The Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Research conference was held on Friday, April 12, at Loma Linda University (LLU) in California, both virtually and in person.
The conference aimed to integrate two fields that are sometimes seen as at odds: spirituality and behavioral sciences. According to the conference website, the gathering seeks to “explore developments in the philosophy of science that offer promising avenues for integration, some potential issues this might raise, and examples of biopsychosocial-spiritual research.”
This year’s theme focused on spiritual trauma in the LGBTQ+ community. In her opening comments, Dr. Beverly Buckles, Dean of the LLU School of Behavioral Health, discussed the national importance of this conversation, stating, “You know it’s timely.”
Buckles went on to share the personal importance of this year’s theme. Her younger brother, who passed last year, was a gay Christian who deeply informed her own faith.
“I want to know what we—I—can do to support the faith celebrations of those in the LGBTQ+ community,” Buckles said.
This year’s keynote speaker was Associate Professor of Congregational & Community Care Leadership at Luther Seminary Rev. Dr. Cody J. Sanders, whose presentation was entitled “LGBTQ+ Religious Stress-Trauma and the Complex Beauty of LGBTQ+ Faith.”
During his lecture, he expanded on the themes from his book “Christianity, LGBTQ Suicide, and the Souls of Queer Folk.”
Sanders argued for the need to “complexify” the language we use when sharing the stories of LGBTQ+ people. He highlighted the power of narrative in both bringing life and instilling trauma. Sanders also indicated that the language we use in those narratives can paint incomplete pictures of the complex spiritual lives of LGBTQ+ people.
“Our [LGBTQ+ people’s] narratives are not totalized by stories of religious trauma.” Sanders continued by discussing the importance of finding and sharing stories of queer flourishing. He described the violence that silencing stories of queer flourishing can cause to LGBTQ+ folks who don’t realize that other people have experienced what they are experiencing.
Sanders reminded the audience that sharing and holding space for those stories reminds LGBTQ+ people that they aren’t alone.
“You don’t need to be an expert in LGBTQ+ issues to listen to their stories,” Sanders said.
He concluded his lecture by discussing the need for conversations such as these, particularly in light of the 400+ anti-LGBTQ+ laws being proposed across the country during the current legislative session. A robust panel discussion and question-and-answer session followed. Attendees then viewed poster presentations from LLU students.
Loma Linda University’s Behavioral Health Department began the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Research Conference in 2020. Recordings of previous years’ keynote presentations and panel discussions are available on the conference’s website.
A bivocational pastor, writer and spiritual director based in Atlanta, Georgia, she currently works as a Spiritual Director at Reclamation Theology. Cawthon-Freels is the author of Reclamation: A Queer Pastor’s Guide to Finding Spiritual Growth in the Passages Used to Harm Us (Nurturing Faith Books), and a contributing correspondent at Good Faith Media.
