As we look ahead to the next General Synod of the United Church of Christ, I invite each of you—clergy and lay leaders alike—to reflect with me on the Synod’s theme: “Into the Deep,” drawn from Luke 5:4, where Jesus says to Simon Peter, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
This isn’t just a poetic phrase for a conference banner. It’s a direct challenge to our spiritual lives, our ministries, and our churches. Going into the deep requires faith when answers are unclear, when the waters seem still, or even when we’re tired and uncertain about what’s next. In many ways, that’s where the Church finds itself today; not only at a crossroads, but also at a shoreline, being asked by Christ to push out a little further.
This message resonates even more powerfully as we approach Pentecost Sunday, the moment when the Spirit moved with fire and breath, pushing the early Church out of comfort and into courageous witnesses. Pentecost reminds us that God’s Spirit doesn’t just comfort—it compels. The Spirit meets us in the deep and calls us beyond the shallow waters of the familiar.
As your Associate Conference Minister responsible for accountability, authorization, and discernment, I see this theme reflected every day in the lives of those who are exploring calls to ministry, those serving congregations faithfully, and those discerning new forms of leadership and service. The work of tending our collective call takes patience, courage, and a willingness to trust God’s invitation into the unknown.
This year’s Synod in Kansas City, KS will also mark a personal transition for me, as I complete my term on the United Church of Christ Board. It’s been a privilege to serve in this role, and I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to work in every setting of the church, from chaplaincy and local ministry to conference and national leadership. Each space has deepened my call and reminded me how vital our shared witness is. But that call is not mine alone. The Spirit of God continues to stir in each of us, nudging us toward faithful service, bold love, and deeper commitment, wherever we are planted. Whether you are in the pew, the pulpit, or the public square, your voice matters. Your witness matters. The Spirit calls all of us, together, to embody Christ's love in the world. We don’t need to wait for someone else to act. You can be the one to speak up, to show compassion, to create change. The Spirit is already equipping you for the work.
As we move toward Synod and celebrate Pentecost, I encourage you to do more than watch from the shore. Read the proposed resolutions. Pray for the delegates. Talk with others in your congregation about what it means for us to move into the deep places of justice, love, and change. These conversations matter, and they shape the Church we are becoming together.
Let’s keep encouraging one another to listen, to launch, and to lead out into the deep, where the Spirit is already at work. And as we celebrate Pentecost, let’s say it with joy: Happy Birthday, Church! Happy Pentecost!