After a night of sleep (good or otherwise) we gathered for an equipping session with the same wise panel of (left to right) Lindsay Wenger, Jennifer Keeney-Scarr, Laura Stone and Denise Kettering-Lane.

They shared resources on models of understanding trauma and healing. The books recommendations include:

Torture and Eucharist: Theology, Politics, and the Body of Christ by William T. Cavanaugh

Fractured Ground: Preaching in the Wake of Mass Trauma by Kimberly R. Wagner

Unspeakable: Preaching and Trauma-Informed Theology by Sarah Travis

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to stay emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world by John Mark Comer

Spirit and Trauma by Shelly Rambo

Sacrifice Lost by Ashely Theuring

A webinar will be coming in September to continue the conversation! Stay tuned for details!

By Anna Lisa Gross

After a day of challenging business–challenging both in themes and understanding of process–90 people gathered for the Womaen’s Caucus dinner to explore how collective trauma impacts the Church of the Brethren. Singing the African-American spiritual “There Is More Love” grounded the gathering in God’s healing presence.

A panel explored collective trauma in four ways.

Bethany Seminary professor Denise Ketting-Lane shared a foundational definition of trauma. She discussed persecution of Anabaptists in Europe, as well as the traumatic experiences of early Brethren immigrants to the United States.

District executive minister and spiritual director Laura Stone developed a theological framework for trauma, naming the world-ending experience of an event like Jesus’ death on Friday, the Spirit’s witness to the waiting of Saturday, and our tendency to rush toward the relief of Sunday. Stone invited us to know the Spirit is present with us in the thick of Saturday, and not to ask traumatized people to make more meaning of their situation than is authentic.

Pastor Jennifer Keeney-Scarr spoke about trauma-informed preaching, raising awareness that every person in the congregation lives with trauma. At times, the preacher and congregation are experiencing the same traumatic event (natural disaster, for example) but each person’s trauma is unique. Preachers can be intentional about words, sounds, and illustrations in preaching and worship to cultivate safety in worship.

Congregational and district leader Lindsay Wenger shared viscerally, vulnerably, and courageously about coming to awareness, and eventually peace, with her sexuality. She discussed leading in her congregation and district during processes of congregations leaving the district and denomination due to their convictions about sexuality. She also shared about the pain in her own congregation’s ongoing process regarding inclusion.

The gathered body held this wisdom and these stories in prayer and gratitude, eagerly anticipating Saturday’s equipping session with the same panel, now turning toward community resources for healing collective trauma.

The past couple years we’ve explored trauma (especially sexual and gendered abuse) in the Church of the Brethren.

This summer we’re exploring collective trauma - how are we hurt (and how are we healed) - in our groups?

We look forward to seeing you at our booth (shared with Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBTQI Interests) and throughout Annual Conference July 1-6!

We're learning how our bodies carry trauma - but how does our church body carry trauma? Learn from Denise Kettering Lane, Jennifer Keeney Scarr, Laura Stone and Lindsay Wenger about collective trauma in the Church of the Brethren: immigration, conflict, oppression, and more. We'll continue the conversation in our Saturday equipping session, and hope you can attend both events.
We realize AC meal events can be out of some people’s price range (or outside their dietary needs) and we welcome you to come without a ticket - we’ll have room for people to come without eating.

Dinner Friday, July 4, 5-6:30pm

What spiritual, theological and creative resources do we have to tend to collective trauma in our contexts? We'll continue the conversation we began at our Friday meal event, and encourage you to participate in both events (but we'll make sure you can catch up even if you can only attend one.)

Saturday 12:30pm Equipping Session

We will not have any hybrid options at AC 2025 due to our teeny volunteer steering committee’s resource reality. We do hope to see you there!

Womaen’s Caucus long held a tradition of gathering for prayer near the time of voting and/or announcing the elections at Annual Conference. These prayers were especially for women on the ballot.

This year we encourage you to be in prayer for all who said YES to being on the ballot, whether they were chosen by Nominating and Standing Committees or not.

We invite you to be in prayer for Nominating Committee and all of Standing Committee and Annual Conference Officers and Staff who consider carefully the calling of leaders.

We join you in prayer for a fiercely faithful church with passionate, prophetic leaders of integrity!

11.12 8:00PM EST

Whether you’ve been elected to a denominational leadership position, or have no idea how to even nominate someone, join us on zoom for an informative, active session: Tuesday, November 12 at 8pm Eastern.

Nominations are made online, with or without consulting your nominee first. But, the nomination can only move forward if the person you nominated fills out the nominee information form – and over half of the nominees never do! 

At AC 2025 we’ll be electing:

Moderator-elect

Program and Arrangements Committee

Mission and Ministry Board

from Area 1: Atlantic Northeast, Mid-Atlantic*, Middle PA, Southern PA, Western PA

from Area 4: Missouri-Arkansas, Northern Plains, Southern Plains*, Western Plains (*no representation for the past 10 years)

Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee (Laity)

Review and Evaluation Committee

Five persons, 2-4 year term

Check out the nominations process video and FAQs at 

https://www.brethren.org/ac/nominations/ and/or come to our Nominations Party on Tuesday, Nov at 8pm Eastern.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, our mailbox has been closed and all mail has been returned to sender.  We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused. Please use: Womaen’s Caucus

4898 E 1400 N

North Manchester, IN 46962

We do love to hear from you, and look forward to gathering with you online and in person this year!