LE3 .A278 2020

2020

Coffin, Christopher

Acadia University

Doctor of Ministry

D.Min.

Ministry

Acadia Divinity College

An extensive review of secular ideas about shame, trauma, and forgiveness was conducted. It was found that there was an element absent from these philosophies. As shame and forgiveness are understood as spiritual concepts, a richer understanding would require a thorough study of theological and biblical viewpoints. Shame has been a part of every human’s life since the Fall of Humankind. The role of shame in the effects of trauma is of interest in this paper. Research shows that early trauma compounded with poor coping skills creates a “perfect storm” for shame to grow and control a person’s emotions. The effects, through their lives, are evident in loss of emotional control and trust. A church or other Christian organization, wanting to have an effective ministry to the wounded needs training in trauma-informed practices in order to do no harm when dealing with those in their care. A training tool was designed to show training participants how to be more effective when walking alongside these wounded people. Care and hospitality are proven to be key factors in effective ministry. Building an accepting relationship allows the participants to start a safe conversation and begin a fulfilling ministry.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3651