Conference News
ICYMI: Eli Johnson is leaving the Southwest Conference staff. We’ve benefited from Eli’s many gifts and talents. He shepherded the conference through the transition to integrated digital communication and membership management. We owe him our thanks for expanding the office’s capacity to serve our churches by improving our efficiency.
Now we’re faced with the process of filling his position. Read on for the position description and application process.
Read MoreThe Southwest Conference bids Eli Johnson farewell with our good wishes as he leaves the conference staff to become Human Resources Trainer with the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community. Eli has served the SWC for more than three years, first in Relational Communications and then as the Assistant to the Conference Minister.
Read MoreOur combined DUCC (DOC/UCC Church Camp) staff met last Saturday and we are super excited for CAMP!!!
Read MoreThe 2018-2019 Southwest Conference Ministerial Compensation Guidelines figures are determined by Southwest Conference church reporting forms submitted in early 2019 and reflect 2018 financial and membership figures.
Read MoreJack Evans, former Poet Laureate of the Southwest Conference, was asked to be one of three theological reflectors at Synod this year. He is to create a poem to reflect the atmosphere and respond to the theme (light) of the event, and is scheduled to perform his work on the evening of June 24th.
Read MoreNathan Watts was ordained on Sunday, May 5 at The Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita! Congrats!
Read MoreSome of us love camp so much we just wish we could live there. If that’s you, or someone you know, read on for a message from our church camp site in Prescott, Emmanuel Pines Camp.
Unique opportunity for just the RIGHT person! Emmanuel Pines is a growing faith-based camp and we are on the hunt for our next amazing servant-leader team members 15 years and older! (Must be 18 or older for onsite housing.) Bring your personality, your ideas, and your skills and join us.
The all staff training/camp kick-off day is May 23, and we would love to secure most of our summer staff by that date!
Read MoreDear Members and Friends of the Southwest Conference:
I bring you greetings in the name of our Still Speaking God. My name is Michael Curry and I am thrilled to serve the Southwest Conference as Lay Minister for Disability Education, Advocacy, and Awareness.
My time as a member in discernment in the Southwest Conference began on February 13, 2014 and came to a close on February 13, 2019. During my time in discernment, I had a difficult time deciphering how God envisioned using me and the gifts that I bring to our shared table where I always hoped to be a voice to those who have been silenced and marginalized by the stigma of mental health challenges. I spent a lot of time thinking and dreaming about the ideal ministry setting for me never once imagining that I would receive and accept a call to serve on the Southwest Conference staff as Lay Minister for Disability Education, Advocacy, and Awareness.
Read more about Michael’s new position, and find out how he can be helpful to you and your church!
Read MoreReview the resolutions submitted for consideration at the 32nd General Synod, and share insights and feedback with our Southwest Conference delegates who will be representing us at Synod. You may email synod2019@uccswc.org.
The resolutions are listed here.
Read MoreThe totals for the offerings collected at Annual Meeting are as follows:
Guest Speakers: $855
Immigrant Welcoming: $1511
Racial and Ethnic Churches: $836
Thank you for your generosity.
Read MoreA memorial service for Bill Nelson will be held at Church of the Beatitudes on Tuesday, April 23, 4 p.m. with visitation the hour before the service.
Read MoreThe 2019 Annual Meeting of the Southwest Conference UCC is in the books! Thanks to all who contributed to its success. In addition to the photos she took, Wende crawled through your Facebook accounts and found some fantastic pictures. Image credits to: Doug Bland, David Huisjen, Jay Deskins, Cindy Parker, Gordon Street, JJ Johnson, and Bill Lyons.
If you have photos that you’re willing to share, please send them to Wende. Email wgonzales@uccswc.org, or through the SWC Facebook page via Messenger.
Read MoreAre you trying to make a difference in how music and the arts are used in the church? Come to the 13th Biennial National Conference of the United Church of Christ Musicians Association (UCCMA) in Madison, Wisconsin, June 25-28.
Read MoreMoving the Mission of the Church through Powerful Questions
presented by Rev. Dr. Felix C. Villanueva, Conference Minister, Southern California and Nevada on Friday, April 5 at Breakout Session II during Annual Meeting
Read MoreOur 2019 AM SWAG is earth-friendly!
Read MoreEvicted, based on years of embedded fieldwork and data, points to eviction as a root cause of poverty. UCC congregations throughout the country are encouraged to organize book discussion groups around Evicted in ways and at times that best suit them and participate in the All Church Read.
Read MoreAfter such a wonderful experience last year, we’ll continue the partnership of local businesses and food trucks to offer lunches for the 2019 Annual Meeting. You’re invited to choose and purchase items based on your dietary and budget preferences.
Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available and on the menu.
Read MoreMany people are searching for truth in new and unconventional ways. Emerging adults are open to the mystery of the Holy Spirit and eager to understand God in ways other than the traditional sermon. Join us to learn what you can pull from the church’s attic to increase engagement, grow your congregation, and have your say in the Ancient Future conversation!
Read Morepresenter: Rev. Dr. Barb Doerrer-Peacock, SWC Associate Conference Minister
This workshop will explore how God is indeed present, and can be found – with power and blessing for both individuals and congregations, in the midst of certain, common transformational spaces of experience
Read MorePresenter: Rev. Dr. Gilberto Collazo, President Hope Partnership
Churches that are making a difference in their context have a clear sense of their mission and purpose. These are discoveries that happen when we engage in transformational work. What are the questions we need to wrestle with to go from being a church for “us” to a church living God’s mission into the world—questions that change the focus of how we use our resources? Come and learn from stories of congregations who have named a future story that reflects God’s mission in their communities.
Hope Partnership has worked with over 1,300 congregations within many different denominational contexts to help them engage in this important transformational work.
Read More
