Power and Church

In her book Trauma and Grace: Theology in a Ruptured World Serene Jones recounts the story of a woman who had been abused and her experience with communion. Communion brought back flashbacks of trauma—more than just unpleasant memories, but the intrusive, uncontrollable, fragmented memories from post-traumatic stress disorder. Clearly, this is not to question the serving of communion or even the manner in which we do so—but is there “a safe space” for this woman in the church service or the church building?

I am not saying there is not space. I do think that there is a large level of power in the typical church, as much as we might cringe at that. It is a corporate entity. There is a planned structure that moves forward. The church is the one offering help to those in the community. These are not bad—in fact, they may be good—but they do create a power that we have to be aware of. Organizationally, there is already a power imbalance when the woman enters the church. The abused woman comes in and may see herself as just another recipient of help or pity. She may feel that there is no place for her or that she might disturb the continuity of the service. She may feel unrecognized, unknown, and silenced.

The power imbalance is only heightened by societal perceptions. Especially in modern America, the church is seen to be more of a corporate entity or a non-profit than a living body of Christ, an organic entity. Church can be seen as the place where people have it all together, or need to have it all together. It can be seen as a mere tradition. It is criticized for hypocrisy. It may be seen as offering just one path to truth. It can be seen as a group of fundamentalist conservatives who are adamant about a few issues and intolerant. Some of these may be true, some may not be. There are many churches which are not described by the above. But the social perception can exist. Many of these social perceptions bring different connotations or ideas of power.

How does the American church present itself to the powerless? Does it show itself as powerful? Does it work along the power claims of the world? Is it seen as the doctor rather than as a hospital full of sinners and full of the powerless, full of people who have surrendered their power to be strong in Christ?

"I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (2 Cor. 2:3-5).