All congregations respond to trauma. Responding well can lead to thriving—in the life of our congregations, our neighborhoods, and our cities.
We foster mutual learning among a network of educators and congregational leaders to generate theologically robust, interdisciplinary, and innovative responses to collective trauma that are deeply integrated into the mission of thriving urban congregations.
Our Mission
Many congregations, regardless of faith tradition, operate as first-responders and safety-nets in the face of various forms of trauma. Incidents of gun violence, ongoing conditions of homelessness, changing policies on immigration, and the rise of violence against Black, brown, and Asian communities in the U.S., all impact the life of faith.
Our work is grounded in the conviction that:
Congregations have organic resources for trauma response and are often already equipped for and engaged in trauma-responsive ministry.
Responding to trauma is exhausting. We are aware of the heavy load that many congregational leaders and members are carrying.
Trauma is a way of naming experiences impacting our lives on many levels. But the quest to interpret and respond to human suffering is a longstanding and faith-filled task.
We need each other. We benefit from collaborative conversations, creative partnerships, and building capacities for joy, embodied care, and spiritual nourishment.
What makes this grant unique?
It draws from networks of spiritual care and chaplaincy, connecting communities of care from across each city.
It features current—and cutting-edge—research in trauma and moral injury. More importantly, it works with congregational leaders to integrate this research with congregational resources (liturgies, scripture studies, sermon preparation, adult education curriculum).
Our Story
The Trauma-Responsive Congregations grant is rooted in the ongoing work of Boston University School of Theology’s Center for Practical Theology. BU has been engaged in collaborations with Chaplaincy Innovation Lab and ACPE, which focus on research and education in chaplaincy and spiritual care.
What makes this grant possible?
This program is hosted by Boston University School of Theology’s Center for Practical Theology and developed in partnership with Chaplaincy Innovation Lab and ACPE, through the generous support of the Lilly Endowment Inc.
