In his ICTG short, "Sustaining Congregational Leadership after Trauma," based on his book When Steeples Cry, Dr. Jaco Hamman discusses three steps that congregational leaders can take to encourage healing and growth in among their congregants.  Dr. Hamman is a member of ICTG's Board of Advisors and is the Associate Professor for Religion, Psychology and Culture at Vanderbilt Divinity School. 

1. Talk about the trauma that occurred
Bring congregants together, beginning with small groups, to discuss the events and how individuals have been affected.  Allow for differing perspectives and experiences.  As the conversations unfold, and as small groups become larger groups over time, empower congregants to explore how they can hold varying experiences for one another. 

2. Bring the conversations into your common worship
Hamman notes how the prophet Joel exhorts us to call a sacred assembly. Through vigils, worship services, prayer services, and services of lament, congregations can come together after the trauma.  Mourning can be practiced through the elements of worship, including preaching, music and corporate prayer, as well as rituals that fit the experiences of the congregation and allow for embodied expressions.   

3. Engage in acts of compassion
Through compassion, listening, being moved, and being hospitable, the congregation will discover together healing steps forward.  Hamman also teaches that "compassion helps us find our new identity" after trauma.  

Trauma events inevitably bring about changes in a group or congregation's identity.  Following these steps, congregations can begin the process of moving forward after tragedy in ways that honor one another, practice integrity, and provide safety for growth.  You can learn more by viewing Hamman's short "Sustaining Congregational Leadership after Trauma," as well as other congregational responses to trauma on the ICTG "Response in Congregations" page.

For those of us who serve in consultation with congregations following measures of faith-based disaster relief, we talk about disaster incidents as an uncovering event.  Like a sudden peeling of a can lid, or more so, the sudden tearing off of a scab, a trauma event suddenly shows what's been happening underneath.  The instinct for many, whether because of shame, secrecy, or a weak stomach, is to re-cover quickly.  Sew the wound back up, start the healing process right away, and "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."  

That's when those of us who practice being long-haul disaster relief companions often take a long slow breath.  We get it – at one time or another, many of us have been in those very shoes and had similar instincts.  From experience and training, we also know that sewing a wound up quickly, without considering what's been going on underneath, without cleaning the whole sore and not just the disaster site, often causes or brings about more pain in the future. It's like when a tree trimmer trims a tree incorrectly, and the knob that "heals" there actually begins a slow process of internal rot in the limb.  It can look healthy on the outside, and even sprout new leaves and twigs, even as the inside slowly becomes hollow.  

Trauma is an act of uncovering . . . uncovering that is worth paying attention.  When some ministers wonder whether to go about "business as usual" after a disaster, a colleague of mine likes to say, "The disaster is your business now." Part of that business, especially among congregations, is paying attention to what is revealed by the uncovering of the trauma, even what may seem entirely unrelated.  

What kinds of things surface after a disaster?  In the early days, in some cases, congregations discover that funds were embezzled months before, or that an affair has been going on among ministry leaders, or that forms of abuse have been occurring behind the scenes.  An uncovering may reveal far less sinister acts, too.  Instead, it may reveal other kinds of soul-disparaging acts like ministers who lack personal integrity and relational transparency, or a congregation that has long since lost sight of its purpose for gathering or its sense of worship.  

What do you do when you begin to pay attention to what is revealed following a disaster event? Listen.  Practice patience.  And practice response-ability to what is uncovered.  It takes practice.  You learn to hear your own instincts as you are learning about what is uncovered, and you learn how to calm yourself and to encourage those around you to calm themselves. Together you practice responding to your collective story.  By paying attention and patiently responding, you can counter potential rot and you will bring about more lasting healing.  

Too often, a common refrain among ministers facing crises is that they were unaware of the tools and resources that their own denominations or faith traditions offer, let alone what tools and resources are available through national and non-sectarian trauma response organizations. That is changing and people are becoming more aware of what is possible. 

ICTG has created a new page on our website that provides a sampling of some of the pastoral, practical, and constructive theologians throughout the country who are leading in studies and practices of faithful trauma response.  

You can view this page here.  

Some important ways that faith groups demonstrate their sense of being neighbors in times of crisis is by acknowledging hate crimes and standing in solidarity against violence when neighboring houses of worship experience trauma.  One year ago today, a man entered a Sikh gurdwara and shot many people, killing six.  Sikhs, people devoted to peace, began practicing their faith in the Punjab region of India in the 15th century.  At the time of the incident there were 1.3 million Sikhs in the U.S. and Canada, and almost 20 million in India. 

In response to this shocking act of violence, several neighboring faith groups immediately spoke out.  

For example, Kathryn Lohre, the President of the National Council of Churches expressed that the NCC and its member churches "stand in solidarity with out Sikh brothers and sisters in this frightening time."  Similarly, Antonios Kireopoulos, the NCC's associate general secretary who oversees the council's interfaith work, said: "While it is difficult to know what was in the mind of the attacker, it would seem that it was the same mix of fear, ignorance, and bigotry that fuels all violence against individuals or communities of faith.  It is our prayer that such acts of terrorism – for they are in fact terrorist acts – become less and less frequent, and indeed come to an end, as our society becomes more and more vigilant in educating one another on what it truly means to live as neighbors of one another." 

B'nai B'rith International, the Jewish humanitarian, human rights and advocacy agency, also expressed a stance of solidarity and expressed how their "thoughts and prayers go to the victims and their families."  

The Council on American-Islamic Relations explained that American Muslims "stand with their Sikh brothers and sisters" and they "condemn this senseless act of violence, pray for those who were killed or injured and offer sincere condolences to their loved one."  

Many Protestant groups spoke out as well.  For example, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) wrote that the event had "touched our lives deeply with sadness and concern . . . There is so much ignorance of religions, cultures and people, and too often those in the minority bear the heaviest burdens in our shared society."  He continued, "We believe that love of God and love of neighbor is what is needed in our communities and in our country, and we extend ourselves to you brothers and sisters – as children of God."

As a way to give back and to thank the community for its courage in the aftermath of the shooting, the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin organized about 1,100 people for the Chardhi Kala 6K run at Oak Creek High School, with money raised going to benefit a community scholarship fund.  The name of the event comes from a Sikh principle that means relentless optimism, even amid tragedy. 

It can be challenging to know what to do in response to such senseless acts of hatred and fear, especially as a congregation.  Sometimes expressing concern, speaking solidarity and joining together in community acts of giving, as the examples above show, can be significant steps in towards healing.