone or tapped them on the shoulder. In my experience, this is the power of worship - self reflection.
I think this is good but I have concern for the way church leaders and cultures (well meaning) actually "encourage" folks who are dealing with spiritual abuse trauma to engage with God and others. For those folks, some would be best served by being offered alternatives to a formal church setting/service where their story can be heard, their struggle with God affirmed, and their walk simply supported until a new foundation of trust has been laid.