The Thirtieth General Synod called on the congregations of the United Church of Christ to mark the Sunday preceding “International Day of Prayer for Peace” as Just Peace Sunday. This year's theme is "the Earth mourns" (Jeremiah 4:28).
Stay tuned for worship resources on our Just Peace webpage!
Read MoreProbably the most important thing we can do to better RESPOND to natural disasters is to PREPARE for natural disasters!
Many of our communities have already been impacted by extreme heat, and the reality is that extreme heat events are going to become more common as time goes on.
Heat can have devastating impacts across all ages. But there are things we can do to protect ourselves, our family, our friends, and the communities around us.
Click through to read more.
Read MoreWho is the UCC - today and tomorrow?
Pilgrim Press
The UCC's identity—our history, our ways of being, our sense of community—is expressed uniquely through the Book of Worship.
So who are we as the UCC today?
What kind of community do we want to be tomorrow?
And how should our Book of Worship reflect our evolving identity?
We seek your input!
Surveys are available now on bookofworship.org for all users of the Book of Worship and will remain open for feedback through December.
Information is also available on bookofworship.org about the submission of new content for potential publication in the updated Book of Worship.
We look forward to your input, with great appreciation!
“Covenant isn’t just a promise we make; it’s how we choose to walk together in faith, in person and online.”
I usually write about clergy “stuff” in this column. I know that’s expected, but sometimes I wonder about the readership. Then I’ll get a text message, an email, or even a phone call in response to something I’ve written, and I’m reminded that people are paying attention. Those moments of connection matter. They matter because I have been in face-to-face contact with that person, shared a conversation, or prayed together at some point, and that history shapes how we hear and respond to one another.
Recently, Rev. Dr. Gloria and I talked about covenant relationships within the Southwest Conference and the role of Zoom meetings in our work as associate conference ministers. We agreed that Zoom has its place. It allows us to connect across miles, keep commitments when travel isn’t possible, and maintain steady communication in ways that were not as easy before. But as helpful as it is, it can also make it easy to forget the importance of gathering in person. Do you remember pre-COVID, when meetings, visits, and worship happened almost entirely face to face? Those interactions shaped our sense of community in ways a screen cannot fully capture. At the same time, technology has opened doors for those who cannot travel, live far away, or face health challenges, making it possible for them to participate more fully in the church's life.
That’s where covenant comes in.
Click through to read Dr. Derrick’s article.
Read MoreWith gratitude for his life and ministry, we share the news of Rev. Gary Bryant’s passing on July 29, 2025.
Rev. Bryant served faithfully in congregations and later as Associate Conference Minister of the Southwest Conference, United Church of Christ. Ordained on March 18, 1973, he dedicated his life to shepherding God’s people with compassion, wisdom, and a deep commitment to the Gospel.
We give thanks for his years of service and hold his family and all who loved him in our prayers, trusting in the hope of the resurrection and the everlasting love of God.
Read MoreAre you someone who has done significant anti-racism work? Do you ever wonder – “How could I get better at recognizing racism when I see it?” “How could I get better at knowing what to do about it?” Then this Community of Practice may be for you. As a group of both lay and clergy UCC members we meet monthly on Zoom from September through May on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 5:30 PM Arizona time.
Each September we welcome new members who would like to be part of the work. You can apply to join this community of practice here.
Click through to see what some members of the group say about the experience.
Read MoreEvery faith story takes unexpected turns, and mine has plenty. I grew up Baptist, learned the rhythms of church life, and then stepped away in my twenties. I called myself agnostic and searched for meaning that made sense in a complicated world.
Stop me if you’ve heard this! Wait, you can’t, so you’ll have to keep reading. One day, a simple UCC commercial grabbed my attention. It didn’t flash or shout—it carried the “God is Still Speaking” message. It told me faith could welcome questions, embrace differences, and trust that God’s love had no boundaries. Something shifted in me. I walked through the doors of a UCC congregation, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I could breathe.
Later, I enrolled in a Methodist seminary expecting to study UCC theology and polity. Who knew there were so many United Theological Seminaries out there? I thought I had chosen a UCC seminary, only to find myself surrounded by Methodists! Thankfully, God has a sense of humor, and that setting gave me precisely what I needed. I dove into UCC history, learned the stories of those who came before us, and discovered the covenantal ties that shape our denomination. I didn’t just study theology—I found family. I found home.
