Dawn of Sunday: Creating Trauma Safe Churches

My friend and colleague Dr. Scott Harrower has just released a book with some collaborators on the topic of creating trauma-friendly churches. It is called Dawn of Sunday: The Trinity and Trauma-Safe Churches.

Here’s the blurb:

Whether we realize it or not, our churches are full of those who have experienced and are living with the aftereffects of horror and trauma, whether as survivors, carers, or perpetrators. The central question of this book is simple: How can our churches become open to the Trinity such that they are trauma-safe environments for everyone? How can we join the triune God to become trauma-safe churches? While the reality is bleak, the church can dare to hope for healing because of the reality of God and the body of Christ. Using the metaphor of the dawn of Sunday, the authors propose a double witness to trauma that straddles the boundary between the deadly silence of Holy Saturday and the joy of Easter Sunday. While witnessing loss and lament we can also be open to the possibility of new life through God's trinitarian works of safety and recovery in the church. This involves adopting some basic principles and practices of trauma safety that every pastor, congregation, and layperson can begin using today. Creating trauma-safe churches is possible through God the Trinity.

The authors show us how the triune God gives us solace in sufferings, hope amidst horrors, and strength in our weakness. This is no empty therapeutic but theology for healing and restoration after traumatic experiences. A terrific resource in pastoral theology!

Note, Scott has done a great webinar on the topic of trauma and Christian recovery, that is well worth your time to watch!