Horizon Texas Conference Expands Crisis Response and Care Team Ministry

Throughout October, we invite you to explore how The United Methodist Church is working to prevent harm and care for those who have experienced hurt within the church. These stories reflect our ongoing commitment to healing, accountability and the grace-filled work of justice and restoration. Learn more and read the Apology from The UMC to victims/survivors of sexual misconduct at www.resourceumc.org

Since the early 2000s, trained Response and Care Teams have been deployed across the United Methodist connection to assist congregations facing crises such as misconduct allegations and congregational trauma. The ministry has steadily grown, equipping both clergy and laity to walk alongside individuals and churches during seasons of difficulty. With the unification of the Horizon Texas Conference, the conference is expanding its Crisis Response and Care Team ministry, building on more than two decades of service in crisis response and healing.

Today, the ministry is coordinated by Rev. Liz Greenwell, who oversees recruiting, training and deploying both Response Teams and Resource Persons. So far in 2025, the team has served 15 churches and/or individuals, providing education, consultation and crisis intervention. The expansion reflects both growing needs and the commitment of Horizon Texas Conference leadership to care and healing.

“This ministry is about accountability with grace,” said Greenwell. “We are equipping leaders, resourcing congregations and creating pathways for healing when harm has occurred.”

The scope of the team’s work is wide-ranging. Response Teams and Resource Persons may be called to care for individuals bringing a complaint, those accused of wrongdoing or entire congregations navigating the fallout of misconduct or trauma. Beyond crises, the ministry also provides education and preventive training, helping churches strengthen policies, establish healthy practices and reduce the risk of harm. By equipping leaders with resources and clear processes, the teams ensure congregations can address challenges with both compassion and accountability.

Growth has been steady and significant. From 2012 to 2018, the volunteer-led team served 13 congregations. Between 2018—when the coordinator joined the conference staff—and 2024, that number grew to 68, reflecting a 517 percent increase in care for churches and a 300 percent increase in non-misconduct-related crisis care. New members are continually being trained, and regional teams are forming now to meet needs across the Conference’s wide geography. Under conference appointment by the bishop, the ministry has also expanded its partnerships, collaborating with district superintendents, extended cabinet members and local churches to ensure resources are available before, during and after crisis.

Among the newest members of the team is layperson Dave Farish, who brings years of experience in conference leadership. Trained as a Resource Person, Farish describes the team’s role as being “a little like the fire department.”

“In an ideal world, we’d never get called,” Farish said. “But when we are, our goal is to walk with individuals and congregations through crisis with clarity, boundaries and hope. I tell people in many of these situations, ‘You may not have had a choice in what happened, but you do have a choice about what happens from now on.’”

Farish emphasized that the work is not only about resolving crises but also about strengthening the church for future ministry. “The end goal is to position a church to be better than before the crisis happened,” he said. “Troubling things happen, it’s part of being human. How we respond is so important—and we now have the tools for churches to respond in incredibly healthy ways.”

Looking ahead, the Response and Care Team ministry plans to deepen its focus on prevention by expanding training opportunities for clergy, laity and congregations. Resources on healthy leadership practices, prevention of misconduct and ethical accountability will help churches build resilience before a crisis ever arises.

Greenwell said this proactive approach is essential. “When we invest in care and healing, we’re not only responding well to challenges but also equipping congregations to thrive in healthier, more faithful ways.”