Conference News
Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt wrote recently to let us know of a new effort to enlist further members in the UCC Council for Climate Justice. The Southwest Conference is proud that Tom Martinez will serve as our conference liaison to the UCC Council for Climate Justice for 2018.
Read MoreHello, happy campers (and counselors and staff)!
We will gather June 17 - 22 at Emmanuel Pines Camp in Prescott for our week together of building community and faith, and to grow Roots and Wings!
We need LOTS of mature youth and adults to help nurture our children and youth to grow ROOTS “to know their belonging” and WINGS to “explore their becoming.” Good camp leaders are those who are compassionate, energetic, empathetic, willing to share themselves authentically: your gifts, your faith, sometimes your doubts too. You need to be able to follow a schedule and structure, live in close community with many others, take your responsibilities seriously, ask for help, give help, be gentle with your own and other’s emotions and vulnerabilities, be enthusiastic and flexible – even in times of high emotion and stress.
You need to be at least 5 years older than the age group you are requesting to counsel. Counselors in Training can be in 10th-12th grades. Program Staff applicants are generally incoming high school juniors and seniors.
We also need more “seed” funds to help kids go to camp. Donate now to Sow the Seed and help kids go to camp through scholarships! (A cost of a week at camp is $410).
If you have questions, contact Camp Director Nathan Watts, or Acing Associate Conference Minister Barb Doerrer-Peacock.
April 4 is the FIRM DEADLINE to register for camp.
Before you begin the registration process, download these two forms, fill them out, and scan them so that you can upload them at the appropriate place on the form.
Now you're ready!
Camp Registration Form (everyone)
Camp Program Staff and CIT Application
Our camp director, Nathan Watts, will be in touch with more camp details as we get closer!
Jayne Hubbard put this symposium together. She suggests that people who work with the elderly and care about their issues would benefit from attending.
Read MoreThe Executive Board welcomed Nancy Ackley to the moderator’s chair on January 24 following Liana Rowe’s resignation. Liana resigned as moderator in order to apply for the posted administrative assistant position in the SWC office, which was vacated by Nikki Norris, for personal reasons, after just five weeks of employment. Liana’s resignation was required before being considered for the job to avoid a conflict of interest. Nancy had been elected incoming moderator during the January 13 Executive Board meeting following the resignation of John Pestle at the previous board meeting.
Read MoreThe search for a settled associate conference minister has taken steps forward. A profile for the Southwest Conference, including a position description, has been completed. Please join me in thanking Randy Mayer, Lauri Hasler, Janet Leung, Rebecca Glenn, John Smith, Donna Lockridge, and Wendy Spurgeon for their time and energy putting our profile together. The team reviewed very carefully the listening session data gathered in 2017 among other sources as they did their work. They were thoughtful, intentional, and reflected the wide variety of opinions throughout the conference.
Read MoreThere was a glitch this morning that prevented the Church News and Faith in Action sections from being included - Wende is working on it!
Read MoreApril 20-21, 2018
Rincon Congregational United Church of Christ
122 N Craycroft Road, Tucson, AZ 85711
The 2018 Annual Meeting is coming up!
We begin on the morning of Friday, April 20, and conclude before lunch on Saturday, April 21.
New this year: food trucks for lunch and an Annual Meeting app! Details to follow in the coming weeks.
Read MoreThe ACM search team has written and posted a position description for a full-time associate conference minister; read the full description in this article.
Read MoreNathan has been the Assistant Minister at the Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita, AZ since fall 2015. He is currently a Member in Discernment in the Southwest Conference and hoping to be ordained in 2018.
Read MoreOne of the Three Great Loves of the United Church of Christ is the love of youth and children. Supporting our one week of summer camp is one of the primary expressions of that great love we do together as a conference.
Read MoreFebruary 9 & 10
The Southwest Conference Committee on Church and Ministry has approved a new format to be introduced beginning in February for clergy training in Boundary Awareness, and which eventually will also include training in prejudice and diversity awareness. Instead of day-long workshops required every five years, training will be offered now in a variety of three-hour modules. Ultimately there will be a series of six modules required within the five-year period for every clergy seeking to serve in active ministry in the Conference.
Read MoreSunday, February 18, 2018 at 3 pm
Black Mountain United Church of Christ
30600 N Scottsdale, AZ 85266
Scottsdale, AZ 85266
Join the celebration!
Read MoreThursday, April 19, 2018
Part 1: 10 am to 4 pm
Part 2: 6:30 pm to 9 pm
Rincon Congregational United Church of Christ
122 N Craycroft Rd, Tucson, AZ 85711
Sponsored by the Southwest Conference United Church of Christ
This workshop is open to all who wish to develop skills and practices in advocating in the public sphere for our most vulnerable neighbors.
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February 23, 10 am - 4 pm
$15 includes training material and lunch.`
This session will be at Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque.
Read MorePATHWAYS Theological Education is offering courses beginning in March.
UCC History & Polity for $650.00 (March 7-June 5, 2018 (12 Weeks + Holy Week break)
Level Three Course: Theology in the Public Square for $375 (March 7 to April 24, 2018)
Read MoreTuesday, February 27 at 12 p.m.
Location: Beatitudes Campus, 1610 W Glendale Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85021
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THIS YEAR: full camp registration will be $410. That is up from $375 in many previous years. We know for most campers and families, particularly those that may have multiple campers, this cost will be a challenge. We want to be sure our Sow the Seed fund is ready to help to offer a one-third scholarship. We also hope churches will also offer a one-third scholarship to their campers who need it.
OUR CHALLENGE IS TO RAISE $12,000 FOR THE SOW THE SEED FUND by MARCH 1. We have a number of churches in our conference that are retirement age, and don’t send campers to camp, but have offered amazing support in the past. We challenge you, particularly, to help the young people in our conference to grow both ROOTS and WINGS of faith and empowerment through a camp experience, by helping us meet this financial goal for camp scholarships.
Submitted by Todd Atkins-Whitley, Admissions Associate for PSR, on behalf of Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, Co-Director of Admissions:
Come & See! Prospective Student Event is a great opportunity for folks to get to know Pacific School of Religion, a seminary affiliated with the UCC.
Read MoreIn 2018 conference leaders are building on our strengths and creating ways to live into the opportunities before us. The Executive Board will begin a strategic planning conversation, and we look forward to calling a settled associate conference minister. We are regionalizing some programs and training, physically and through technology, to offer more accessible opportunities to connect with the ministry and resources provided by the conference office. Partnerships and collaboration will be center-stage in our justice work.
Read MoreApril 12-13, 2018, Cleveland
The Ministerial, Excellence, Support and Authorization Ministry Team (MESA) is pleased to offer an April 12-13, 2018 gathering for all MIDs at the Cleveland offices of the national setting of the United Church of Christ. Share the word! An event flier is below. Deadline for online registration and receiving all required forms is March 16, 2018.
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