The Michigan Conference’s Trauma Response Advisory Team provides an update on the resources now available to faith communities in the event of a traumatic event.
In the spring of 2025, Lisa Batten and Rev. Kathy Pittenger, two staff members of the Michigan Conference’s Connectional Ministries Team, worked closely with a team of trained, trauma-informed individuals across the conference to identify the needs of local congregations and conference leaders in response to trauma incidents.
Traumatic experiences include acts of terrorism, gun violence, natural disasters, hate crimes, harassment, and staff misconduct, among others. Traumatic incidents can occur at any time, and the Michigan Conference established the Trauma Response Advisory Team as part of its strategic, cohesive response to such events.
As part of this team’s plan, they concluded that the Michigan Conference needed to develop a web page with resources, a referral list of trained trauma-informed facilitators, and possible training for faith community leaders.
Last month, staff provided an update on the resources now available:
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- A web page featuring a variety of trauma-informed resources for churches and church leaders is now live. Review the resource page. Church leaders are encouraged to share this page with people in their networks.
- A referral list of trained facilitators has been shared with all district superintendents. This list of names is private, and if your faith community is dealing with trauma or a traumatic incident, please call your district superintendent for further support and to get a referral.
- Plans for future trainings have been paused in light of the transition of this work from the Connectional Ministries Staff to the proposed conference superintendent position, beginning July 1, 2026.
Lisa Batten, speaking as a team member, notes, “We have tried to provide resources to meet differing needs. Whether an individual or church is just beginning to learn about trauma and how it affects people and ministry, or is experiencing or responding to a current traumatic event, there is a resource available.” Learn more about the resources.
Batten also encourages all Michigan United Methodists to educate themselves about the impact of trauma on each of us. That is part of the important work of being as prepared as possible when these events occur.
“Another important aspect of this work we’re called to do is learning about our own trauma,” she explains, “and how it affects the way we engage with others and show up in our churches and communities. Even if we are not currently experiencing a traumatic event, we can learn and prepare to engage with others in healthy ways.”
Explore the trauma-informed resources available to local church leaders.
If you have questions about the work the Trauma Response Advisory Team is doing to resource the Michigan Conference, contact Lisa Batten at [email protected] or Rev. Kathy Pittenger at [email protected].
The ministry of our Connectional Ministries Staff, which helps resource and support congregations, is made possible thanks to generous financial gifts from local United Methodist churches in Michigan through Ministry Shares. Thank you! Learn about the impact of Ministry Shares on mission and ministry in Michigan and around the world.
Last Updated on February 5, 2026