The closing gavel came down on the 32nd General Synod of the United Church of Christ Tuesday evening, June 25. Over five days, delegates and visitors considered subjects from climate care to opioid addiction, came together for a series of worship events centered by charismatic women preachers, celebrated the ministries of departing leaders and marked the elections of two national executives.
Shine was the 2019 theme, based on Matthew 5:16: In the same way let your light shine before others … That was evident throughout the gathering in Milwaukee. Here are several of those significant moments — how the UCC began shaping a just world for all at General Synod 32.
Read MoreBill spent the month of August in a Spanish immersion program in Guatemala. He checked in periodically with photos and reflections. Scroll down to view them.
Read MoreWe love receiving contributions from our churches! We also love to easily attribute those contributions to your designated givings. The easiest way is if you use the form on the website.
It's a fillable PDF that has been recently updated, so you don't need to keep a printed stock on hand! Fill in the form, print it out, and attach it to your contribution!
Call Liana if you have questions.
Read MoreWe’re excited to welcome Genevieve Benham to our staff as Executive Assistant to the Conference Minister!
Read MoreOctober 17-18, McCormick Theological Seminary, 5460 S. University Ave., Chicago, IL
All alumni and friends are welcome to attend this annual event. Register HERE. Download the brochure HERE.
Read MoreRev. Teresa Blythe is creating a national list of all the spiritual directors (clergy and lay) affiliated with the UCC. This list is designed for use in networking and resource sharing
Read MoreSeptember 13-14, 2019 at Church of the Good Shepherd, Albuquerque
Register now!
Read MoreLast Thursday, the conference office received the following news from John Houllette, moderator for Desert Garden UCC:
“Pastor Sam peacefully went to be with the Lord just before midnight last night. Time of death will be officially recorded as today, July 18. I don't know much else at this time.”
Memorial Service: Sunday, July 28, 3 p.m. at Desert Garden UCC. Clergy are invited to robe/white stoles and process. A reception will follow the service.
May Sam rest in the peace of God’s eternal light. May the saints and angels welcome him into the presence of God as a faithful servant of Christ. And may the hope that Jesus’ resurrection gives us comfort Alla, the Desert Garden church family, and everyone who knew and loved Sam.
Read MoreFrom Rev. Trayce Potter, Minister for Youth & Young Adult Engagement:
We are looking for youth & young adults (ages 12–25) to submit original pieces of work to be used in the creation of worship materials for National Youth Event 2020.
The theme of the event is: Unite for the Earth! Unite for Justice! Unite in Faith!
Poems, prayers, song lyrics, devotions, reflections, drawings, paintings, and other pieces of art are welcome.
Read MoreAt the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Southwest Conference we adopted a prudential resolution to be sent to the 32nd General Synod of the United Church of Christ. Last week a committee of General Synod 32 considered our resolution and a similar resolution sponsored by the Southern California Nevada Conference. The two resolutions were combined after the committee added their wisdom. Delegates adopted the combined resolution titled Discerning, Articulating, and Resourcing the Nature, Purpose, Composition, Covenantal Autonomy and Definition of ‘the basic unit of life and organization of the United Church of Christ’ for the Twenty-first Century.
Read MoreCatch up on General Synod
Watch the recordings of all plenary sessions, worship services, and more HERE.
Catch up on all Synod news HERE.
Huge thanks to our delegates who represented the Southwest Conference!
Read MoreCheck out a small sample of the hundreds of photos taken at camp!
Read MoreCamp is coming up in just 3 weeks! Here's some handy camp information from our director, Jay Deskins:
Campers love getting mail at camp! It's a reminder from their family, church, and friends that they're remembered while at camp! It's great to send letters!
Read MoreSave the date!
January 18, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church in Casa Grande
The Southwest Conference, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona, Grand Canyon Synod (ELCA) and the De Cristo and Grand Canyon Presbyteries (PCUSA) are cosponsoring “Church Insurance 101” hosted by the UCCIB (UCC Insurance Board).
Read MoreKeeping with tradition, the Local Arrangements Committee of the Milwaukee Conference is organizing several General Synod Social Justice Opportunities. All this year's projects are inspired by the Church's Three Great Love initiative.
The host committee is also encouraging Synod attendees to visually share ways, via the Shine! Lighthouse, that they are living into the UCC's Three Great Loves in their own communities.
Read MoreICYMI: 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.
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