Summary
The journal article, “A Study of Church Members During Times of Crisis,” written by Stone, Cross, Purvis, and Young (2004) attempt to identify resources that assist church members to healthily cope with a crisis. The purpose of the article is to first discern what church members experience during situational crisis and then determine the relevant resources. As a precursor to the research methodology, the authors assert that social support, such as financial and emotional assistance, enhances the survivors’ self-concept and provides a buffer to stress. Similarly, beliefs and social support within the context of religion also have a positive impact on survivors’ ability to cope with crisis. Accordingly, the article’s hypothesis asserts that certain religious factors that play an important part in coping with crisis can be identified, and when identified, can be used assist caregivers in assisting survivors through a crisis event.
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The authors’ research methodology entailed in-depth interviews with 26 subjects experiencing situational crisis in a suburban, Southern Baptist congregation. The interviews focused on obtaining information that described the crisis and its impact, the ability of the subject to cope, and the resources utilized to assist in coping. Upon completion of the interviews, the researchers identified common themes from the data. The analysis led to a general framework that classified the results into three categories: self, acts, and others. Examples of general resources that assist in coping include spiritual beliefs, acts of kindness, and personal relationships. Specific themes that emerged from each participant’s crisis included the following types of reactions: shock, paralysis, feeling overwhelmed, openness, embarrassment, and struggling with the problem of evil. Specific themes of helpful resources included the presence of others, prayer, acts of kindness, music, personal resiliency, and relational empathy. The implication of the research is that caregivers can learn from the results to extend greater care for individuals experiencing situational crisis.
Interaction
My initial response to the article was that the research seemed straightforward and provided a common-sense approach to identifying resources that help individuals in crisis who attend church. Regarding the research methodology, the population is concerning. The limited scope of one congregation, one demographic, one specific denomination, and only 26 participants risks skewing the results, especially if assuming the results can be extrapolated to religion in general. On a positive note, the authors attempted to maintain a non-bias interview approach through the development of the Crisis Appraisal and Coping Interview Protocol.
The insights gained were numerous. First, the research provided support for a multi-faceted approach to resource deployment for those in crisis situations. A combination of inner qualities, behaviors, and relationships appear to provide categories of optimal support. Second, the characteristics of crisis provide important content to assist caregivers in normalizing the responses of survivors who may feel guilty for experiencing common responses to crisis situations. Finally, the specific resources identified provide valuable topics for training laypersons to help survivors that are based on qualitative empirical evidence.
Most everyone will experience situational crisis during their lifetime. Accordingly, as a caregiver, I am interested in the article because it provides several resources for survivors to use and ministries to deploy in assisting those who attempt to healthily cope with crisis. Based on having read this article, other relevant readings would surround the topic of authentic community making, especially within religious environments. An example might include M. Scott Peck’s (1987) book, A Different Drum: Community Making and Peace. Church environments have the potential of assuming crisis is caused by personal sin or God’s judgment, which can lead to a response of shunning, advice-giving, or evaluation that stifles community and healing. Accordingly, additional resources, such as Peck’s book, that highlight the dark side of church community may create additional growth and training opportunities.
Application
My phone rang. Heather asked if she could meet with me. Heather’s husband was a pastor of the one of the largest mega-churches in the Midwest. She has two beautiful teenage daughters. As a professional singer and worship leader, the spotlight on Heather made her crisis almost unbearable. Heather explained that she had just found out that her husband of 25 years had been unfaithful with another man, and he is now convinced that he is a homosexual. Heather felt overwhelmed, embarrassed, and wondered what she did wrong to deserve the crisis.
Heather agreed to discuss a few potential problem-solving strategies. To assist Heather in enhancing a coherent representation of herself, I asked a few questions regarding the basis of her identity. Heather admitted that her identity seemed to be aligned more with her husband’s ministry and her career, than as a child of God. Accordingly, once her husband left and her career was at risk, it felt like the foundation of her life was crumbling. We read Romans 8:16, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (English Standard Version). Heather realized she had deified her husband and career and lost her true identity.
Although Heather began to detest the “show” associated with worship music, she was open to aligning her thoughts and feelings with God’s truth through the acts of story-telling, Scripture meditation, and prayer. I asked Heather if she would consider journaling about the time she first recognized she was a new creation in Christ. Heather agreed to the journaling exercise, and she mentioned that she also would meditate on Romans 8:16 and other similar verses. I also suggested the possibility of implementing the stories and Scripture into her prayer life.
Finally, I asked Heather whether she would be open to connecting more closely with friends and family to enhance her social support during this difficult time. She feared the backlash from a church community that might judge her for getting a divorce, blame her for not being a good enough wife, or condemn her husband, which could risk alienating her children from their dad. I affirmed Heather’s concerns, and then I asked whether she would be open to revitalizing relationships, if she knew the people were safe. She agreed she needed the support and had a few people in mind. Heather left our meeting committed to focusing on a proper representation of self; performing acts of journaling, meditation, and prayer; as well as revitalizing safe relationships to support her during her crisis.
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References
- Peck, M. S. (1987). The different drum: Community making and peace. New York: Touchstone.
- Stone, H. W., Cross, D. R., Purvis, K. B., & Young, M. J. (2004). A study of church members during times of crisis. Pastoral Psychology, 52(5), 405–421.
