At the 2026 Annual Meeting, a motion was made calling for a Conference staff position focused on children and youth ministry. We want our congregations to know that this important action has not been forgotten or set aside.
Now that the Conference staff has settled into the new office, the Executive Board is actively considering the scope of this position, how it would fit within the existing staff structure, and how it can be funded responsibly and sustainably given the Conference’s current financial realities.
Input from our local churches will remain an important part of this process. Although every question has not yet been answered, we are committed to communicating openly and providing additional updates as decisions and next steps become clearer.
Thank you for your patience, engagement, and continued commitment to strengthening children, youth, and campus ministries throughout the Southwest Conference.
SWC Executive Board
Read MoreHave you done anti-racism training, or decentering whiteness training, or cultural humility training and still long for a place to practice identifying racism when you see it, and to get better at knowing what to say or do when it happens? Consider joining the Anti-Racism Circle of Practice—a group of clergy and lay people in the conference who are committed to getting better at addressing racism when we see it.
We meet the second Thursday of the month September through May each year at 5:30 AZ time by Zoom.
Click through for details and registration.
Read MoreLooking for ways to breathe new life into your Advent and Christmas season preaching? Join this workshop with Anna Carter Florence and Jake Myers from Columbia Theological Seminary, and explore the upcoming lectionary texts together, with a special emphasis on Luke 1.
We’ll discover some new strategies for reading Scripture that are easy to grasp and easy to adapt to your context. We’ll move from text to sermon, as we consider what the familiar stories might have to say to us this year. We’ll talk about some images of the preacher to spur thought and conversation. And we’ll share roundtable conversation about how the light of the world might be illuminating our own congregations and our own lives, as preachers.
Sponsored by the CTS Preachers’ Studio for Renewal, this one-day event will be a lively and energizing deep dive into Scripture and your own preaching ministry. The workshop is limited to the first 35 registrants.
Read MoreOn Monday, August 24, I had the joy of sitting down for a long visit with the Rev. Dr. James "Jim" Ewing. We shared a table, a glass of water, a cup of coffee, and a couple of hours that I will not soon forget. What began as a check-in became a conversation about ministry, memory, aging, and the kind of faithfulness that only shows itself over decades. I came to offer a presence. I left having received a good deal more than I gave.
Click through to read more.
Read MoreSWC Clergy,
I want to share an upcoming training opportunity that may be helpful for you and your congregational leaders:
PPRC To PSC with Rev. Tara Barber
Monday, September 14, 2026
5:00–6:30 PM NM & El Paso | 4:00–5:30 PM Arizona Time
Not Your Predecessor’s PPRC!
This workshop will explore the transition from the traditional Pastor/Parish Relations Committee model to a Pastoral Support Committee (PSC). Rev. Tara Barber will discuss the purpose and priorities of a well-functioning PSC, clarify what the committee is and is not responsible for, share best practices from across the church, and answer questions.
The training is open to pastors, lay leaders, and judicatory staff.
Registration:
Register for PPRC To PSC Training
I encourage you to share this opportunity with appropriate leaders in your congregation.
Blessings,
Rev. Dr. Derrick D. Elliott
Read MoreAugust is National Make-A-Will Month with an annual reminder about the importance of writing a will. We’re are inviting you to put your love into action by creating or updating your will at no cost!
In 2024, the Pension Boards-UCC and National Ministries launched Together for Tomorrow, a shared legacy campaign that provides our UCC community with access to FreeWill.
Through FreeWill, you can create or update your will in minutes and, if you choose, leave a planned gift to the causes and ministries that matter most to you. It takes just minutes to document the choices that will help you secure:
Peace of mind with a long-term plan for your assets.
Protection for children or pets by naming a guardian.
A legacy of care for your local congregation, the UCC, or another charity you care about.
Create Your Free Will
FreeWill makes it easy to include a legacy gift to The Christmas Fund, National Ministries, your local church or Conference, or any organization close to your heart. A will allows us to protect the family, faith, and finances that have been entrusted to our care for this generation; a planned gift allows us to continue this legacy and serve our faith community in the generations to come.
Read MoreThe season starts September 1st, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.
Throughout the month-long celebration, the world's 2.2 billion Christians come together to care for our common home. Click below to download Creation Justice Ministries' Season of Creation toolkit to access free activities and resources to celebrate the Season of Creation are supported by an ecumenical steering committee and a coalition of partners from around the world.
Download the Toolkit
Read MoreThe Southwest Conference is beginning the development of a new pastoral practice called Covenant Tending.
Covenant Tending is intended to address what we have identified as the “missing middle” between situational support and a formal fitness review. There are times when communication has become strained, trust has been weakened, or relationships need intentional care, but the circumstances do not call for disciplinary action or another formal Conference process.
Click through to learn more.
Read MoreJoin us as for a conversation with Dr. Meg Bartlett-Chase, sex educator, organizer and advocate--about how providing great sexuality education is a way to resist authoritarianism. Dr. Bartlett-Chase has researched sex education policy, practice and controversy, and she is the founder and executive director of Honest Sex Ed Minnesota.
Register here.
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 Future of Faith Forum
Saturday, August 22
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
555 W Glendale Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85021
The Future of Faith Forum is a community-rooted initiative designed to equip faith leaders (Ministry, Lay, or otherwise) with the knowledge, compassion, and practical tools needed to support LGBTQ+ individuals — especially Black LGBTQ+ people — with dignity, understanding, and love. The We Are You Campaign knows that this plight is not our own, and we support other multicultural communities who believe in our Vision and Mission.
At its core, The Future of Faith Forum believes that faith and humanity are not opposites. They are partners. When faith leaders are informed, connected, and grounded in love, they become powerful advocates for healing, safety, and belonging.
