It’s a heavy reality to hold, but we know that trauma isn't just "out there"—it’s in our pews and in the stories of the people we are called to shepherd. For too long, well-intentioned leaders have relied on passive or superficial responses that, while meant to help, can actually leave wounds to fester and cause further harm.

We can do better. Join GRACE Executive Director Laura Thien, MSW, LISW-CP, for an interactive short-form leadership course: Becoming a Trauma-Informed Church. This three-hour session moves beyond theory, and dive into the four "R’s" (Realize, Recognize, Respond, Resist) and the six principles of trauma-informed care to build a sanctuary marked by genuine safety, transparency, and integrity. Let’s trade "quick-fix" apologies for a commitment to long-term healing and justice that reflects the heart of God for the vulnerable.