Taste and See that the Lord is Good

Religious Trauma, Ritual Leadership and Communion

Abstract

Religious trauma, an internalized fragmentation that occurs when one’s relationship with God and a religious community is traumatically destroyed or lost, requires a response on the part of ministerial leaders, specifically in their ritual leadership. To be faithful to the call of God to leadership in ministry, we must practice trauma-informed ritual leadership in the ritual of communion. This article explores the intersection of religious trauma and the sacrament of communion, and offers constructive ideas about how to practice trauma-informed ritual leadership. This kind of ritual leadership supports the growth and healing of people who have experienced religious trauma.