The Narrative Bridge

In her doctoral work at Ashland Theological Seminary, Dr. Juliet Johnson DePriest took on the challenging topic of how healing can come to those who have been wounded by their participation in congregational life within the church. In her work, DePriest enters the crucifixion narrative of Mark 15 and the associated passage of Psalm 22 to explore the suffering of Christ. She then leads the reader through a theological study of the cross, suffering, and forsakenness, as well as the crucified God as seen by Moltmann, and considers the similar suffering associated with the lives of reformation leader Martin Luther and World War II martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer. She also surveys contemporary literature on church woundedness, the use of small groups within the church, and the power of narrative as stories are shared by those who have suffered such wounds. The subsequent research project surveyed congregation members of Vineyard Grace Fellowship in Newark, Ohio, as to the need for a small group experience on woundedness. She also reviewed the participants' biblical knowledge, awareness of resources, their sense of trust, the use of personal narrative, the role of prayer, and their willingness to forgive in relationship to church woundedness, with the hope their responses would inform the approach of the church to this life-altering topic. For as Henri Nouwen understands, "There is no human suffering that has not in some way been part of God's experience. That is the great and wonderful mystery of God becoming flesh to live among us. God becomes a part of our mourning and invites us to learn to dance-not alone, but with others, sharing in God's own compassion, as we both give it and receive it."