Conference News
From 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 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.
Read MoreNathan Watts was ordained on Sunday, May 5 at The Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita! Congrats!
Read MoreSome of us love camp so much we just wish we could live there. If that’s you, or someone you know, read on for a message from our church camp site in Prescott, Emmanuel Pines Camp.
Unique opportunity for just the RIGHT person! Emmanuel Pines is a growing faith-based camp and we are on the hunt for our next amazing servant-leader team members 15 years and older! (Must be 18 or older for onsite housing.) Bring your personality, your ideas, and your skills and join us.
The all staff training/camp kick-off day is May 23, and we would love to secure most of our summer staff by that date!
Read MoreDear Members and Friends of the Southwest Conference:
I bring you greetings in the name of our Still Speaking God. My name is Michael Curry and I am thrilled to serve the Southwest Conference as Lay Minister for Disability Education, Advocacy, and Awareness.
My time as a member in discernment in the Southwest Conference began on February 13, 2014 and came to a close on February 13, 2019. During my time in discernment, I had a difficult time deciphering how God envisioned using me and the gifts that I bring to our shared table where I always hoped to be a voice to those who have been silenced and marginalized by the stigma of mental health challenges. I spent a lot of time thinking and dreaming about the ideal ministry setting for me never once imagining that I would receive and accept a call to serve on the Southwest Conference staff as Lay Minister for Disability Education, Advocacy, and Awareness.
Read more about Michael’s new position, and find out how he can be helpful to you and your church!
Read MoreReview the resolutions submitted for consideration at the 32nd General Synod, and share insights and feedback with our Southwest Conference delegates who will be representing us at Synod. You may email synod2019@uccswc.org.
The resolutions are listed here.
Read MoreThe totals for the offerings collected at Annual Meeting are as follows:
Guest Speakers: $855
Immigrant Welcoming: $1511
Racial and Ethnic Churches: $836
Thank you for your generosity.
Read MoreA memorial service for Bill Nelson will be held at Church of the Beatitudes on Tuesday, April 23, 4 p.m. with visitation the hour before the service.
Read MoreThe 2019 Annual Meeting of the Southwest Conference UCC is in the books! Thanks to all who contributed to its success. In addition to the photos she took, Wende crawled through your Facebook accounts and found some fantastic pictures. Image credits to: Doug Bland, David Huisjen, Jay Deskins, Cindy Parker, Gordon Street, JJ Johnson, and Bill Lyons.
If you have photos that you’re willing to share, please send them to Wende. Email wgonzales@uccswc.org, or through the SWC Facebook page via Messenger.
Read MoreAre you trying to make a difference in how music and the arts are used in the church? Come to the 13th Biennial National Conference of the United Church of Christ Musicians Association (UCCMA) in Madison, Wisconsin, June 25-28.
Read MoreMoving the Mission of the Church through Powerful Questions
presented by Rev. Dr. Felix C. Villanueva, Conference Minister, Southern California and Nevada on Friday, April 5 at Breakout Session II during Annual Meeting
Read More
