Introduction
Trauma is overwhelming. That’s one of its key characteristics. It involves a level of suffering that utterly overwhelms someone’s capacity to cope.
And with coping mechanisms overrun, all kinds of difficulties arise. Some are relational and can involve both isolation and shame. Usually there are shifts in mood often accompanied by intense anxiety and fear. Physical symptoms bring disruption to people’s lives.
There are people in our churches and communities for whom such things are part of their daily reality.
Believers are not immune to trauma – it is woven into the story of salvation. The Old Testament people of God faced many traumatic events. Some affected individuals, others were experienced by the entire community.
Job, who will be our companion during this year’s conference, faced the most extraordinary suffering. And for Job the pain of suffering was only magnified by the words of his ‘comforters’. In this year’s conference, we aim to do so much better.
In Christ we have a Saviour who suffered – but just how his suffering speaks into the experience of trauma isn’t simple. We must avoid platitudes and cold comfort. That means listening carefully to the experience of those who have suffered. That’s crucial if our efforts to offer help and support are to land well.
It can be hard to sit with those who suffer deeply– this conference may, at times, be demanding. Yet God determines to meet us in our suffering. And he intends his people to bring comfort to those in need. He wants us to learn how we can safely and wisely apply the glorious grace of Christ to the very hardest places – both in our own lives and those around us.
The gospel is beautiful and it will, finally, conquer every part of the ugliness of trauma.
Video
Details
Main Conference
Trauma
This year’s conference programme will be based around the book of Job. We can’t cover all the complexities of the book, and we won’t have time for a verse-by-verse analysis. But the agonies of Job’s experience and the manner of God’s intervention will provide important pointers to help us understand trauma and respond to it with wisdom and grace. Knowing that this year’s content will be challenging, our Tuesday evening session – ‘refreshing our souls in lament’ – provides time for us to engage personally with God.
Streams
Stream 1: Church-based Care
Most delegates will join this stream which will focus on how the ministry of the local church can care for those who have experienced trauma. We will consider practicalities that will help us to be alert to, and caring toward, those for whom a past experience of trauma makes involvement with church difficult. We will consider how non-experts can still play an important role in providing care by thinking both about what we should do and what we should avoid doing. Some input will specifically address pastors and others with church leadership responsibilities.
Stream 2: Vocational Counsellors
This stream is designed for those who have trained to work as vocational counsellors. As well as being attentive to secular approaches to trauma care, this stream will explore practical steps toward the development of a specifically Christian approach to ‘trauma counselling’.
Post-Conference Workshop
Christian Counsel and Contemporary Culture
Exploring, engaging, and equipping
This year’s optional workshop will consider how our approach to interpersonal ministry must be alert to contemporary culture. Many elements of Western culture have a significant impact on individual believers and churches, and they affect the way we understand and care for those who suffer. Unless we notice these, they will shape our responses without us realising it.
Current trends in secular psychology are particularly influential and this makes them especially important to understand. In the workshop we will explore these cultural influences, engage with them thoughtfully and biblically out of a conviction that to do so will help us care for people better.
Timings
The conference starts on:
Monday 10 March with lunch at 12.45pm
Session 1 starts at 2pm
The conference closes on:
Wednesday 12 March with lunch
The workshop closes on:
Thursday 13 March with lunch
Speakers and contributors will include BCUK staff and others from the wider BCUK family with relevant experience and training.
Booking
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Trauma: Christ’s comfort in deep suffering
Mon 10 – Wed 12 March, 2025
The Hayes, Swanwick, Derbyshire
Conference
Single room: £380
Double/twin room: £335
Non-residential: £275
Conference plus workshop
Single room: £555
Double/twin room: £475
Non-residential: £415
Further Information
For queries, please get in touch with us via the contact page or email .
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations received on or after Monday 3rd February 2025 will be charged the full fee.
Payment
You can pay using a debit or credit card.
If the cost would prevent you from being able to attend, we may be able to help. We have a small conference bursary fund, which we allocate on a first come, first served basis. Our hope is to enable those on low incomes to attend the conference when, otherwise, they could not have done. To apply, click here.
Venue
The Hayes, Swanwick, Derbyshire
The Hayes Conference Centre is 5 miles from the M1 (Junction 28), and three miles from Alfreton railway station.
Accommodation
Accommodation is available in single, double or twin rooms. All rooms are ensuite.
The residential prices are per person and include all meals, starting with lunch on Monday and finishing with lunch on the final day.
The non-residential price includes all meals except breakfast.
Timings
The conference starts on:
Monday 10 March with lunch at 12.45pm
Session 1 starts at 2pm
The conference closes on:
Wednesday 12 March with lunch
The workshop closes on:
Thursday 13 March with lunch
Brochure
View the conference brochure
Click the image to go to the inside pages. Download the brochure.
Livestream
We anticipate making the main conference sessions available on livestream, and on catch-up for a short time after the conference.
Livestream pricing and booking details will be made available early in 2025. To be notified when Livestream bookings open, sign up below.
