When we join the Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ, we enter into multiple covenant relationships as individuals and as congregations. COM B is a SWC committee whose primary responsibility is to serve and assist congregations. We recently had the joy of receiving proposals for Revitalization grants. The goal of the grant money is to assist churches in moving beyond the status quo, and in creative and new ways, developing programs that will inspire church growth. Creativity and originality were encouraged, and we were delighted to receive well written, thoughtfully considered, and creative grants from congregations across the Conference. Congratulations to all congregations who submitted grants and who were awarded funds for their creative endeavors!
Click through to read about each of the 10 churches and how they will use their grant funds.
Read MoreJoin a diverse group of faith and community leaders on Dec. 2 for church and community resources to honor World AIDS Day in 2024 and beyond. Register here.
Read MoreThe Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers, central to the revised manual, have become an invaluable compass for those called to lead in the UCC. They provide a rich and dynamic framework for evaluating, shaping, and inspiring ministry. Whether you’re exploring a call to ministry, serving as a minister, or simply curious about what makes ministry impactful, the Marks offer a powerful vision for faithful leadership in our ever-changing world.
Read MoreWriting a will is essential to protecting the family, faith, and finances that have been entrusted to our care for this generation, and to use our resources to serve faith communities in the next.
For this reason, the National Ministries and the Pension Boards has launched Together for Tomorrow, a shared legacy campaign for the benefit of the United Church of Christ community, and in offering FreeWill, an easy-to-use platform for writing wills. No charge and open to all.
Read MoreFrom the desk of the ACM, Rev. Dr. Derrick Elliott:
In our churches and Conference within the United Church of Christ, covenant agreements are more than just formalities; they are sacred bonds that define relationships among clergy, congregations, and the broader Conference.
Read MoreLast week was a blessed time of renewal and reconnection. Here are some pictures of our time together at Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson, taken by Gordon Street, Rev. Paul Whitlock, Rev. Michael Bush, and Wende Gonzales.
Read MoreBeloved SWC,
On Wednesday morning, some of us woke up with joy, while others felt anxiety and uncertainty. Just as we gathered for our Arizona clergy retreat during this election season to hold space for prayer, reflection, and support, we recognize that many in our congregations are feeling a range of emotions.
Please know that you are in my prayers as you journey together in your communities in the days, weeks, and months to come. God has equipped and empowered us through the Holy Spirit to serve with faith, strength, and courage, even in times like these. We are ministers of reconciliation called to embody the teachings of Jesus, fostering love, unity, and justice.
Remember, God is still speaking. Let us rest in God’s presence and draw strength from the well that never runs dry, understanding that God is with us. May we take moments to pause, to “be still and know” that God is our present help and refuge in a time of trouble and sovereign. God is God and the best is still yet to come!
In peace, hope, and love,
Dr. Toni
Read MoreAre you a pastor seeking continuing education related to your current faith community?
Or are you seeking ordination and need to find a contextual education series?
The Supervised Ministry Series is designed to provide a practical internship in pastoral ministry over an eighteen-month progression. The arc of this series begins with entering a new place of ministry and concludes with leaving a place of ministry. Along this arc, six 9-week asynchronous online courses explore such issues as pastoral role, identity, leadership, ministry functions, organizational dynamics, and theological reflection.
Read MoreDo you think you might be interested in leading the Southwest Conference someday as its Moderator?
Then get some free training in advance!
The Council of Conference Ministers is hosting Moderator/Board Chair Trainings. There will be four sessions: November 20, January 15, February 26 and April 2—all sessions begin at 5:00 pm MT (SWC time!) hosted by the Council of Conference Ministers.
Dr. Toni is one of the trainers.
Please notify Diane Weible at weibled@ucc.org to register by November 12.
Read MoreRegistration is now open for Arizona Faith Network’s 2024 Annual Gathering. This bilingual hybrid event (Spanish/English) will unite people of faith across Arizona, in person and online, for a meaningful day of connection, learning, and celebration.
Event Details:
Date: Monday, December 9, 2024
Time: Faith and Community Fair and Networking Breakfast at 9:00 a.m., Program begins at 10:30 a.m.
Location: Franciscan Renewal Center, 5802 E Lincoln Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85253
Format: Hybrid (in-person and live-streamed), Bilingual (Spanish/English)
Registration Link:arizonafaithnetwork.org/gather
We’re honored to welcome Rev. Eugene Cho, CEO of Bread for the World, as our keynote speaker. Rev. Cho’s passion for social justice will inspire us all to take meaningful action as peacemakers in our communities.
Read MoreLast week was a blessed time of renewal and reconnection. Here are some pictures of our time together at Ghost Ranch, taken by Dr. Toni.
This week is the Arizona clergy retreat.
Read MoreResources for Congregational Song
Saturday, November 23, 10 am SWC time
Looking for hymns or songs on a specific topic? Want to look beyond the hymnal? There’s a wide world of resources easily available from organizations, publishers and individuals, and the internet makes it all possible.
Join board member (and SWC member!) Ruth Striegel to explore the wider world of congregational song. Ruth is the music director at First Congregational UCC Albuquerque.
Register to receive the Zoom link and a reminder.
REGISTER NOW
Saturday Sharing is a series of occasional, free, one hour conversations on topics of interest to church musicians and others. Open to all. Stay tuned for upcoming conversations and watch previous conversations at uccma.org.
Read MoreWe are excited to welcome Rev. Dr. Gloria Smith and Rev. Dr. Derrick Elliott to the Southwest Conference staff!
