Comments on: A rabbi, a priest, an imam, and a minister go to the Astrodome . . . . http://boyinthebands.com/archives/a-rabbi-a-priest-an-imam-and-a-minister-go-to-the-astrodome/ Scott Wells on the practice of Christian faith Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:34:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Peacebang http://boyinthebands.com/archives/a-rabbi-a-priest-an-imam-and-a-minister-go-to-the-astrodome/#comment-14181 Peacebang Wed, 07 Sep 2005 02:11:49 +0000 http://www.universalistchurch.net/boyinthebands/archives/a-rabbi-a-priest-an-imam-and-a-minister-go-to-the-astrodome/#comment-14181 Preach it, brother. Preach it, brother.

]]> By: Peregrinato http://boyinthebands.com/archives/a-rabbi-a-priest-an-imam-and-a-minister-go-to-the-astrodome/#comment-14146 Peregrinato Mon, 05 Sep 2005 19:19:41 +0000 http://www.universalistchurch.net/boyinthebands/archives/a-rabbi-a-priest-an-imam-and-a-minister-go-to-the-astrodome/#comment-14146 I'm not sure exactly what kind of work is required in "trauma ministry." I can extrapolate and make assumptions though. The basics of crisis response -- and I'm speaking in terms of trauma counseling and intervention, not medical or material support -- involve, in very simple terms, listening. There is some ongoing debate in clinical literature, or at least there was (I haven't checked recently) whether the "debriefing" model really is clinically effective, but for now it seems to be all we have. I would imagine that trauma ministry must be more than simply offering platitudes, as some novice crisis ministry types might attempt, but mustbe clinically sound, with explicit religious metaphor and language: to help the client see how this time of terror has become kairos, sacred time. (Remember the numinous tremendum: sacred doesn't necessarily mean happy and joyful.) It means being able to help the wounded articulate their grief, their doubt, their anger, and their sorrow in religious language: it doesn't mean offering assurance beyond what can be reasonably offered, or trying to make the wounded "feel better". It means companioning them through their pain. If anyone is actually reading this comment, I suspect it is entirely preaching to the choir, but I wanted to preach it anyway. I’m not sure exactly what kind of work is required in “trauma ministry.” I can extrapolate and make assumptions though. The basics of crisis response — and I’m speaking in terms of trauma counseling and intervention, not medical or material support — involve, in very simple terms, listening. There is some ongoing debate in clinical literature, or at least there was (I haven’t checked recently) whether the “debriefing” model really is clinically effective, but for now it seems to be all we have. I would imagine that trauma ministry must be more than simply offering platitudes, as some novice crisis ministry types might attempt, but mustbe clinically sound, with explicit religious metaphor and language: to help the client see how this time of terror has become kairos, sacred time. (Remember the numinous tremendum: sacred doesn’t necessarily mean happy and joyful.) It means being able to help the wounded articulate their grief, their doubt, their anger, and their sorrow in religious language: it doesn’t mean offering assurance beyond what can be reasonably offered, or trying to make the wounded “feel better”. It means companioning them through their pain.

If anyone is actually reading this comment, I suspect it is entirely preaching to the choir, but I wanted to preach it anyway.

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