The Two Cities

CW: adverse religious experiencesDr. Charles Kiser is a pastor and theologian with Storyline Christian Community in Dallas, TX, and Dr. Elanie Heath is the former Dean of Duke Divinity School and the author of The Mystic Way of Evangelism and Loving the Hell Out of Ourselves (and Others).In this episode, we talk about Dr. Kiser’s and Dr. Heath’s recent book Trauma-Informed Evangelism. In addition to defining terms like “trauma” and “trauma-informed,” they tell how the book came about and the source of many of its stories. They also share how their approach centers those with whom Christ is being shared–allowing them to take the place of “host,” especially as they find safety post-religious trauma. Along the way, they explore various intersections of trauma and theology, such as the way that God offers empathy to those in pain.Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Madison Pierce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: murder, depressionDr. Matthew D. Kim is the Professor of Practical Theology; Holder of the Hubert H. and Gladys S. Raborn Chair of Pastoral Leadership at Truett Seminary at Baylor University.In this episode, Dr. Kim introduces us to his book Preaching to People in Pain (Baker Academic, 2021) and his broader philosophies around trauma informed preaching. He explains some of the ways that preachers can attend to the pain of their congregations, attend to their own pain faithfully, and can ensure that those things do not override the primary message of the texts being preached. He also provides some very helpful examples of each.Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng, and Dr. Madison Pierce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: adverse religious experiences, church-related trauma, narcissistic leadersDr. Scot McKnight is Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and Laura Barringer is an author and a Kindergarten Teacher.In this episode, they summarize their two recent books (A Church Called Tov and Pivot). In the first part, in the light of abuse related to Willow Creek Church and the Southern Baptist Convention, they describe harmful dynamics and harmful responses when abuse is brought to light. And in the second part, our primary focus for the episode, they put forward a vision for transforming church cultures. They also give tips for identifying unhealthy cultures, addressing those unhealthy cultures, and understanding deconstruction in light of these things.Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Madison Pierce.Series Disclaimer: This series explores the concept of “trauma,” its sources, and its expressions from a range of perspectives. Some of our guests are licensed mental health professionals; some are those with formative experiences of trauma; and others are those who explore trauma through various theoretical frameworks. We hope that this series provides useful information to all that enables them to begin to be trauma-informed and to love others and themselves better. Our series is by no means meant to replace the important work of one-on-one time with a trauma-informed professional. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: wartime violence, civilian casualities, suicideDr. Brian Powers is Vann Fellow in Christianity and the Armed Forces and Executive Director of the International Centre for Moral Injury at Durham University.In this episode Dr. Powers defines the term “moral injury” and helps us to understand some of the applications of this term with respect to military personnel, veterans, and frontline healthcare workers. He relates moral injury and trauma, and he also illustrates instances of moral injury through modern war films as well as his own experiences. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, and Dr. Madison Pierce.Series Disclaimer: This series explores the concept of “trauma,” its sources, and its expressions from a range of perspectives. Some of our guests are licensed mental health professionals; some are those with formative experiences of trauma; and others are those who explore trauma through various theoretical frameworks. We hope that this series provides useful information to all that enables them to begin to be trauma-informed and to love others and themselves better. Our series is by no means meant to replace the important work of one-on-one time with a trauma-informed professional. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: sexual assault, forced migration, intimate partner violence.Dr. Alexiana Fry is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen and the author of Trauma Talks in the Hebrew Bible.In this episode, we talk about how she began working on this topic as well as several different texts that have or could be read in light of trauma (e.g., Judges 19; Lamentations). She offers helpful complications for thinking about these difficulties in ways that are attentive to our own experiences. We also talk about forced migration and how the interpretations of significant events construct our collective memory.Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Dr. Madison Pierce, and Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Warne.Series Disclaimer: This series explores the concept of “trauma,” its sources, and its expressions from a range of perspectives. Some of our guests are licensed mental health professionals; some are those with formative experiences of trauma; and others are those who explore trauma through various theoretical frameworks. We hope that this series provides useful information to all that enables them to begin to be trauma-informed and to love others and themselves better. Our series is by no means meant to replace the important work of one-on-one time with a trauma-informed professional. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Tim Middleton is Tutorial Fellow in Theology & Director of the Centre for Baptist Studies at Regent’s Park College at Oxford University. In this episode, we talk about ecological trauma—the trauma experienced by the earth and as a result of climate change and other ecological conditions. Dr. Middleton explains how his work intersects with trauma theologies and brings Christology into the conversation.Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Madison Pierce.Series Disclaimer: This series explores the concept of “trauma,” its sources, and its expressions from a range of perspectives. Some of our guests are licensed mental health professionals; some are those with formative experiences of trauma; and others are those who explore trauma through various theoretical frameworks. We hope that this series provides useful information to all that enables them to begin to be trauma-informed and to love others and themselves better. Our series is by no means meant to replace the important work of one-on-one time with a trauma-informed professional. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: microaggressions, institutional trauma, intergenerational traumaPastor Juliet Liu is a co-pastor of Life on the Vine in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, and she serves as Chair of the Board for Missio Alliance.In this episode, we talk about what constitutes racial trauma, how this occurs differently in different environments, how intergenerational trauma affects the children of those who have experienced racial trauma, and various practices that can help to process trauma. Pastor Liu and the BIPOC hosts share their stories of racial trauma.Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng, Rev. Daniel Parham, Dr. Madison Pierce, Rev. Dr. Christopher Porter, and Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Warne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: suicidal ideations, obsessive compulsive disorderIn this episode we’re talking about trauma and mental illness with John Andrew Bryant.John Andrew Bryant is a caregiver, writer, and part-time street pastor in a small steel town outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and he is the author of A Quiet Mind to Suffer With, published in 2023 with Lexham Press. He defines and then shares his own experiences with OCD including how a particularly severe season of his disorder caused significant trauma. In the midst of this story of pain, he offers a beautiful vision of Christ's care and presence in the midst of trauma.Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Josh Carroll, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Dr. Madison Pierce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: Domestic and Family ViolenceErica Mandi Manga (née Hamence), who is Associate Minister of Formation and Training at St Barnabas Broadway in Australia, joins us to talk about the trauma caused by Domestic and Family Violence.In this episode, we talk about Erica's work in resourcing churches, define "domestic and family violence," which encompasses far more than intimate partner violence, characteristics of these unhealthy environments, and how some of the students in Erica's care have come to recognize them.Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Stephanie Kate Judd and Dr. Madison Pierce.Series Disclaimer: This series explores the concept of “trauma,” its sources, and its expressions from a range of perspectives. Some of our guests are licensed mental health professionals; some are those with formative experiences of trauma; and others are those who explore trauma through various theoretical frameworks. We hope that this series provides useful information to all that enables them to begin to be trauma-informed and to love others and themselves better. Our series is by no means meant to replace the important work of one-on-one time with a trauma-informed professional. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tiffany Bluhm, author and speaker, discusses sexual harassment and trauma. She shares her personal experiences, offers insights on bystander intervention, and explores women's experiences in Scripture. The podcast also delves into defining harm and trauma, the dynamics of egalitarian spaces, believing and validating women's experiences, and strategies for creating safe environments.