The United Church of Christ Board formally ratifies realigned leadership structure, approves 2019 budget, and looks toward General Synod elections.

Mark Behle has served Global Ministries, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the United Church of Christ faithfully for thirty-three years and is finally concluding his service. The last terms have been with the Lesotho Evangelical Church in Southern Africa where he worked with the church in Maseru as planning officer. Mark’s home church is in Arizona at Church of the Palms UCC, Sun City.

As a part of the [Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)] Arizona Regional Assembly, we will be celebrating Mark’s service in Tucson, Arizona at Saguaro Christian Church with a Global Ministries lunch at noon on Saturday, November 3.

We are heartbroken for our Jewish siblings by the horrific shooting at Tree of Life congregation in Pittsburgh. This is a list of prayer vigils this week honor the eleven victims who lost their lives at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

[From Rev. Trayce L, Stewart, Minister for Youth and Young Adult Engagement, Faith INFO (Faith Education, Innovation, and Formation)]

As we take to the task of revamping the youth and young adult ministries of the national UCC setting there are several projects that are in the works. One of those is to offer a 2019 Lenten devotion which will be available for download early next year. I am seeking a total of 46 writers between the ages of 12 and 30 (give or take a year or two) and trying to reserve half of those spaces for youth and young adults of color to highlight our commitment to diversity.

Part of the ministerial covenant and oversight for authorized ministers in the UCC is to keep current on trainings for healthy boundary awareness in our relationships and ministry practice. In the Southwest Conference, we continue to “try out” our “Healthy Ministry Module” format for these trainings, in order to meet the various needs of clergy in our wide geography and diverse settings. The fall line-up for our Boundary Awareness Modules is now available.

Rev. Dr. Barb Doerrer-Peacock was installed as Associate Conference Minister on Sunday, September 9 at Desert Palm UCC.

Bill Kaszeta was kind to share his photos with us! If you have photos to share, please email them to Wende at wgonzales@uccswc.org.

The Rev. Paul Bizer is available to assist your church in helping build its mission dreams.

Introducing Rev. Jay Deskins! 

Recently called as Regional Youth and Children's Minister for the Christian Church in Arizona (Disciples of Christ), Jay has been approved by the SWC Executive Board as UCC/DOC joint youth ministry director.

Called to Care is a resource which helps a church or other organization: 

• develop a caregiving program

• train caregivers

• continue to develop and support the program and the caregivers

Caregiving may take many forms, and congregations or organizations may wish to organize some caregiving into programs to make them more helpful and effective.

We are offering three hub training locations.

Saturday, October 6, 10 a.m. at the SWC office

The next MCVC meeting will focus on leadership best practices. The following people from conference churches are asked to attend:

• moderators

• treasurers

• council members

• finance team members

• MCVC reps

Healthy Ministry Module 3, "Finances, Resources, and Work" is scheduled for September 10 in Albuquerque at Church of the Good Shepherd. 

Celebrate the installation of Rev. Dr. Barb D. Doerrer-Peacock with us!

We have received word that Mark Behle, serving in Lesotho, Southwest Conference, will be visiting in the Southwest Conference UCC and the Arizona Region DOC November 1 – November 30, 2018.  To schedule a visit with Mark in your church, please contact Al Beasley abeasley6@cox.net or (480) 516-6456. Al is coordinating Mark’s schedule while he is in the conference.

Jim Smith, member of Oro Valley UCC and previously on COCAM, passed away on July 18, 2018, in Jacksonville, FL. 

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Stephen United Church of Christ, 1875 Farnsley Road, Louisville, KY. Interment in Hebron Cemetery.