The unit Biblical Studies and Spiritual Care: Intersections of Pastoral Praxis and Biblical Hermeneutics seeks to integrate into biblical scholarship the hermeneutical perspectives emerging from the diverse contexts of spiritual care, while also highlighting the relevance of biblical literature for the professionalization of chaplains. At the 2026 Annual Meeting, the unit will explore how biblical interpretation can engage the pastoral realities of military chaplaincy.
In this co-sponsored session, papers offer practice-based insights into biblical texts from military chaplains, alongside contributions from biblical scholars addressing moral injury. The session features four paper presentations, followed by an open discussion and Q&A.
This paper uses the story of the Road to Emmaus found in Luke's Gospel as a paradigm for reading Scripture with veterans after deployment. Arguing that the disciples eyes are "held" from recognizing Jesus because of their own trauma, they learn to recognize the risen Christ by returning to the Scriptures to understand God in a new way after the trauma of the cross. This understanding is made possible by returning to scripture, the presence of other people of faith, a willingness to listen openly to difficult experiences and embodied practices of fellowship. This Scriptural model is supported by the findings of psychological studies that show community is important for preventing post-deployment PTSD, and the ways in which religious practices can be the means of healing shame that cause moral injury.