Retreat: Trauma-Informed Theology

February 2, 2024

Durham, NC - Lately there has been a lot of discussion around Trauma-Informed Care in the field of human services. Trauma-Informed Care recognizes the presence of symptoms of trauma and the role that trauma could play in an individual’s life. On a systemic or institutional level, Trauma-Informed Care changes the culture to emphasize respecting and appropriately responding to the effects of trauma at all levels. While attending a pastor’s retreat for the Durham District of the Central North Carolina Conference, we were introduced to the concept of Trauma-Informed Theology. Trauma-informed theology argues that care for traumatic wounding must include all dimensions of the human person, including spiritual practices, religious rituals, community participation, and theological thinking.

The concept was introduced by Rev. Dr. Micah L. McCreary, who was the featured speaker at this retreat. Not only is Dr. McCreary the author of Trauma and Race: A Path to Wellbeing, but he is also president of New Brunswick Theological Seminary. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Michigan; a Master of Divinity from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, and a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. While this scaled-down list of academic achievements is impressive, what was most impressive to this writer was his regular, degular, schmegular personality. He was transparent and authentic, and it gave the room permission to be the same. He was willing to share some of his own personal trauma and the way it impacted his life and made it easy for us to draw the parallels in our own.

Rev. Tamario Howze organized the retreat. Rev. Howze also possesses a list of academic matriculations from prestigious institutions, yet he, too, remains down-to-earth and approachable. He recognizes the importance of self-care for leaders. He says, “Just as much as the spiritual health of the people whom pastors lead matters, clergy health matters too. Pastors are burned out and tired. I wanted them to know that I care about and support their ministries.” Rev. Howze is furthering his education as a doctoral student at Campbell University while working in his local church and actively participating as a husband and father in the life of his growing family. What is most impressive about Rev. Howze, to me, is that he is ‘bout that life. He does not just care about pastors; he cares about people. Once a month, he has Church in the Streets, a ministry partnership that goes where people are and meets them where they are, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Rev. Howze’s passion for people and his understanding of Trauma-Informed Care operates from the philosophy that we are all human beings who have had experiences, some traumatic, that have shaped us and when we address the whole person, we have the opportunity to show them that the love of God extends past the wall of the sanctuary on Sunday between the hours of 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. The love of God can find you wherever you are.

Because of this shared understanding of the human condition, it is no surprise that Rev. Howze would bring such a practitioner of Trauma-Informed Theology as Dr. McCreary to speak to pastors. As pastors, we often speak with our congregants about their individual traumas. At times, we may not be equipped to handle the intricacies of trauma symptoms. This retreat taught us that it is acceptable and necessary to recognize that some situations require a different level of care. In these situations, it is better to refer your congregants to trained, licensed mental health professionals. It does not mean that your faith is lacking. This retreat was a reminder that faith is action. It is okay to have Jesus and a therapist, too.

Baldwin, Jennifer. N.D. "Trauma Sensitive Theology." 
McCreary, Micah, L. 2023. "Trauma and Race: A Path to Wellbeing."