Conference News
Thank you to all who turned out on Sunday, January 21 at Desert Palm UCC for the service of release and celebration of Rev. Dr. Barb Doerrer-Peacock as she retires from ministry!
Rev. Tina Campbell took many wonderful photos which we share with you here; if you have photos from the event and don’t mind sharing them, please email them to Wende.
If you weren’t able to attend in person, you may watch the video replay here.
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Your Nominating Committee is working to provide clarity for the nominating process and the process for filling vacancies on your committees. Our conference relies on the dedication of individuals serving in crucial roles to oversee our operations and programs. The Nominating Committee is committed to identifying and placing people with the right skills and talents in these vital positions. We invite your assistance in this process.
Read MoreSong of Life UMC has an open position for their Director of Children - Youth - Family Ministries. Please see the job description here.
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There is a Service Learning Community for seminarians aged 20-25 to learn about the intersection of pastoral ministry in the declining mainline church, chaplaincy in homeless services, and international mission in historically colonized environments.
Click here for the information packet.
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The 2024 Arizona celebration will be held at St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Church at 8849 E Cholla St, Scottsdale. All are welcome!
Read MoreThe 2024 New Mexico celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be held at First Presbyterian in Albuquerque, 215 Locust St NE.
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Registration for CHHSM’s 86th Annual Gathering — to be held March 12-14, 2024, at the Live by Loews Hotel in St. Louis — opened Monday, Dec. 18. The hotel is located in downtown St. Louis’ Ballpark Village, adjacent to Busch Stadium and within walking distance of the new Arch riverfront, museums, and eateries.
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With the new year comes plenty of new plans for ministries throughout the United Church of Christ.
As an election year with pressing, ongoing advocacy issues, 2024 promises to be a year with many opportunities for getting engaged in faith-filled, spirit-driven work. The National Ministries are putting together a wide variety of programs, from finding ways to center the needs and perspectives of children and youth, to building community and movements for justice among congregations and people across the UCC and beyond.
Here are some of the highlights of what’s coming in 2024.
Read MoreEvery year, Christian communities and churches join together to pray for the visible unity of the Church, faithfully abiding by the will of Christ, who prayed “that all may be one” (John 17:21) during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. In much of the world, this Week of Prayer is commemorated from January 18-25. In other places, it is celebrated during the eight days preceding Pentecost.
See the 2024 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity events happening in our geographical area.
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Are you looking for an open-minded, online theological course where your doubts and questions are welcome?
Do you want to know more about Jesus speaking for justice and the poor?
Are you exploring authorized ministry?
Do you want a theological education by which you can begin, finish, or supplement a suite of courses already completed?
PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc. has a complete educational program for those seeking to be authorized ministers.
If you are theologically curious - individual courses, continuing education, and certificates are also available. Check out their offerings.
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From Bethany Fellows Board:
We are excited to announce the opening of the search for a new Bethany Fellows Director/Pastor to serve the Bethany Fellows ministry alongside Lead Director/Pastor, Rev. Melanie Harrell Delaney, and Bethany Congregations Director/Pastor, Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri. The position description can be found on our website.
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Registration is now open for YLS 2024! This six month leadership symposium will prepare youth to lead in local congregations and support them in designing and implementing their own project for their home Church. This is not a leadership team, but rather a leadership lab where High School age leaders can explore their gifts, receive wisdom from other leaders, and imagine new possibilities for their local congregation.
Register at youthleadershipsymposium.org!
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Sunday, January 17 at 3 pm MST
Join us for this time of celebration to conclude Join the Movement’s All Church Read of Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be Antiracist. Come to share insights from you and your community and to hear how others are putting their racial justice dreams into practice. And hear from Join the Movement’s resident historian, Dr. Renee K. Harrison about her journey with the book, as well as insights from Join the Movement Lead, Rev. Dr. Velda Love.
We’ll also be sharing a bit about 2024’s Join the Movement All Church Read, so be sure not to miss that exciting announcement.
Register here.
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A Christmas message from Dr. Toni.
Read MoreThis Christmas season, the United Church of Christ remembers our Palestinian Christian partners and all who live amidst war and violence as they commemorate, not celebrate, Christmas amid the crisis in Gaza.
Rev. Dr. Thompson references a letter written by the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem regarding Christmas celebrations this year. That letter can be found here.
Read MoreWith the impending departure of our beloved Genevieve, we’re now searching for the right person to be her successor. The executive assistant to the conference minister (CM) plays a pivotal role in providing administrative and operational support. Embracing the vision and values of the Southwest Conference (SWC), this person is integral to the seamless functioning of the CM's daily responsibilities and smooth office operations.
To learn about the primary duties and responsibilities, qualifications, skillset, compensation, and application process for this position, please click here.
Read MoreOur gifted Executive Assistant, Genevieve Benham, has tendered her resignation, choosing to embrace a new chapter and new opportunity effective January 15, 2024.
Genevieve has diligently served with excellence, poise, grace, and professionalism; we have been so very blessed to have such an outstanding human on our team. Her unwavering commitment and contributions have been critical to our Conference and her departure will leave a void that we will feel deeply.
Please join us in extending heartfelt gratitude to Genevieve and offering our blessings for her success and well-being. We encourage you to send her an email or drop a handwritten note in the mail to our office (PO Box 44968, Phoenix AZ 85064-4968) to let her know just how much she’s made a difference to you during her time in our Conference.
Genevieve has set a very high bar for her successor. For details about the open position, read this post.
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Author Webinar
Join OWL Taking Flight for conversation with children’s author/illustrator Airlie Anderson on January 3. Register here.
Read MoreThe UCC Mental Health Network wishes you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year! While we hope that you all will stay safe, healthy, and joyous. We know that this year has generally been challenging for all of us, including those of us who live with mental health challenges, neurodiversity, and trauma. We have compiled a few tips and links to utilize as resources in navigating the holidays.
Read MoreSince 2018, in the Southwest Conference we have offered Boundary Awareness training in a modular format that requires taking the four modules once within a 5-year unified cycle for everyone. The first cycle ended in December 2022, and in January 2023 we began a new unified cycle began.
This is a survey to offer an opportunity for us to receive feedback on this system, and what your experience of the modules were. We obviously want them to be as useful and relevant as they can be to our clergy. This will help us know how to best improve, adapt or maintain good quality in our required boundary training experience. Thank you for giving your input!
Rev. Dr. Barb Doerrer-Peacock
Associate Conference Minister
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