November 18, 2025 from 6:30-7:45 p.m. CT / 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. MT

As faith communities, we are called to nurture healing and hope. Many of us are still learning how trauma affects people, congregational culture, and the systems that support ministry. This session offers descriptive language, ideas, and options so each congregation can discern its own path toward being more trauma-informed. To begin, moving from ‘what’s wrong?’ to ‘what happened?’ quiets judgment and strengthens conflict skills. Over time, trauma-informed leadership can influence a whole-church operating system, evolving norms and practices so that safety, voice, and choice create a virtuous cycle of trust.
Together, we will:

• Clarify terms, boundaries & language: Define trauma and its impacts, the 4R’s of trauma-informed care, and name what trauma-informed leadership does and does not do. 
• Pinpoint where, in your context, trauma-informed practices may matter most.
• Discern your "why" for trauma-informed leadership, building on the strengths and challenges of your church today.
• For congregations that want to take the next step: Select an action, understand Conference resources,and identify whom to bring to the table.

Register here.

Presenters

Leslie Mulder

Leslie Mulder is an Organization Development consultant and coach who helps organizations turn purpose into practice through leadership development, strategy design and activation, and board effectiveness. She works across small to mid-sized businesses, social enterprises, nonprofits, professional firms, universities, and faith communities to build learning cultures that align how people work with why they work.

Grounded in an M.A. in Counseling and an M.S. in Organization Development, she brings extensive experience in facilitation and individual/team coaching. Her graduate research on organization change in U.S. Protestant churches informs her partnership with congregations to build trauma-responsive, resilient ministries - guiding participative visioning and planning while strengthening conflict management, shared decision-making, work design, and governance. Leslie co-chaired the Trauma Responsive Church initiative at First United Methodist Church of the St. Cloud Region from its inception in 2018 through 2021. She lives in Sartell, Minnesota, and enjoys music, family, and community connection. 

Amanda Hodge

Amanda Hodge serves as Director of Family and Youth Ministry and co-chair of the TraumaResponsive Church initiative at First United Methodist Church in Sartell, Minnesota. She oversees both children’s and high-school youth ministries, guiding young people into faith communities marked by belonging, authenticity, and service.

Amanda is a current seminary student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and holds credentials as a Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner and Spiritual First Aid Certificate Course Facilitator, equipping her to integrate trauma-informed practices into church leadership and congregational life.

In her role with the Trauma Responsive Church initiative, Amanda helps cultivate inclusive, healing-centered congregational cultures that acknowledge the impact of trauma and foster resilience, hope, and spiritual growth. In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, and reading.