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For the third consecutive year, the Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ is excited to offer the Congregational Revitalization and Resiliency Grant, designed to equip and empower congregations as they pursue holistic renewal, faithful innovation, and deeper connection with God, one another, and their communities.
This grant invites congregations to design projects that align with at least one component of the C.A.R.E.S. Program, a spiritually grounded framework for ministry rooted in Covenant, Advocacy, Rest, Engagement, and Spirit. Whether your congregation is seeking to deepen discipleship, respond to community needs, or experiment with new ministry models, this grant provides a sacred opportunity for revitalization with purpose.
There will be a webinar on August 3 to answer questions and assist the churches in the preparation of their grant. Details about the webinar are forthcoming.
Please note: The due date for applications is September 1, 2026. You may request $500-$3000 (this grant is not intended to fund capital campaigns, or repairs to facilities).
Click through for the application and resources on filling it out.
Because of Ministry…Financial Security and Self-Care Sustain the Call runs through August 31, and is specially designed for clergy, lay leaders, caregivers, and ministry employers who are navigating change and ministry demands with resilience.
Gain practical strategies and peer insights into how to sustain your call while balancing money, bi-vocational ministry, family, health and wellbeing, and securing retirement income with purpose and confidence.
In collaboration with African American Women in Ministry and inspired by the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3, The Antoinette Brown Society gathers to embrace the M.O.R.E. God has for us. Identifying Ministry Opportunities, prioritizing the Relationships, Rest, and Resources necessary for the journey, and cultivating a standard of Excellence that honors our calling in every season.
The Antoinette Brown Society gathers at the State View Hotel in Raleigh, NC, beginning September 29 through October 2. The African American Women in Ministry group gathers at Franklinton Center at Bricks and Courtyard by Marriott in Rocky Mount, NC beginning September 30 through October 3. We are excited to share that there will be a joint day on October 1 where both groups will gather together at Franklinton Center at Bricks.
Thursday, July 30, 12:30 pm AZ / 1:30 pm NM & El Paso
We all know there is one room in a church filled with memories – from documents to old hymnals to whatever item found its way there and we know the temptation to throw it all way! But our Church records are more than just words on dusty paper; they are windows into the past that illuminate the history of a community and convey the mission of the church. Church records span the entire history of your church, and no matter the age, are important to be preserved. But knowing what to preserve can be daunting work, especially if those with institutional knowledge have moved on.
Join the Congregational Library & Archives' archivists Billy McCarthy and Zachary Bodnar for a program focused on the first tangible steps a church can take to begin organizing their existing records and ensuring the long-term preservation of the records they produce today.
Rev. Dr. Terrill N. Murff, Interim Conference Minister for the Illinois Conference, put this information together beautifully:
Applications for the United Church of Christ’s 2026 Justice and Local Church Ministries grants are now open. These grants are designed to support the mission and ministry of local congregations. The application deadline is September 15, 2026.
Families with youth entering 8th or 9th grade are invited to explore Our Whole Lives (OWL), a comprehensive and age-appropriate sexuality education program co-published by the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Classes begin August 30, 2026, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix, with a parent/caregiver orientation on August 23. Learn more about the program, schedule, and registration here.
The Southwest Conference has offered Communities of Practice for Clergy (COPs) for two years. Previous COPs have focused on general ministry, specialized ministry and antiracism. As we approach the fall of 2026, we are trying to determine the interest of clergy in continuing this offering. What we need to know:
Would you participate in a COP? (There is a $250.00 fee for joining a COP. The COPs meet once a month for 2 hours with the exception of December.)
Is there a specific area of ministry you would be interested if you joined a COP?
If you are not interested, would you please let us know why this is not an area we should focus on as a conference?
You can respond to these questions by clicking here.
Your assistance will be greatly appreciated as we learn to provide resources to you that meet the needs of our clergy.
Pray-Ground Forum
September 17, 2026, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm
First Light Fellowship, 4111 W Innovative Dr, #108, Anthem, AZ 85086
Hosted by Woven — Weaving Children into the Life of Worship
What if children didn't have to leave the sanctuary to belong in it? Join presenter Rev. Andrea Roske-Metcalfe at First Light Fellowship in Anthem, AZ for a full-day forum on pray-grounds — intentional, in-sanctuary spaces that make room for children to worship alongside the whole congregation.
Hear stories from real churches. Reimagine radical hospitality. Go home with something you can actually use.
$75/person; use code EARLYBIRD by 8/1 for $20 off
Registration closes 8/15.
Wednesday, August 5 | 12:30 – 2:00 pm AZ / 1:30 – 4:00 NM & El Paso
Ministers who serve local churches know the call agreement well, the document that spells out salary, benefits, and time away. Less familiar, but just as valuable, is the 3-Way Covenant. This separate document outlines the expectations that the Minister, the Local Church, and the Association or Conference hold for one another, helping to strengthen the relationships among all three.
Join Rev. Jeff Nelson for a basic overview of the 3-Way Covenant and a look at how it can benefit these important ministry relationships. Whether the term is new to you or you have heard it mentioned and wondered what it involves, this introduction offers a helpful starting point.
All are welcome. We hope you will join us.
Join us for the 2026 Juneteenth Commemoration: In Troubling Times, Consult the Ancestors!
Juneteenth is a sacred day of remembrance and hope—a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing journey toward justice. Today, we honor the legacy of those who fought for liberation and the ancestors who guide us still.
In these challenging times, the Racial Justice Ministries of the United Church of Christ invite you to gather in prophetic remembrance. Let us draw wisdom from the prophets of scripture and the modern-day leaders who inspire us to resist injustice and nurture a just world for all.
Thursday, June 18th | 12:30 pm Arizona, 1:30 pm New Mexico & El Paso
Featuring Rev. Dr. Velda Love, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay, and Rev. Trayce Potter