Click through to read the rest of Dr. Derrick’s article.
Read MoreThe terms and conditions of ANY federal funding MUST be carefully examined to ensure that accepting a grant does make the church’s ministry an instrument of the state by dictating what religious activities the church can engage in and with whom the church can associate.
Click through to read this IMPORTANT information from Heather Kimmel, General Counsel for UCC National Ministries.
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Save the Date!
Conference 2026 is well into the planning stages, so make sure your planning is up-to-date. Our next national gathering is July 8 – 11, 2026 at First Community Church, Columbus, Ohio. Andrew Blosser, the Director of Music, and his wife Amy Blosser, Associate Director of Music, are working on a budget so that you’ll know what the costs are soon.
The theme is one of openness – open to different styles of music, different sounds, different folks, different thinking. And, most exciting, the leadership is working on including members of the Association of Disciples Musicians. The Disciples of Christ is a denomination much like ours and has collaborated for years with the UCC on global missions. First Community Church is a combined UCC / DOC congregation (with two campuses!), so it makes sense to learn and share together. The more the merrier!
Join us for this unique experience.
Read MoreThis interesting invitation was posted on the UCC Musicians Association Facebook group page and we share it with you here.
Dear fellow UCC musicians,
My name is Jim Tompkins-MacLaine. I am the Director of Music at United Church of Christ - La Mesa, California: The Table.
I am conducting at Carnegie Hall next summer (June 28, 2026) and would love to put together a choir of UCC musicians to join in a program of spirituals. The program will be a tribute to Dr. Albert McNeil (with whom I sang and toured the world since 1995) and the great Moses Hogan. I will send musical files (you will be asked to purchase the music) and audio files for you to learn the music and videos of rehearsals for you to practice with. There will be four rehearsals in New York City and then WE PERFORM.
My favorite part is the Boat Party around Manhattan after the concert, with great food and dancing!
If you are interested in singing with a group of your fellow UCC musicians, please write me at JimJazz@aol.com for more information. This could be a BLAST!
Read MoreThe Southwest Conference has opened registration for Community of Practice groups. These groups are a form of support embedded in the philosophy of the United Church of Christ as a support for insuring clergy mental health and sustaining a vital ministry.
Community of Practice groups covenant with one another to meet monthly in order to increase ministerial skills, new possibilities to problem solve and to provide ministerial support.
Community of Practice groups are guided by a trained facilitator that assist the group members in the three dimensions and elements listed in this article.
Read MoreAre you someone who has done significant anti-racism work? Do you ever wonder – “How could I get better at recognizing racism when I see it?” “How could I get better at knowing what to do about it?” Then this Community of Practice may be for you. As a group of both lay and clergy UCC members we meet monthly on Zoom from September through May on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 5:30 PM Arizona time.
Each September we welcome new members who would like to be part of the work. You can apply to join this community of practice here.
Click through to see what some members of the group say about the experience.
Read MoreC.A.R.E.S. is a foundation for meaningful, Spirit-led work, and designed to shape our culture with grace, purpose, and unity.
The C.A.R.E.S. model centers the mission and vision of the SWC staff in holistic, Christ-centered service:
C – Covenant Relationships
A – Accountability and Alignment
R – Resilience and Renewal
E – Empowerment through Education
S – Spiritual Formation and Service
This acronym reminds us that caring is not just what we do—it’s who we are. It's the heartbeat of our ministry and leadership.
📖 Scripture
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together... but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” — Hebrews 10:24–25 (NIV)
Read MoreThe Southwest Conference is currently seeking facilitators to lead new Communities of Practice (COPs) for the 2025–2026 program year. The number of facilitator openings will depend on clergy registration.
COP facilitators play a vital role in nurturing both support and learning within their groups. Ideal candidates are skilled in hosting, administration, worship leadership, facilitation, and covenant keeping. Using case studies and shared experiences, facilitators help clergy deepen their skills, confidence, and connection with one another.
Each COP meets monthly for two hours, from September through August. In addition to leading sessions, facilitators are responsible for maintaining attendance records and submitting quarterly reports to conference staff.
Compensation: Up to $1,000 for a one-year commitment, based on group size.
