Conference News
Start planning now for the future of your congregation. Are you already ONA? Our webinars will help you deepen your ONA commitment and learn best practices for church growth. Not yet ONA? Learn how to lead your congregation towards an ONA covenant in ways that build consensus, strengthen relationships, and reduce the risk of conflict. Our popular webinar series is the perfect stay-at-home activity for church leaders.
Learn more at www.openandaffirming.org/ona-webinars.
Read MoreThe UCC Opening and Affirming Coalition is hosting daily Morning Prayer from Monday through Saturday in our Zoom chapel. The time is 9 am MST. The 15-minute services are based on the ancient "Hours" of Christian prayer and include scripture, silence, intercessory prayer and Taizé chant. This is a great way to begin your day with centering prayer.
Every Sunday at 3 pm MST, the Coalition offers a service of virtual Holy Communion with music and a message.
Members of any congregation - ONA or not - are welcome to these services, which will continue as long as stay-at-home orders remain in effect.
Join us during the prayer times at zoom.us/s/5556624822.
Read MoreResources for church moderators and treasurers regarding church staff working from home, and more.
Read MoreOn April 21, 2020, the Arizona judicatory leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, and The Episcopal Church jointly sent the following letter to Governor Doug Ducey:
Read MoreAn important update about camp and what we’re offering to camp families this year.
Read MoreThis year’s Disciples/UCC Church Camp (DUCC) will not be held June 15-20, 2020 due to the continuing health threats posed by COVID-19. This was a very difficult decision for us in both the Southwest Conference UCC and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona, but we felt it a necessary one to maintain the safety of everyone involved, plus be good stewards of time and finances in this unprecedented time.
Read MoreWatch Bill's sermon for Sunday, April 19, 2020. Click here for the transcript.
Read MoreI entered a time of grief when congregations made the difficult decision to suspend ALL in-person worship as a result of this pandemic...I struggled to come to terms with the reality that I must shift from conducting an in-person to virtual ministry as a result of the pandemic. This has not been easy, to say the least, as I have struggled to notice how God is guiding and speaking to me in the midst of this crisis.
Read MoreKelly's Ecclesiastical Council will be held via Zoom at 3 pm on Sunday, May 3, 2020. All are invited to watch the Zoom webinar event, limited to 100 people. During the Question and Answer portion of the Council, Zoom participants may ask questions in the chat feature which will be monitored by one of the leaders (panelists), who will then ask the questions to Kelly.
The Zoom details have been emailed to parish clergy in the conference who may invite up to three members of their congregations to be voting attendees to the EC.
This event will not be live streamed to Facebook as previously announced.
Read MoreWe are thrilled to announce the launch of the Southwest Conference Parish Clergy Coaching Initiative. The SWC is offering clergy serving local congregations:
$2 for $1 matching grants – up to $1000 per clergyperson – when they participate in one year of coaching through one of COCAM B’s vetted professional clergy coaches. Your investment of $500 becomes $1500!
Grants of $1500 to first-call clergy serving local churches when they participate in one year of coaching through one of COCAM B’s vetted professional clergy coaches.
Happy Easter from the Southwest Conference UCC.
Read MoreThe SWC Executive Board met on Thursday, April 2 and approved the candidates on the Nominating Slate for 2020 to fill positions being vacated at the end of this month. Nominees will be affirmed by SWC delegates when the annual meeting convenes in October.
Read MoreLed by UCC ministers from New England to Hawaii and points between, the interactive "Call to Prayer" kicked off what will now be a regular series of such Zoom gatherings on a variety of themes each Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
Read MoreMany community foundations around the conference are offering emergency grants to nonprofits as a response to COVID-19. Several links are listed below and there are many more that appear in a google search. We encourage you to consider your regional community foundation as a possible source of income in these emergent times.
Read MoreIn his Holy Week message, United Church of Christ General Minister and President the Rev. John C. Dorhauer encourages all in the wider church to find joy in the risen Christ, despite social distancing.
Read MoreZoom has taken steps to prevent Zoom-bombing. “Starting April 5th, we’ve chosen to enable passwords on your meetings and turn on Waiting Rooms by default as additional security enhancements to protect your privacy.”
Read MorePlease be vigilant about any email that appears to be from your clergy person or our conference minister or staff, asking you to take some kind of unusual action. A number of congregations across our conference and the country have been hit with an email scam. It involves making a fake Gmail (or yahoo, etc.) account in the minister’s name and then sending a request for gift cards allegedly from that minister to the congregation’s directory.
Read MoreThe United Church of Christ leadership is urging congregations and clergy to suspend all traditional worship services.
Read MoreRead and/or watch Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Bill Lyons' important message to the Southwest Conference.
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