Department
Seminary
Location
Bethel University
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
2-26-2025
End Date
2-26-2025
Abstract
Adoption is at the heart of the gospel (e.g., Psalm 68:5-6; 82:3; Eph. 1:4-5; Gal. 4:4-7; Ro. 8:14-17; James 1:27). Many Christians have experienced a rewarding connection with their child as they have answered God’s call to foster or adopt. But there is also a subset of families whose stories have taken a different turn—a darker turn where parents are confused, exhausted, and full of painful emotions. Children who have been abused and/or neglected can carry deep wounds of trauma, and this pain can be directed outward, targeting anyone who would try to help them on their journey to healing. Rather than affirming and strengthening faith, the foster or adoption journey can instead raise deep questions and doubts for parents about themselves, their child, and even God when they direct love and care to their child only to receive just hostility and pain in return. It can also raise deep questions for those who work and interact with these families, whether it be social service workers, teachers, ministry volunteers, pastors, or church members. This project seeks to address a gap in scholarship to explore the experiences and needs of these parents and primary care-givers through an approach that integrates theology, the social sciences, and relevant trauma research so that those who minister to these families can serve them well.
Recommended Citation
Hippe, DesAnne J., "Dynamics of Family Trauma: Theological Resources for Ministry with Adoptive and Foster Families" (2025). Day of Scholarship. 10.
https://spark.bethel.edu/dayofscholarship/spring2025/feb26/10
Terms of Use and License Information
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Dynamics of Family Trauma: Theological Resources for Ministry with Adoptive and Foster Families
Bethel University
Adoption is at the heart of the gospel (e.g., Psalm 68:5-6; 82:3; Eph. 1:4-5; Gal. 4:4-7; Ro. 8:14-17; James 1:27). Many Christians have experienced a rewarding connection with their child as they have answered God’s call to foster or adopt. But there is also a subset of families whose stories have taken a different turn—a darker turn where parents are confused, exhausted, and full of painful emotions. Children who have been abused and/or neglected can carry deep wounds of trauma, and this pain can be directed outward, targeting anyone who would try to help them on their journey to healing. Rather than affirming and strengthening faith, the foster or adoption journey can instead raise deep questions and doubts for parents about themselves, their child, and even God when they direct love and care to their child only to receive just hostility and pain in return. It can also raise deep questions for those who work and interact with these families, whether it be social service workers, teachers, ministry volunteers, pastors, or church members. This project seeks to address a gap in scholarship to explore the experiences and needs of these parents and primary care-givers through an approach that integrates theology, the social sciences, and relevant trauma research so that those who minister to these families can serve them well.
