As the Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ, we celebrate the gift of community and shared ministry. It is with joy that we welcome Rev. Sabrina Jennings from the Heart of Texas Association-South Central Conference and Rev. Dr. Guillermo Márquez-Sterling from the Florida Conference into our beloved Southwest Conference family!
Let us extend a warm Southwest Conference welcome to our new clergy colleagues! May we embrace them with open hearts, offering prayers, encouragement, and support as they transition into this new season of ministry.
Read MoreWednesday, January 15, 7:00 - 8:15 pm MST via Zoom
What was the Doctrine of Discovery? Why does it still matter? What is being done to repair its harms? Join Sarah Augustine, Executive Director of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery and Vasu Bandhu, Buddhist monk and Interfaith Manager at Arizona Faith Network for a timely conversation about the destructive and ongoing impacts of colonization in the Americas.
We will begin the webinar with a guided meditation and there will also be an opportunity to ask questions.
Register for Zoom information.
Read MoreEach year, we recognize that many clergy are pouring themselves into various ministry settings and often do not have the time and energy to invest in their personal financial wellness.
The Ministers’ Financial Vitality Initiative (MFVI), made possible through grants from the Lilly Endowment Inc., helps eligible UCC ministers develop a holistic approach toward managing finances, including reducing debt.
Practice self-care as it relates to your finances. Apply for MFVI 2025 Cohort before the December 31 deadline. Applicants will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Get the FAQs here. For questions, email MFVI@pbucc.org.
Read MoreHave you ever wondered what makes an ordained minister? Is it seminary degree, the fancy robe, or perhaps an unusually robust collection of coffee mugs? Let’s take a humorous but accurate journey into the sacred calling of ordained ministry, guided by the United Church of Christ’s own Manual on Ministry.
Read More"Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your master." — Matthew 25:21
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Reverend John J. Allen, fondly known as Jack Allen. Jack passed away peacefully last Thursday. A beloved member of our community, Jack transferred into the Southwest Conference on February 14, 2023, and resided in Tucson.
In a recent conversation with his wife, Virginia Wyly, she shared that Jack deeply loved the United Church of Christ and its mission, which was central to his life and ministry.
Please hold Virginia and their family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May God’s comfort and peace surround them as they grieve the loss of their loved one.
We give thanks for Jack’s life, ministry, and the ways he touched the lives of those around him.
Read MoreOur Annual Meeting planning team would love to hear your ideas! Please fill out the form. THANKS!
Read Moreby Rev. Dr. Derrick Elliott, ACM for Authorization, Accountability, and Discernment
Last week, Dr. Toni, Dr. Gloria, and I attended AM21 (Authorizing Ministry for the 21st Century) to help the conference staff hone our skills to become better servant leaders. This year's gathering, themed "Unraveling for Repair," was held in Tempe, Arizona, and provided a transformative experience that challenged us to reflect on how our ministries and leadership are evolving.
Read MoreThe Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ offers our deepest sympathies to the Rev. Ann B. Day and all who mourn the passing of Donna Enberg. We hold Ann, their loved ones, and all who grieve in our hearts and prayers, asking for peace and comfort during this time of profound loss.
Donna, along with her wife, Ann, created the UCC's Open and Affirming (ONA) program in 1987. Enberg continued as the program's treasurer for 20 years until her retirement in 2007.
Together, Ann and Donna were instrumental in developing the most successful and fastest-growing LGBTQ+-affirming church movement in the world.
Read MoreThe Church of the Red Rocks members invite you to the celebratory installation service for their new pastor, Rev. Dr. Guillermo Márquez-Sterling, on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at 2:30 PM. Clergy is invited to wear a robe and stole and join the processional.
Read MoreJob Description
Grant Director: Thriving Churches Initiative “The Journey Project”
NM Conference of Churches
3-5 years Temporary Position
Salary $54,600 per year with 5% COL raise each year, Fringe Benefits at 25% of salary added to salary per year.
