Conference News
Much appreciation to all who helped to create and shape the beautiful and inspiring all-conference worship service during Annual Meeting! Thanks to all who attended and for your kind words in the Facebook comments and emails. Coming together for worship was wonderful!
If you missed it, or want to watch it again or download the video, we got you!
Read MoreThe offertory, virtual choir, Bill Lyons’ message from the conference-wide worship service are all available for viewing and downloading!
Read MoreThe Awakening to Racial Justice was renamed A Southwest Conference Resolution on Restorative Racial Justice: Decentering Whiteness In Our Churches and Society. It passed:
93% yes
6% no
1% abstain
The International Decade for People of African Descent resolution passed:
98% yes
1% no
1% abstain
As soon as the final drafts are available, we’ll send them out and post them on the website.
Read MoreWell done, Robert! Thank you for your faithfulness to God’s call on your life. Thank you for your ministry among us. We are better people, better followers of Jesus, and a better church because of you.
Read MoreCreating a communications strategy to inspire engagement and generosity is often a daunting task for faith communities. That’s why two expert communications teams are collaborating in a series of fourth quarter webinars to provide the tools that church leaders can use and adapt to their individual settings.
The Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and the United Church of Christ Office of Philanthropy, Technology, Identity, and Communication (OPTIC) are joining forces to present these four webinars, with the first scheduled for Oct. 7. Providing knowledge and skills for congregational leaders in key areas of organizational and mission effectiveness and nonprofit administration, the webinar series emphasizes strategic communications for development, stewardship, and related planning, management, and leadership activities.
The free webinar series is aimed at congregational, judicatory, and UCC agency leadership, both clergy and lay.
Read MorePlease click here to read the latest guide from United Church Funds, a sponsor of our upcoming Annual Meeting.
Read MoreAll churches of the Southwest Conference are invited to join together online for worship during our Annual Meeting! This is NOT just for delegates. EVERYONE is invited to worship together as ONE conference.
We'll go "live" on our Facebook page at 9 am Arizona time/10 am New Mexico and El Paso time.
Read MoreOur campus ministry is flourishing with a weekly small group, monthly worship, a new podcast, and more!
Read MoreThe Rev. Avery D. Post, president of the United Church of Christ from 1977 to 1989, died Monday, Sept. 7, at Kendal Retirement Community in Hanover, N.H. He was 96.
Through a career that also included heading the UCC’s statewide body in Massachusetts and pastoring local churches in three states, Post was known as an ecumenist, an advocate for social justice, and a skilled preacher. He led the denomination through years that included Cold War peace dialogues, racial-justice activism and support for emerging movements for women’s and LGBTQ rights and inclusion.
Read MoreWith the climate crisis and the struggle against inequality, the younger generations have served as today's prophets in provoking a global reckoning of the dire situation faced. As the November 3rd elections approach, children and youth are raising their voices again with a moral urgency as they awaken us to how much is at stake. This webinar will present children and youth from ages 10 to 18 who have a message and perspective that needs to be heard before those older than them vote. Register now!
Read MoreFor today’s big problems, we need bigger dreams, says the UCC’s minister of economic justice.
Read MoreNoting that the United Church of Christ is “among the whitest Christian denominations in America,” the church’s leaders are launching an assessment of “racial diversity, equity and inclusion” throughout the church.
The United Church of Christ Board of Directors announced the assessment in a Sept. 1 “letter to the wider church” and began seeking consultants to the process by posting a request for proposals at the UCC website. The letter was signed by UCC Board Chair Yvette Wynn and the three national officers of the church, the Revs. John Dorhauer, Traci Blackmon and Karen Georgia Thompson.
Read MoreThis year, special consideration will be given to projects focusing on serving our immigrant neighbors and communities. The United Church of Christ’s history is rooted in supporting justice work and the Southwest Conference encourages all SWC churches to participate in this important cause. We invite your congregation to renew its commitment to Neighbors in Need on Sunday, October 4th. This date coincides with our Virtual Annual Meeting and an appeal will be made during the all-conference worship service that morning.
All of this year’s resource materials are downloadable here.
Read MoreWe’re picking up speed toward our Virtual Annual Meeting. See what you need to know.
Read MoreUnited Church Funds (UCF) announced that Brown Endowment grants of over $100,000 has been awarded so far this year to 13 United Church of Christ (UCC) conferences. These grants will allow these conferences to implement support programs and leadership development for authorized ministers who are addressing and responding to the crisis and trauma caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and protests for racial justice.
The Southwest Conference wrote for and received a $10K grant from the Brown Endowment Fund to provide active authorized ministers with traumatic stress debriefing and support.
Read MoreRev. Liana Rowe will be retiring from her conference position as Administrative Assistant for Finance as of April 30, 2021.
Read MoreCynthia VerDuin is stepping down as SWC treasurer at the end of September.
Read MoreThis article is intended for church financial personnel. Feel free to read it, anyway, and rejoice or geek out with us about this new feature. Kudos to our finance staff person, Rev. Liana Rowe, who toiled for MANY hours to set up this new online form.
Read MoreAssociate Conference Minister Barb Doerrer-Peacock has approved an alternate online anti-racism training program, recommended by Rev. Rock Fremont, to count for the clergy anti-racism requirement.
Dismantling Racism training, which seeks to increase "racial understanding, healing and reconciliation" is offered by the Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing in Atlanta, Georgia.
Although there is no charge to take the training, pre-registration is required no later than one week in advance. Each class is limited to 25 people and runs for a single day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
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September 17, 24, and October 1. Registration opening soon.
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