Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary World Council of Churches (WCC), Geneva, CH
Foreword. In: Why me?, WCC, Geneva, CH, 2005

… Dr. Erika Schuchardt’s book offers a unique inside into the way people struggle and cope with profound personal suffering, and it gives guidance for a pastoral approach to people in spiritual need …
Through lively biographies of persons in situations of crisis – a kind of “Theology of life stories” – and by using penetrating religious, psychological, cultural and educational insides, she demonstrates how persons’ suffering from illness or disability can become part of a free and truly human community. She acknowledges that for Christians, too, there is no way around suffering, but that there is a way forward through suffering together with Christ. Distance from the source of comfort may not be an indication of God’s absence, but may lead towards a hidden presence in which we can approach God anew in patient discipleship …

Review: A Kind of Theology of Life-Stories

In many parts of the world, people long for freedom, liberation, peace; they also yearn to cope with innocent suffering, to overcome illness and deep wounds in soul, mind and body. In the present context of increasing violence and brokenness, healing and reconciliation appear as core elements of the gospel and of Christian life and witness. The member churches of the World Council of Churches (WCC) strive to respond to their healing mission in the different realms of international, regional community and personal life.
Dr. Erika Schuchardt’s book offers a unique inside into the way people struggle and cope with profound personal suffering, and it gives guidance for a pastoral approach to people in spiritual need. In a surprisingly open manner, biographical sketches from all over the world report people’s experiences of both, suffering and faith, their crisis with deceases, disabilities, persecution, solitude, separation and death, and the individuals described speak with striking honesty of spiritual frustration and heartbreak as well as of wonderful faith experiences and renewed trust in God.

Erika Schuchardt, who has been for many years a member of church bodies including the Evangelical Church in Germany and the World Council of Churches, has developed guidelines on coping and working through crises. Her approach is based on the analysis of more than 2000 life stories from many different social and geographical contexts.
Through lively biographies of persons in situations of crisis – a kind of “Theology of life stories” – and by using penetrating religious, psychological, cultural and educational insides, she demonstrates how persons’ suffering from illness or disability can become part of a free and truly human community. She acknowledges that for Christians, too, there is no way around suffering, but that there is a way forward through suffering together with Christ. Distance from the source of comfort may not be an indication of God’s absence, but may lead towards a hidden presence in which we can approach God anew in patient discipleship.

In her book, Erika Schuchardt challenges the churches and puts her finger on the dilemma of insufficient pastoral care: it is not God’s fault, if his “ground staff, people like you and me”, are failing. At the same time, she knows from many positive experiences involving chaplains or church members who accompany people in crises. This is a book about faith, a book that teaches pastoral care and a handbook of theology embedded in life stories from many parts of the world – and an essential guide for everyone concerned that the churches respond faithfully to Christ’s call to become healing and reconciling communities.