{"title":"Trauma and Congregations: The Importance of Trauma Sensitivity in Local Religious Congregations","authors":"Erin Hill, Gaynor I. Yancey","doi":"10.34043/swc.v49i2.191","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.v49i2.191","url":null,"abstract":"Local congregations are vital resources within communities. They serve an important function in the lives of community members and especially those who have experienced trauma. This article examines current literature about the interaction between faith communities and trauma, the reasons why it is valuable for local congregations to understand trauma, and the role that faith and congregations can have in helping individuals who have experienced trauma. Rather than focusing on the role of faith in the healing of trauma (which is a separate area of study), this article focuses on the importance of positively creating congregational systems to be mindful of those who have experienced trauma. There is a significant gap in the current literature on how congregations can be trauma sensitive\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 ","PeriodicalId":159660,"journal":{"name":"Social Work & Christianity","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131490602","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daniel A. Boamah, Sharon D. Jones-Eversley, D. Harmon, C. Adedoyin, Kelsey Burton, Sharon E. Sanders, Christopher Jones, Brittany Nwachuku, Sharon E. Moore
{"title":"Dismantling Structural Racism, Hate, and White Supremacy Through Course Assignments That Integrate Faith and Learning in Social Work Curriculum","authors":"Daniel A. Boamah, Sharon D. Jones-Eversley, D. Harmon, C. Adedoyin, Kelsey Burton, Sharon E. Sanders, Christopher Jones, Brittany Nwachuku, Sharon E. Moore","doi":"10.34043/swc.v49i1.224","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.v49i1.224","url":null,"abstract":"Recently, there has been a growing interest in the nexus of faith and the triumvirate of learning, practice, and research. Social work educators have not consistently challenged social work students to consider the importance of the constructs of faith, religiosity, and spirituality in their own learning and lives. The acknowledgment of racism as an unjust social construct is the essential social justice focus of this paper. The authors present an example of a course assignment that may be used to help students explore the significance and meaning of faith, equity, and spirituality in others and in their own lives. The Critical Race Theory (CRT) is used as a theoretical framework to discuss how educators can prepare students to have a generalist perspective that is humane and social justice driven. The ethical duty to acknowledge, explore, and teach students faith in the social work curriculum is a key aspect of the biopsychosocial-spiritual assessment. \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 ","PeriodicalId":159660,"journal":{"name":"Social Work & Christianity","volume":"5 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130810450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Can We Talk but Still Stay Together: Using Restorative Practice to Address Conflict in Faith Communities","authors":"M. Vander Vennen, Morgan Braganza","doi":"10.34043/swc.v49i1.256","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.v49i1.256","url":null,"abstract":"Restorative practice is increasingly being used in numerous Canadian contexts, including social work practice, to resolve conflict in emotionally healthy ways. It aims to facilitate dialogue, repair and nurture relationships, and foster belonging. Its strategies align with the Christian imperative to develop right relationships with our neighbours. Despite its potential value to social work professionals, including Christians, little scholarship describes how it can be implemented. This article offers a case example of restorative practice work implemented in faith communities to address conflict and build stronger, more connected communities. First, the origins of the approach are discussed. Then, an overview of the approach developed for faith communities is offered. This is followed by an overview of how it is implemented in practice. Finally, an example is offered illustrating its implementation across the Christian Reformed Church of North America. The article concludes with considerations for Christian social work professionals interested in understanding or utilizing this approach\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 ","PeriodicalId":159660,"journal":{"name":"Social Work & Christianity","volume":"4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115190099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Disarming the Church: Why Christians Must Forsake Violence and Follow Jesus and Change","authors":"Deborah L. Burke","doi":"10.34043/swc.v49i1.258","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.v49i1.258","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":159660,"journal":{"name":"Social Work & Christianity","volume":"50 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131808669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Christian Hospitality and Muslim Immigration in an Age of Fear","authors":"Jacob Oliveira","doi":"10.34043/swc.v49i1.262","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.v49i1.262","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":159660,"journal":{"name":"Social Work & Christianity","volume":"149 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114896296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Introducing a Conceptual Framework for Assessing Existing Models, Frameworks, and Approaches for Navigating Encounters Across Difficult Differences","authors":"Morgan Braganza","doi":"10.34043/swc.v49i1.274","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.v49i1.274","url":null,"abstract":"Despite the Biblical account that God purposely created people to be different, multidisciplinary research suggests that people tend to struggle to positively encounter those who hold difficult, disagreeable, or