Part-time: 25-30 hours per week
The Grant Director of The Journey Project will direct the Strengthening the Church Initiative for NM Conference of Churches until the end of the grant period 2027 or for extended period as approved by NMCC Board and the Lilly Endowment.
Click through for details.
Read MoreOn behalf of Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada and the United Church of Christ in the U.S., we offer our prayers and support to the churches and people of South Korea at this uncertain time. We were deeply concerned when South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol surprisingly declared Martial Law on December 3. However short-lived, President Yoon’s initiative to seize government control to use against political opponents was widely regarded as a self-serving act that threatened the entire nation with fear and instability.
Click through to read the full statement.
Read More“The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” — Ephesians 4:11-12 (NRSVUE)
The Apostle Paul reminds us that God calls individuals into ministry not only to shepherd and teach but also to grow in their own faith and understanding. This growth is vital to equipping the church to navigate a changing world. As the Body of Christ, congregations have a sacred role in nurturing the continuing education of their pastors, ensuring they remain spiritually enriched, theologically informed, and practically equipped to lead with wisdom and compassion.
Clergy continuing education is not merely professional development—it is a spiritual investment in the life of the whole church. A pastor’s learning fosters vibrant preaching, deeper pastoral care, and innovative ministries that address the needs of the community. Whether through supporting sabbaticals, encouraging participation in workshops and conferences, or celebrating milestones in learning, churches have an opportunity to be active partners in their pastor’s growth.
Read Morepublished on Dec 4, 2024
Leaders of the United Church of Christ have written the following pastoral letter to the UCC community, offering reflection and an invitation on what it means to faithfully be Christ’s church in the present moment. The pastoral letter is also available to download here.
Read MoreThe Nollau Leadership Institute is CHHSM’s signature program with more than 250 attendees in its 20+ years. Enrollment is open and the short online application can be found here. We invite you to make plans to participate in next year's class by registering now. A limited number of tuition scholarships are available to help offset the cost of the program.
Grounded in the health and human service organizations of the United Church of Christ, this program offers a unique space in which to experience leadership formation. Each year, Nollau brings together a community of leaders committed to creating a just, caring, and compassionate world. Such values deepen during the program, as participants grow in their leadership skills from a place of belonging. Cultivating this connection between others, the world, and within themselves is the heart of the Nollau experience.
Click through to learn more.
Read MoreThe Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.
Read more about this year’s Christmas Fund offering here.
United Church of Christ congregations and members have blessed the Christmas Fund with their generosity for many years. This year, your care and compassion will be especially appreciated by those servants of the church who are facing a time of need. Thank you!
Read MoreJoin us for an Embodied Advent Series that highlights the ministries of a diverse representation of United Church of Christ partners and faith leaders. All Advent programs have been pre-recorded and will be made available on Nurture the Soul's YouTube channel the Monday before each Advent week. Please note we decided to include a "Longest Night" service in lieu of a 4th week of Advent. The purpose of these webinars is to nurture your souls and ministries and can be shared in lieu of holding your own service - or to pull pieces from to enhance your own ministry settings.
Access videos here.
Read MoreIn our ministry journeys, it’s easy to feel both energized and stretched. Balancing the demands of preaching, pastoral care, administrative duties, and personal growth often leaves little time to reflect on our shared calling. Yet, as clergy in the Southwest Conference, we are part of a vibrant network that values mutual support, shared wisdom, and ongoing learning. One of the most effective ways to foster these connections is through a Community of Practice. But what is it, and why is it essential?
Read Dr. Derrick’s article.
Read More“Where Did You Get That Song? Resources for Congregational Song”
At their November Saturday Sharing, Ruth Striegel (First Congregational Albuquerque) talked about how to reach beyond the hymnal to find new songs to use with your congregation. You can see her list of resources and view the video recording of the conversation. Saturday Sharing will return in 2025.
Read MoreOur next CRMT session is scheduled for: March 13, 2025, 9 am-3 pm MST.
The cost is $30 per person. Please register here. We’ll send out the Zoom link to all registrants on March 10.
Read MoreWhen 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 More