Training: Provided by UCC national staff prior to the start of the program.
If you feel called to this important ministry of accompaniment and leadership, please contact:
Rev. Dr. Gloria Smith
Associate Conference Minister, SCT
📧 gsmith@uccswc.org
Last week, I sat down with Rev. Dr. Gloria and Wende to begin shaping our upcoming clergy retreat for Arizona and New Mexico. As they were talking, I kept hearing echoes of something many of us already know deep down: ministry can’t thrive without rest. Not just time off, but intentional time to reconnect with God, with one another, and with the quiet places within us that we often overlook. (I think I am preaching to the choir, lol) When we neglect that space, we risk running empty while trying to lead others to fullness. Rest isn’t indulgent, it’s part of how we honor the sacred calling we’ve received. How do we take C.A.R.E.S. of our mind, body, and soul, tending to our well-being in ways that reflect our covenant, accountability, resilience, education, and spiritual life? You’ll learn more about what C.A.R.E.S. means and how it shapes our shared ministry in the weeks ahead.
Click through to read more of Dr. Derrick’s article and to learn a little about C.A.R.E.S. at our upcoming clergy retreats.
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All clergy and MIDs with standing in the Southwest Conference are invited to the 2025 clergy retreats! Attend either or both.
Ministry can’t thrive without rest. Not just time off, but intentional time to reconnect with God, with one another, and with the quiet places within us that we often overlook. When we neglect that space, we risk running empty while trying to lead others to fullness. Rest isn’t indulgent—it’s part of how we honor the sacred calling we’ve received. How do we take C.A.R.E.S. of our mind, body, and soul, tending to our well-being in ways that reflect our Covenant, Accountability, Resilience, Education, and Spiritual life?
We invite you to retreat for a time not for fixing, producing, or checking things off a list—but for BEING. For laughter, prayer, quiet, renewal, and maybe even sleeping in without guilt.
Ask yourself: What might it look like to truly rest in the presence of God, among colleagues who get it?
Register today.
New Mexico retreat registration
Read MoreAre you someone who has done significant anti-racism work? Do you ever wonder – “How could I get better at recognizing racism when I see it?” “How could I get better at knowing what to do about it?” Then this Community of Practice may be for you. As a group of both lay and clergy UCC members we meet monthly on Zoom from September through May on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 5:30 PM Arizona time.
Each September we welcome new members who would like to be part of the work. You can apply to join this community of practice here.
Click through to see what some members of the group say about the experience.
Read MoreAttending General Synod 35 in Kansas City this past week was a good reminder of that for me. Gathering with so many faithful people around the theme “Into the Deep” rekindled my sense of purpose. The worship, the conversations, and the witness to justice all pointed back to the same truth: we are here because God called us. As the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson noted in her address to the church, the UCC is a “big tent.” We encompass a diversity of beliefs, theologies, and traditions. That’s what I love about the UCC. We don’t have to agree, but we are together because of the covenant they faithfully promised we made to each other that we will be together. Being with others who share this calling renewed my gratitude and gave me fresh energy for the work ahead.
I can still remember my very first General Synod. The gathering of so many people from the various expressions of the United Church of Christ: congregations, conferences, national staff, and global partnerships, all seeking to walk together in all God’s ways, made the Day of Pentecost come alive. It was like the rush of a mighty wind, a holy stirring that reminded me we are not alone in this call. The Spirit is still moving, gathering, and sending us out to be with others.
I also remember the moment that first stirred my heart toward ministry.
Click through to read Dr. Derrick’s full article.
Read MoreThe Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ is excited to offer the Congregational Revitalization and Resiliency Grant, designed to equip and empower congregations as they pursue holistic renewal, faithful innovation, and deeper connection with God, one another, and their communities.
This grant invites congregations to design projects that align with at least one component of the C.A.R.E.S. Program, a spiritually grounded framework for ministry rooted in Covenant, Advocacy, Rest, Engagement, and Spirit. Whether your congregation is seeking to deepen discipleship, respond to community needs, or experiment with new ministry models, this grant provides a sacred opportunity for revitalization with purpose.
Please note: The due date for applications is September 1, 2025. You may request $500-$3000 (this grant is not intended to fund capital campaigns, or repairs to facilities).
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