This course is for those who must preach in the wake of mass trauma. ‘Preaching on Fractured Ground’ is designed to help pastors and other leaders prepare sermons for “holding the reality of brokenness, pain, and traumatic loss on one side and hope, resurrection, and redemption on the other.” This course includes two sermon forms for preaching in the wake of mass trauma, and engages lament to honor narrative fracture while attending to brokenness and not losing sight of hope. *Quote taken from “Fractured Ground” by Kimberly R. Wagner.
Learners will need to obtain this book: Fractured Ground: Preaching in the Wake of Mass Trauma by Kimberly R. Wagner.
In addition to Blackboard interactions two (2) required Zoom meetings will be held each Friday: August 14, 2026 and August 21 2026, from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) both meetings. The meetings will not be recorded.
This course is approved for alternative advanced LSM credit by the Arkansas Annual Conference. Check with your conference for their approval requirements.
This course is eligible for 1 CEUs.
Quick Info:
Number of weeks: 2
Price: $105
CEUs: 1.0
Required books: Yes
Blackboard: Yes
Zoom: Yes, required
Certification or Series: No
Read course description for details.
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About the Instructor
Rev. Nan Nelson is a retired elder in full connection with the United Methodist Church. Nan has experienced teaching and preaching about living our United Methodist beliefs through serving as a mentor of clergy and of candidates for ministry, as a circuit elder, and as a member of the District Committee on Ordained Ministry. She was district director of Lay Servant Ministry (LSM) and taught LSM courses in her district before joining BeADisciple. Nan also taught effective communication for more than a decade at the college level.
Nan continues to support LSM in her conference. She understands the connection not only between churches, but also the connections between pastor and congregation and the special connections churches have with their communities. She believes that churches in concert with caring communities spread God’s love and grace.
Past Learners Said…
“This is the type of course that is relevant in preaching in today’s society.”
“I liked the fact I had to actually preach a sermon on trauma. The daily reading, assignments and journal enhanced the learning.”
“I learned two different techniques to preach in the wake of mass trauma, and I liked how every day offered a new building block to the different types of sermons.”
“I feel better prepared to be able to speak to my people if our world is rocked apart. The examples of what NOT to do (and why) were just as helpful as the examples of what to do.”
“I developed a greater awareness of the need for sermons to be trauma informed.”
“I learned how to prepare a sermon that holds tension between reality and hope that can provide expression and connection for traumatized people.”
“I learned it is okay to name the elephant in the room (certainly with care).”
