You’re invited to attend the Ecclesiastical Council for ellie hutchison of Church of the Beatitudes, for approval for ordination to the ministry (pending call), on Sunday, March 26th at 3:00 pm MST, via Zoom.
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Conference News
UCC GMP Search Committee makes historic choice, recommends Karen Georgia Thompson as next leader
After a year-long search, the United Church of Christ Board’s Search Committee for General Minister and President has made a historic choice. The committee will be recommending Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson to the UCCB this week as nominee for General Minister and President. If elected, she would be the first woman, and the first woman of African descent, to lead the denomination.
Read MoreUCC Webinar—Leaky Stoves and Deadly Gases
In the media and social media, gas and electric stoves have recently been a "hot topic." In this webinar, we will seek to put this "heated debate" within its proper ethical context in terms of environmental justice, public health, and concerns about methane pollution.
This webinar will prepare faith communities for informed action in caring for our neighbors and our planet.
Read MoreOne Great Hour of Sharing 2023
One Great Hour of Sharing® is one of four special mission offerings of the United Church of Christ. This Lenten Offering supports the disaster, refugee, and development ministries of the United Church of Christ within Wider Church Ministries.
Make a secure online gift today, giving generously to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. The suggested offering date for OGHS is March 19, 2023.
Read MoreUkraine Prayer for Peace
On this, the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United Church of Christ calls on our clergy, our lay leaders, our churches, and all people of faith to pray for peace, to pray for an end to the hostilities that are ravaging the people and land of Ukraine, and to pray for a de-escalation of rhetoric that threatens nuclear options.
Read MoreProposed GS Resolutions
Synod resolutions move to UCC Board, create space for ‘Holy Spirit to be at work.’
Read MoreProphetic Imagination: A 12-Week Course on the Life and Work of Walter Brueggemann
Our own Rev. Dave Stabenfeldt was someone who was interviewed by the author for the book, and he's shared this with us.
Read MoreCome Play!
The wider church invited to create ‘play space’ with the General Minister and President, by engaging in a series of interactive conversations through May.
Read MoreChurch Leadership Training
Church moderators, treasurers, and other persons in leadership:
The Center for Transformational Leadership is excited to announce a Church Leadership Training session that will be held over Zoom on Saturday, February 25th from 9:00AM - 12:00PM.
Read MorePower of the Pause
The Southwest Conference staff invites you to pause at noon each Wednesday, wherever you are, to be renewed in prayer, knowing that you're joined by countless others across our Conference.
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Antoinette Brown Awards
Antoinette Brown Award Nominations Deadline Extended to February 14! What outstanding clergywomen can you nominate from our Conference? We’re challenging every conference to nominate two or more women and one church-related organization to receive an Antoinette Brown Society Award! Celebrating the life and ministry of Antoinette Brown and all women in ordained ministry, nominations for the Antoinette Brown Award are open until February 14, 2023.
Read MoreOPPORTUNITIES TO SEE WITH NEW LENSES – A (free) 2023 Journey with ASDIC
These course offerings are free…BUT they are not EASY! This journey of changing lenses, adjusting our perceptions and ultimately our organizational systems and culture takes time and effort, introspection, new learning, practice, perseverance, honesty and humility. I hope we can make 2023 a year when we dive deep as individuals, churches and a conference into this pilgrimage of antiracism and racial justice. Let me describe to you the offerings that will be coming in the next six months, all via ZOOM, and all are open to BOTH lay and clergy.
Read MoreAnnual Gathering survey for non-parish clergy
The Southwest Conference staff, along with Annual Gathering Coordinator Karen Richter, have the planning well underway and we need feedback from clergy in non-parish settings.
Read MoreAnnual Gathering survey for parish clergy
The Southwest Conference staff, along with Annual Gathering Coordinator Karen Richter, have the planning well underway and we need feedback from all SWC clergy and church delegates.
Read MoreDr. Toni travel updates
In Albuquerque last weekend, Dr. Toni preached her first sermon and facilitated a racial justice forum on the wealth gap her new role as our Transitional Conference Minister, right after participating in the Common Ground at the Border to see the “amazing ministry taking place throughout this conference.” She said, “Join us in passing the salt to promote transformation in the lives of many. Truly the best is yet to come!”
Read what some Albuquerque folks had to say about Dr. Toni’s visit.
Read MoreA new resource for interpreting OCWM Basic Support
OPTIC - Office of Philanthropy, Technology, Identity, & Communication for the United Church of Christ - is updating the VERY dated OCWM materials with new resources.
Check them out.
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Lenten offerings coming up
Check out these two offerings shared by Rev. Teresa Blythe for reflection and learning this Lent: Online Mini-retreat with Stations of the Cross artwork and Four Zoom Presentations on Walking with the Spiritual but not Religious.
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17 resolutions may be up for Synod consideration in 2023
Seventeen resolutions have been formally submitted for Synod consideration this summer.
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Clinical Pastoral Education through PATHWAYS via Sankofa CPE Center
PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc., announces its first CPE cohort for people:
who are currently in or pursuing pastoral care vocations
who want the challenge of working in community settings
who are not necessarily healthcare oriented.
Offered through Sankofa CPE, this cohort will include those working in urban and rural settings, and also those from a variety of educational, religious, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
This is a fully certified 24-week CPE program, available to participants around the country, combining online group work and supervision with onsite work in a community. The application process is extensive and our first cohort will be small; applicants do not need to be enrolled in or possess a Master’s degree but must be serious about fulfilling the requirements of the course. The application deadline is January 17 for the course beginning February 13. There is still space!
Read MoreGoing to General Synod?
Planning on going to General Synod in Indianapolis this summer? Mark your calendars for January 23.
Registration for the United Church of Christ’s 34th Synod will open online on that Monday for all delegates and visitors. The biennial gathering is taking place June 30-July 4 at the Indiana Convention Center.
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