Sanctuary healing : One congregation's experience with dissociative identity disorder

ABSTRACT This is a true account of a congregation relating to a woman who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), who sought spiritual guidance. The pastor and congregation, working in tandem with mental health professionals, became a sanctuary for the woman. This pastor's encounter with this woman became the catalyst for this congregation to become involved in ministry to trauma survivors. The lessons learned by this congregation can serve as guidelines for other congregations that wish to develop ministries for individuals who are recovering from the effects of severe sexual trauma. The article specifically addresses ways that congregations can relate to the issues surrounding the diagnosis of individuals with DID. However, practical applications for ministry in this article may be generalized to individuals who have other diagnoses related to sexual trauma histories.