Conference News

Search Opened for Part-Time Associate Conference Ministers

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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."

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Arizona Judicatory Leader's Prayer Vigils for Peace

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Arizona Judicatory Leader's Prayer Vigils for Peace

As 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

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Response Team Training with Rev. Tara Barber

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Fitness Reviews occur periodically, and when your COM is faced with a FR, it's essential that you are well-equipped to respond.  Join us for a refresher course that encompasses the work of a response team. Open to COMs and individuals to be trained as response team members. If your team hasn’t been to a training in the past two years, it’s time for a refresher! 

SWC: We need you (CLERGY and LAY) to help us to have a good working list of people we can call on if needed. It's a very good way to be a meaningful participant in the vitally important work of the Committee on Ministry. Please register!

For questions, contact Rev. Leslie Etheredge, acm-cocam@uccswc.org.

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“God gave us one day of rest; unions gave us two – and Labor Day weekend gives us three!”

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“God gave us one day of rest; unions gave us two – and Labor Day weekend gives us three!”

Would your church be interested in having an area labor leader for a 5-minute ‘minute for mission’ as part of the AFL-CIO’s ‘Labor in the Pulpit’ program?

There are openings in the Phoenix area during Labor Day weekend (or the weekends before and after). Please reach out to UCC Minister for Economic Justice Rev. Seth Wispelwey at wispelweys@ucc.org to schedule the visit.

Not in the Phoenix area but want to pursue this for next year? Reach out to Seth about 2025!

(If your congregation wants more than five minutes, Seth can also arrange a longer message.)

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Is Your Church Required to File the New IRS BOI?

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Is Your Church Required to File the New IRS BOI?

We want to bring to your attention an important new IRS filing requirement for churches and non-profits: the FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI).

Here are the key points:

  • 1. Churches and nonprofits are NOT automatically exempt from BOI reporting.

  • 2. If your church or nonprofit has a valid 501(c)(3) determination letter from the IRS, you are NOT required to report BOI.

  • 3. However, churches that are automatically considered 501(c)(3) organizations for certain purposes without an IRS determination letter fall under a different requirement:

    • Those churches operating as 501(c)(3) organizations under the presumption of tax exemption, without obtaining a 501(c)(3) determination letter, ARE required to file their BOI information and any future updates.

The crucial factor is whether you have an IRS determination letter stating your church has valid 501(c)(3) status. If not, your church or non-profit must comply with the BOI federal reporting requirement. We strongly advise consulting your accountant for clarification.

We hope this information will be helpful to our SWC congregations.

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SWC's Resilience and Revitalization Grant

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SWC's Resilience and Revitalization Grant

The Southwest Conference's Resilience and Revitalization Grant is intended to aid congregations within the Conference in doing the work of ministry and mission. If your congregation has faced obstacles and overcome challenges (resilience),  and is looking to fund a project or initiative focused on making a lasting impact and bringing about growth (revitalization) , we encourage you to apply.

In this first round of applications, we will only receive 20 applications.

Click here to access the application. Please submit no later than September 15.

**Please note: this grant is not intended to fund capital campaigns, or repairs to facilities. Also, those who are granted funding are only permitted to submit an application once within a 12 month period. The amount that can be applied for ranges from $500 - $3,000.

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Faith Formation Practitioner certificate for lay and authorized congregational leaders

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Faith Formation Practitioner certificate for lay and authorized congregational leaders

The lay and authorized congregational leaders can now obtain the Faith Formation Practitioner certificate through this new program. This initiative aims to assist the conferences and committees on ministry by providing a comprehensive course of study for lay ministry that is progressive, theologically sound, and based on the Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers.

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Free Dosia Carlson hymnals

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Free Dosia Carlson hymnals

From Janelle Tapphorn, the Marketing and Outreach Manager at Duet: Partners In Health & Aging:

We have a small supply of "UCC-friendly" hymnals "God's Glory II" written exclusively by the late Rev. Dr. Dosia Carlson that we are giving away to any church interested in new songs for worship. There are 50 hymns composed by the late Rev. Dosia within this collection and offer progressive and thought-provoking lyrics for inspiration and worship.

There are 650 free copies available at our office; interested parties can contact me at (602) 274-5022, ext. 142.

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