Conference News
From 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
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Are 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 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 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!
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The 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 MoreTo meet our six-hour per five-year cycle (2023-2027) requirement for Anti-Racism Training, we have contracted with:
Rev. Gary T. Smith, Director, Center for Racial Justice; Racial Justice Consultant, NY Conference, United Church of Christ AND Rev. Dr. Marsha Williams, Conference Minister, New York Conference to offer their Culturally Responsive Ministry Training (CRMT) on Race.
The CRMT on Race focuses participants on the importance of culturally responsive ministry, how we are socialized and how culture shapes us, how we examine our own bias, and the challenges of race/racism/whiteness in congregations. We end our training by breaking participants into racial affinity groups where white folks learn about the deep impact of microaggressions on our siblings of color, while People of Color have the opportunity to check in about their ministry and the impact of race/racism on it. We lead the trainings as a two-person multiracial team.
Our next CRMT session is scheduled for: November 18, 9am-3pm MST. The cost is $30 per person. Please register here. We’ll send out the Zoom link to all registrants on November 15.
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!
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Neighbors 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.
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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.
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The 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.
Read MoreJoining the Justice 100 is simple. You can sign up to lead a team, rally your community, and help the ONA Coalition reach their goal. Or, if leading a team isn’t for you, you can simply make a donation to the cause! Every dollar raised will go directly toward making our church and world more just and inclusive for all people. Details in the article.
Learn more and sign up by visiting OpenandAffirming.org/Justice100.
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NCC's Christian Unity Gathering is right around the corner! Registration is open and hotel rooms are available for this gathering in Nashville, TN, at Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Airport 10 Century Blvd, Nashville, TN 37214 from Oct. 15-18.
This year's CUG theme is "Equitable Futures: Paving the Way for Environmental and Economic Justice." We will explore the critical intersection of ecological sustainability and socio-economic equity with prominent leaders.
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Loads of webinars coming up in the UCC!
Race to the Polls
Keep Hope Alive Olive Tree Planting Campaign
Parker Lecture
Toxic Polarization and Partisan Divides: Holding on to Faith, Hope, and Love This Election Season
Refuge in Times of Trouble: Faith Communities As Resiliency Hubs
Building Bridges in a Polarized Nation: Coming Together to Care for Newcomers
With the retirement of our full-time Associate Conference Minister on December 31st, the Southwest Conference embraced a new model of two part-time ACMs. This model has been proven successful with the support of our bridge ACMs, and now, we are moving forward with the search for two settled part-time ACMs.
A search committee of five is actively seeking candidates for these 25-hour/week positions, each with benefits. One ACM will focus on Committee on Ministry A, while the other will focus on Committee on Ministry B. The positions will soon be posted on the national UCC Ministry Opportunities website, and the chosen candidates will be presented to the Executive Board for approval, in accordance with our bylaws.
Please hold the search team in prayer as we enter this next chapter of the Southwest Conference. As Dr. Toni often reminds us, "The best is yet to come."
Read MoreAs a show of Christian Unity and a plea for Peace during the election season, seven Christian denominations in Arizona are teaming up for a series of three prayer services.
We invite and encourage all to attend these services and to promote peace throughout this election season.
Hosted by:
The Rev. Dr. Jay R. Hartley, Regional Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona
The Rev. Deborah K. Hutterer, Bishop
Grand Canyon Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Rev. Dr. Brad Munroe, Pastor to the Presbytery
Grand Canyon and de Cristo presbyteries
The Right Rev. Jennifer A. Reddall, Episcopal Bishop
Episcopal Diocese of Arizona
The Most Rev. John P. Dolan, Bishop
Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut
Desert Southwest Conference, United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Toni Hawkins, Conference Minister
Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ
September 11 session details:
Presenter: Rev. Christine Dance
Title: Flocking Together: How to Keep Each Other Safe In The Face of Christian Nationalism
Rev. Christine Dance of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix will discuss their congregation’s recent harassment by Christian Nationalist individuals and how they have rethought about “safety,” including how we keep another safe instead of just outsourcing safety. We will talk both high level as well as some practical tools for us as individuals and groups.
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