Dr KATIE CROSS

Biography

I'm a practical theologian and I work at the intersection of theology, trauma, and lived experience. My research has focused on post-church communities and expressions of faith and belief that are often overlooked. I’ve written on the Sunday Assembly (a "godless congregation") and have co‑edited two volumes on trauma theology, with current projects on church‑leaving Christians, hope, and trauma‑informed pedagogy.

I supervise/co-supervise PhD students whose topics include theologies of trauma, mental health, lived experiences of church, and post-church faith. I regularly teach undergraduate classes in theology on gender and sexuality, trauma and suffering, and division and reconciliation. I also teach for the University's Medical Humanities programme and for the School of Psychology.

Originally from the west coast of Scotland, I now live in Aberdeen with my partner and our two dachshunds.  When I’m not at work, I’m likely to be found on a dog walk, reading, spending time with friends, or on a quest for the city’s best coffee (right now it’s at Third Circle in Rosemount!)

Prizes and Awards

• Students' Union and University of Aberdeen Excellence Awards 2025: "Most Inspiring" 

Research Overview

Currently, my research includes the following projects: 

• A qualitative study on the practices of church-leaving Christians. The research has included a survey with over 500 responses, 50 qualitative interviews, and a series of focus groups. It will be published as a monograph provisionally titled Theology Beyond Church. 
• A co-written book with my colleague Prof John Swinton, based on our 2024 Chalmers Lectures. It is provisionally titled Defiant Hope: Theological Conversations in a Traumatised World (forthcoming with SCM Press). The book will take the form of letters on issues of hope, trauma, attunement, and activism. 
• A collaborative resource exploring trauma-informed strategies for teaching and learning with colleagues from the US and Denmark.