Dr. Gloria is our ACM for Search, Call, and Congregational Transitions, and Dr. Derrick is our ACM for Authorization, Accountability, and Discernment. They will officially begin on November 1. Congratulations!
We bid a fond farewell to our Bridge ACMS, Rev. Leslie Etheredge and Rev. Dr. JJ Flag for so beautifully filling these vital roles this year. We're full of gratitude for the many gifts they brought to the Southwest Conference.
Thank you all for saying "yes" to this sacred work of conference ministry.
The best is yet to come!
Read MoreHere are some articles that may be of benefit to your ministry (click the title to read):
Read MoreThe MESA Team of the National Office of the United Church of Christ is hosting the AM21 Conference (Authorizing Ministry for the 21st Century), a biennial gathering for judicatory leaders, including Conference Ministers and Associate Conference Ministers, in Tempe, Arizona, from December 10-13, 2024. As part of the event, a sacred space is being created for rest, meditation, and reflection, offering a quiet room where attendees can recharge during the conference.
Our conference minister, Dr. Toni, is a member of the hospitality team, is reaching out to congregations for assistance in creating this peaceful environment. We are seeking items such as yoga mats, cushions, soothing decor, or anything that fosters a sense of calm and rejuvenation. By borrowing or sharing these resources, we can minimize the need for purchasing and transporting materials to Arizona.
If you have items to loan or donate for the event, please contact our Executive Assistant to arrange for pickup or drop-off by November 12, 2024.
Thank you for your generosity and support in helping us create a welcoming and sacred space for the attendees of AM21 to the SWC.
Read MoreThank you to all who attended, participated, and planned this wonderful day! We are honored and thrilled to have Rev. Dr. Toni Hawkins as our settled Conference Minister!
Read MoreNeighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion in the United States.
In 2024, the Neighbors in Need theme is “Mental Health Justice For All!” This year’s focus is on Mental Health Justice. In 2015, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ passed a resolution to become WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged) for mental health.
A just world for all is a world where the human rights and well-being of people with mental health challenges are respected, no matter who you are or where you are in life’s mental health journey.
Please join us in promoting this year’s NIN “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right” campaign at your church.
As you may recall, one-third of the offering supports Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds are used by Justice and Witness Ministries to provide grants to UCC churches and organizations as well as supporting a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects.
While many of our churches collect the offering on October 6, 2024, as part of World Communion Sunday, contributions to this offering can be collected on any Sunday during the calendar year. We thank you for your support and generosity.
Read MoreSWC women were invited to the Arizona Disciples women’s retreat in Prescott and several attended, including two on our staff. Dr. Toni gave two inspirational keynotes, led a vespers service and a workshop, and preached at worship. Wende led the singing (and was the biggest loser at Bunco). It was a beautiful time of fellowship, rest, nature, learning, and laughter. And fantastic food!
(Who is that MAN? It’s Rev. Dr. Jay Hartley, the Regional Minister and President of the Arizona Disciples of Christ. The DOC women welcome him each year to attend the retreat, and his wife Dawn is the music accompanist for the singing.)
If you identify as a woman, put September 12–14, 2025 on your calendar and plan to attend the next retreat. Lori Tapia, National Pastor for Hispanic Ministries at Obra Hispana, will be the keynote. We'll post registration info early next summer.
Read MoreRuth Striegel, Host (Ruth is Director of Music for First Congregational Church, Albuquerque)
Join David Poole and his wife Winona as they talk about paperless singing. They will offer ideas about, and examples of, paperless singing practices that can be used to supplement (or perhaps in some cases to replace) hymnal-based congregational song in the worship setting.
David Poole has served the church music world in various capacities for over 30 years. More recently, he has devoted his energies to directing the New Mexico Peace Choir and to being a presenter and facilitator for an organization called Music that Makes Community (MMC), which promotes the practice of "paperless" group singing as a means to greater inclusion and the building of community. Winona is also a MMC presenter.
This is a free, one-hour conversation on ZOOM. All are welcome. 12 noon ET / 9 am PT. Please register for the event to receive the Zoom link.
The recording of this event and all of our Saturday Sharing conversations can be found on our YouTube channel.
Read MoreThe Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ is pleased to reintroduce the "9 Steps to Becoming a Racial Justice Church," a vital document originally crafted in 2022 in response to a resolution passed at our Annual Meeting and subsequently adopted by the conference’s Executive Board. While this document has not been widely circulated, its significance remains undiminished. The document can be found here.
With the formation of the Decentering Whiteness Task Force (DWTF), we are renewing our commitment to this crucial work. One of our primary goals is to actively promote and revise the "9 Steps" document, ensuring that it remains a relevant and effective tool for our congregations. The process outlined in this document begins with creating space for racial justice work within your church’s structure and continues through forming a dedicated Racial Justice Team, examining current practices, grounding your efforts in biblical teachings, and publicly committing to a covenant of racial justice.
However, our work goes beyond these steps. The DWTF is also focused on the broader mission of ensuring that all people, regardless of race or background, have a seat at the center of our churches and in society at large. This means not only committing to racial justice but also examining how our structures, practices, and communities can be more inclusive and reflective of God’s vision for humanity.
We invite all Southwest Conference churches to revisit this document and consider adopting it as part of your commitment to racial justice. By engaging with these steps and collaborating with the DWTF, we can work together to build a more just and inclusive world. For more information and resources or to begin this process, please visit this page of the Southwest Conference website.
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