contentious differences. Social work professionals have turned to a variety of frameworks, models, and approaches for pragmatic or paradigmatic recommendations for improving difficult encounters. However, there is not a vehicle for assessing these frameworks or to consider how they might positively or negatively influence encounters. Consequently, this paper proposes a new conceptual framework meant to assess and deconstruct existing frameworks. This article describes the Encountering Contentious Differences Conceptual Framework including an overview of its five sensitizing concepts. Illustrations are provided for how to utilize this Conceptual Framework in practice by applying it to three existing frameworks: the anti-oppressive practice/Intergroup Dialogue, inclusion/exclusion, and Christian hospitality frameworks. This article concludes with implications of the Conceptual Framework for social work practice, education, and research.","PeriodicalId":159660,"journal":{"name":"Social Work & Christianity","volume":"6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122633586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Introduction to Special Issue","authors":"Allison Tan, Morgan Braganza","doi":"10.34043/swc.v49i1.288","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.v49i1.288","url":null,"abstract":"Social work regulations obligate social workers to attend to issues of diversity, and consider the value of engaging others well. This includes Christian social workers. Despite this, conflict, divisiveness, and polarization are increasing among North Americans. Perhaps because of this reality, a proliferation of different models has emerged to offer social workers strategies for engaging more positively in the presence of contentious differences. This special issue provides examples of the application of three models meant to facilitate more positive encounters: restorative practice, Reflective Structured Dialogue, and Living Room Conversations. It also offers a conceptual framework meant for deconstructing and assessing various models. The collection of articles in this special issue reflects some of the work being done in North American social work practice to foster improved encounters where differences are present and shows that the field is rich with models to help each of us encounter others well.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 ","PeriodicalId":159660,"journal":{"name":"Social Work & Christianity","volume":"6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124880454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reflective Structured Dialogue: Faculty in a Christian University Discuss LGBTQ+ Inclusion","authors":"H. Harris, Jeremy Counseller","doi":"10.34043/swc.v49i1.253","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.v49i1.253","url":null,"abstract":"The question of LGBTQ+ inclusion is a challenging one in a number of Christian denominations and extends beyond congregations to religiously affiliated higher education. Are LGBTQ+ students free to be open and “out” in their colleges and universities that are affiliated with religious groups, particularly those whose beliefs may include that sexual orientation and gender identity are spiritual matters of sin, repentance, and change? This is a particular challenge to social work faculty in accredited programs whose commitment to social justice and diversity is central to their mission. In one university affiliated with traditionalist, conservative denominational groups, the administration reached out to social work and law faculty to facilitate university faculty discussions about inclusion. Faculty met using Reflective Structured Dialog (RSD) in focus groups to examine faculty views about how best to provide both a loving and supportive educational environment to LGBTQ+ students and honor the university’s mission and affiliations. The process was essential to gather and value very divergent points of view without fracturing the faculty. The authors provide context and process as a model for other universities exploring difficult value laden conversations in Christian contexts. \u0000 \u0000 \u0000 ","PeriodicalId":159660,"journal":{"name":"Social Work & Christianity","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129226916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Round Table Conversations on Oppression, Racism, and Religious Oppression","authors":"Joyous C. Bethel, Leonora Foels, Ling Dinse","doi":"10.34043/swc.v49i1.216","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.v49i1.216","url":null,"abstract":"This study empirically examines the experience of 196 undergraduate students from two universities, one a secular state institution and the other a Christian college, enrolled in courses on human diversity. The students engaged in structured conversations as a vehicle for increasing the students’ understanding of the lived experiences of others. Conversation topics included understandings of racial and religious oppression. The goal of the study was for students to intentionally engage in structured conversations about contentious topics (oppression, race, and religious oppression) to develop an understanding of the lived experiences of others. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed, and the findings are presented. The conversation experiences were universally found by students at both institutions of higher education to be overwhelmingly meaningful.\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 ","PeriodicalId":159660,"journal":{"name":"Social Work & Christianity","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121205206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference","authors":"Charis Visser","doi":"10.34043/swc.v49i1.263","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34043/swc.v49i1.263","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":159660,"journal":{"name":"Social Work & Christianity","volume":"130 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131618523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}