Sex Offenders in Your Congregations: Recommendations and Best Practices

On Wednesday, May 23 at 11 a.m. AZ time / noon NM time / 2 pm Eastern, Heather Kimmel, UCC General Counsel, will be leading a webinar on Sex Offenders in Your Congregations:  Recommendations and Best Practices sponsored and hosted by the Insurance Board.

The webinar is directed to Local Church pastors and lay leaders.  It is open to anyone, including people/churches who are not participants in the Insurance Board program.  

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SWC Announces Endowment Fund Manager

SWC Announces Endowment Fund Manager

The Endowment Fund Management Committee and the SWC Executive Board are pleased to announce that the Southwest Conference (SWC) has entered an agreement with Bernstein Private Wealth Management (“Bernstein”), a unit of AllianceBernstein L.P (“AB”), to become our Endowment Fund investment manager," says Conference Minister Bill Lyons. "In this capacity, Bernstein will provide the SWC a range of philanthropic planning and investment services." Founded more than 50 years ago, Bernstein is a leading investment advisor to high-net-worth families and institutions, trusts, estates, foundations, endowments and pension plans. 

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Executive Board Recommends FY 2018-2019 Budget

Executive Board Recommends FY 2018-2019 Budget

The SWC Executive Board is recommending approval of a balanced budget for FY 2018-2019 which begins July 1.

Money follows mission. The proposed budget reflects a strong emphasis on strengthening local churches through revitalization efforts, money to support our new church start in Taos and for an additional new church start, and what Conference Minister Bill Lyons calls "futuring the church."

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A Prudential Resolution

A Prudential Resolution

Examining, Articulating, and Resourcing the Nature, Purpose, Composition, Covenantal Autonomy and Definition of ‘the basic unit of life and organization of the United Church of Christ’ for the Twenty-first Century

Southwest Conference United Church of Christ

A Prudential Resolution

Submitted by the Southwest Conference Board of Directors

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Remembering Rev. Dr. Lionel Miles

The Southwest Conference holds in prayer Mrs. Doris Miles and her family. Rev. Dr. Lionel Miles died in his sleep early Monday. Dr. Miles was born in South Africa Nov. 21, 1931. He graduated from Roosevelt University, Northern Baptist Seminary, and Pacific School of Religion  where he earned his D.Min. in 1977. Dr. Miles was ordained by the American Baptist Convention on July 7, 1957. Most of his ministry was served in the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ. In the Southwest Conference Dr. Miles served as interim minister of Church of the Beatitudes (1994-1995). 

A celebration of Dr. Miles's life will be held on Monday, April 2, 11 a.m. at his church of membership, Shepherd of the Hills UCC, 5524 E Lafayette Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85018. 

Deadlines for summer youth offerings MUCH earlier this year

Dear Colleagues in Ministry,

I have some crucial updates for you regarding youth and camp opportunities this summer.

In an effort to be the best stewards we can be of the Conference resources, we have set our DEADLINE MUCH EARLIER for our summer offerings this year.  It is APRIL 4.

 April 4 is the deadline for CAMP REGISTRATIONS and for registering high school youth for the WESTERN REGIONAL YOUTH EVENT.

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ACM Search Committee Chosen

 ACM Search Committee Chosen

The Executive Board appointed a search committee to discern whom God is calling to be our new associate conference minister. The ACM search committee members are Randy Mayer* (pastor, Good Shepherd UCC), Rebecca Glenn* (SWC past moderator, lay member, Scottsdale UCC), Janet Leung* (lay member, First UCC/Flagstaff), Rock Freemont^ (pastor, Shepherd of the Hills UCC), Wendy Spurgeon^ (lay member, Silver City UCC), and Conference Minister Bill Lyons. Three of the committee members served on the SWC Profile Committee (*); two are board members (^).

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