Date
5-20-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Jamie Clark
Keywords
clergy, trauma, pastoral leadership, trauma transmission, spiritual formation, trauma-informed leadership, phenomenology
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Grinage-Botchway, Kindale, "The Anatomy of a Trauma-Informed Church: Intergenerational Trauma, Pastoral Leadership, and the Theological Architecture of Care" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8427.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8427
Abstract
This phenomenological dissertation examined how the personal trauma experiences of clergy members affects their leadership styles. Despite extensive research on the biological, psychological, cognitive, and social dimensions of trauma addressed across multiple disciplines; little is known about how these dynamics apply to religious settings. The study addressed a crucial research question: what are the lived experiences of clergy who identify as having endured personal trauma and how might this experience influence or affect leadership and relational dynamics? The research engaged a purposive sample of 12 clergy who self-identify as having experienced personal trauma. Data collection employed semi-structured interviews to capture the lived experiences of participants. Analysis utilized Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore how members of clergy make sense of their experiences and identify emergent themes and patterns regarding how trauma manifests in leadership contexts. The data revealed that personal trauma histories are transmitted through relational templates, theological frameworks, and institutional atmospheres. The findings implicate the critical need for the development of a holistic, trauma-informed clergy leadership framework. This framework integrates literature on religious leadership and trauma studies by illuminating the intricate interactions among organizational culture leadership style and personal trauma. The findings contribute to ecclesiastical leadership education by contributing to the development of trauma informed curricula and organizational education as to establish frameworks that enhance self-care and organizational health.
