With rates of shelter instability rising across the country, there is a growing need to learn how to provide trauma-informed pastoral care and spiritual support for those who are being impacted directly. Caring for those who are unsheltered requires understanding, empathy, trust building, advocacy, and compassion. Faith leaders must learn how to come beside impacted individuals in ways that do not add religious harm to their existing levels of trauma and stress.
Section 1: Understanding homelessness
Section 2: The Role of the Church in addressing housing instability
Section 3: Building relationships and spiritual care with impacted individuals.
Facilitated by Rev. James Pennington (photo attached)
Rev. James Pennington was called to serve as the Executive Director of Back Bay Mission (BBM) in Biloxi, MS in 2021. Prior to that, Rev. Pennington has worked in campus ministry, shelter programs, Youth homelessness programs, and HIV programs. His diverse ministry experience includes directing an LGBTQIA Community Center, working with the emerging church in Siberia, and serving as a parish minister in Minnesota and Arizona.
He attended University of Chicago and Concordia University in Illinois, where he’s obtained degrees in Educational Psychology, Theology and Philosophy, and earn a Master of Social Work. Rev. Pennington’s constant companion is Baily, or Lady Long Dog. She loves to offer therapeutic pets and licks for staff and the unsheltered folks who are served by BBM.
Content Created by Rev. Dr. Christie Love (photo attached)
Rev. Dr. Christie Love holds a Master’s Degree in Practical Theology from Regent Seminary and a Doctorate of Ministry from Eden Theological Seminary. She specializes in the research and study of the intersections of faith and religious trauma. She regularly writes about religious trauma and trauma-informed ministry practices and resources on her Substack revchristielove.substack.com/.
She serves as the Senior Pastor at Englewood Christian Church in Yakima, WA- an open and affirming Disciples of Christ Congregation. In her community, she is active in the support of immigrants, leading interfaith organizing, and the local NAMI chapter. Nationally, she serves as the Second Vice-Chair of the NAMI National FaithNet Council.
Dates: 6-7:30pm CT, Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. 15, 2026
All Cohort meetings will be online
Ministry Cohorts
Ministry Cohorts allow you to sample many theological themes, offering peer learning with your ministry context in mind. Scholars and experts have chosen a specific lens on a particular topic and share their expertise through digital content you watch on your schedule. Four monthly online meetings are interspersed, where you and other Cohort participants gather for facilitated discussion with an experienced leader.
Cohorts support lifelong learning and are for anyone- authorized clergy, chaplains, Christian educators, lay leaders and anyone interested in the topic. UCC members will recognize the Marks for Ministry woven throughout the cohorts, though anyone from any denomination, or no denomination, is welcome to attend.
Completion of this Ministry Cohort provides 9 contact hours of continuing education, subject to approval by the participant's credentialing body.