Rev. Dr. Myra Taylor of New Hope UCC is among the panelists. More info and registration at this link.
Read MoreAll clergy and MIDs with standing in the Southwest Conference are invited to the 2026 Southwest Conference Clergy Retreat, November 16–18 at the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson.
Ministry cannot thrive without rest—not simply time away, but intentional time to reconnect with God, with one another, and with the quiet places within ourselves that we too often overlook. When we neglect that space, we risk running empty while trying to lead others toward fullness.
Rest is not indulgent. Rest is part of how we honor and sustain the sacred calling we have received.
We invite you to retreat for a time that is not about fixing, producing, performing, or checking things off a list, but simply BEING.
Come for prayer.
Come for laughter.
Come for quiet.
Come for meaningful connection with colleagues.
Come for renewal.
And yes, perhaps even come to sleep in without guilt.
Ask yourself: What might it look like to truly rest in the presence of God, among colleagues who understand the joys and demands of ministry?
Come and see.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A CLERGY-ONLY RETREAT
Click through for the registration link.
Read MoreUCC ONA Coalition Executive Director, Rev. Derek A. Terry, passed away over the weekend. Rev. Derek had been involved in Coalition leadership for many years and our organization and movement have been made stronger and deeper because of his ministry. He lightened the burden of most everyone he met and his creativity, genuine love, and faithful spirit will not be forgotten.
Click through to read a "joint statement from United Church of Christ General Minister and President/CEO, the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, and the Open and Affirming Coalition Board Chair, the Rev. Kevin E. Tindell on the untimely passing of the Rev. Derek A. Terry, Executive Director of the Open and Affirming Coalition.
Read MorePATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. is seeking an individual who shares our values of compassion, human dignity, integrity, service, and stewardship to fill our Executive Director role. The Executive Director is the community-facing point of contact for all activities related to our mission and educational services and reports directly to the PATHWAYS Board of Directors (BOD) or its designee. The individual filling this role will be expected to work collaboratively with the BOD, various committees, and the PATHWAYS’ Academic Council (PAC) to achieve strategic priorities and to deliver a student-centered educational experience responsive to the needs of our diverse learners and constituencies.
Click through for the entire job description and how to apply.
Read MoreThe Feast of Creation in Christ, also known as the Feast of Creation, has been officially added to the Revised Common Lectionary, with celebrations to begin in 2026. While the traditional date of the observance is September 1, its date in the RCL is the first Sunday of September in line with ecumenical custom and pastoral practicality. The addition was approved by the board of the Consultation on Common Texts by Raka, the ecumenical liturgical body that developed and curates the RCL, in coordination with the Feast steering committee led by the World Council of Churches in collaboration with various Christian world communions and the Middle East Council of Churches. This is the first time a new feast has been adopted since the release of the common lectionary in 1974.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings
Worship Resources for Creation in Christ Sunday
From Rev. Dr. Gloria Smith:
The Feast of Creation in Christ celebrates the role of God in creation and Christological creation care rather than generic nature or harvest themes. It also coincides with the start of the Season of Creation which begins on September 1st and runs through October 4th each year.
Below you will find an invitation to include the Season of Creation in your liturgical calendar as well as an Introduction to the Season of Creation.
Invitation to add the Season of Creation
Introduction to the Season of Creation
Read MoreClimate Hope Affiliates 101
August 19, 5:00 pm AZ / 6:00 pm NM & El Paso
How can we move beyond a narrow menu of familiar options when it comes to advancing change? What can we do after sending the email, attending the march, or casting the ballot? What can we do in community with others month after month to live out a calling to advance God's beloved community? These are some of the essential questions we seek to answer in Climate Hope Affiliates (CHA).
Join us to learn about how you can drive nationwide change through local action when it comes to addressing the interconnected crises of climate change and societal injustice. We have started 15 chapters across the country since we began last year. Already, we have participated in our first successful advocacy campaign when Congress rejected the Trump administration's proposal to cut the EPA budget by 55%.
In this webinar, we will cover the basics about how we affect change and how anyone can start a chapter in their community.
Register here.
Read MoreThank you to Rev. Bill Utke of Desert Garden UCC for passing along this information:
Mrs. Inis Clark, beloved spouse of Rev. James Clark (UCC, retired), was born into eternal life on July 22, 2026. She was born on November 29, 1938.
For eight years, Inis served as the OCWM Officer for the United Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio, where she faithfully supported the mission and ministry of the wider church.
Inis and James recently celebrated the remarkable milestone of 68 years of marriage, a testament to their enduring love and faithful partnership.
Those who knew Inis remember her as a dedicated worker, gracious and welcoming to everyone she met, and someone whose warm hugs reflected her generous spirit. Above all, she cherished her family, delighting in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who were the joy of her life.
We give thanks to God for Inis's life of faith, service, and love, and we hold James and all who grieve her passing in our prayers as they entrust her to God's eternal care.
Read MoreThe SWC staff is excited to have moved into our new space at:
3030 N Central Ave #405, Phoenix AZ 85012
Dr. Derrick was the first to finish setting up his new digs. The other offices are in progress!
Read MoreArguably the most popular resource that is sold by the United Church of Christ, the Desk Calendar and Plan Book is more than just a calendar. It’s a gateway into the life of the church, full of resources, important dates, liturgical calendars, and fun facts about the many different ministries and programs of the UCC.
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the UCC in 2027, a special cover of the Desk Calendar and Plan Book was released, featuring photos from the past 70 years highlighting the rich, storied, and diverse history of the denomination.
Learn more here.
Order here.
Read MoreTuesday, October 20, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Arizona Time)
First Church UCC, 1407 N. 2nd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Hybrid Event: Attend In Person or via Zoom
Register or become a sponsor today: arizonafaithnetwork.org/gather
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