News/Events
Out of Office Hours for Association Minister Lorraine Ceniceros:
January 14 1:00-4:00 at Cafe 43 Coffee House, 43 High Street, Mineral Point
January 22 1:00-4:00 at The Sweet Spot Cafe, 226 W. Whitewater Street, Whitewater
Lorraine is also available for meetings and preaching engagements. You can access her calendar here.
Creation Justice Webinar
Stewardship: Do you know all there is to know?
Rev. Andrew Warner will offer two tracks of stewardship webinars in early 2020.
The Season of Lent: A Changed life
Tuesday, February 25 at 2:00
Register here.
The Season of Easter: Beloved Community
Tuesday, April 21 at 2:00
Register here.
Orientation for New Congregational Leaders
Tuesday, January 28 at 6:00
Treasurers and Financial Secretaries
Register here.
Thursday, January 30 at 6:00
Stewardship Chair and Team
Register here.
Monday, February 3 at 6:00
Mission, Outreach Justice or Stewardship Teams
Register here.
Flourishing in Ministry: Cultivating Trustworthy Relationships
Step away from daily work to explore your inner life, reconnect with your calling and join a global movement that believes that leadership begins from the hear of who one is.
Three Series Retreats
May 11-14, 2020
November 6-11, 2020
May 10-12 2021
at the Siena Retreat Center in Racine
Leading the retreats are: Rev. Winton Boyd, Chelsey Hillyer, Rev. Katrina Jenkins and Sharia Steever
Learn more here.
Can Interfaith Collaboration Strengthen Democracy?
WI Council Council of Churches is reaching out across the state to a broad range of faith communities and community organizations. In early 2020, we will convene a day of dialogue to explore what civic and democratic engagement means to those gathered, how it connects to their faith, and the challenges and opportunities for religious organizations’ participation in the public square. This will be followed by training for “voter ambassadors” from diverse communities to conduct voter registration drives.
If you, your congregation, or community organization might be interested in joining with us in this effort, please let us know! Contact Dr. Peter Bakken, WCC Coordinator for Public Policy, or Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, Executive Director of Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice.
More information here.
Southwest Annual Meeting
May 2, 2020
Plymouth UCC in Dodgeville, WI
Borrow “God’s Doors Are Open to All”
Created to remind us to boldly stand in Solidarity with LGBTQ & Orlando, Florida communities to represent our Open and Affirming congregations and to encourage us all to let love be stronger than hate.
Click here for more information.
Interested in Visiting Palestine and Israel?
Rev. Nick Utphall will be leading an eleven day trip to the Holy Land in November.
For more information click here.
Damascus Project
Returning to Sacred Texts and Finding Stories You Can Live In
Leadership development initiative to form spiritually-grounded leaders for a changing church.
Registration and more information
Communities of Practice Groups for Clergy and Christian Educators
More information
Communities of Practice for Christian Education Faith Formation
More information
Thinking about retirement or already retired?
The Conference has started a Facebook Group to discuss the many issues involved in transitioning to retirement.
It is open to all Authorized Clergy and any denomination. More information.
Lay Leaders take note!
Are you a lay leader for a congregation which has called or is calling a pastor who will be serving in that for the first time?
New resources are being developed to help with the transition from seminary to a first call in ministry. Members of the SW Association that are working on this are: Rev. Mark Yurs, Rev. Leslie Schenk, Dave Pearson and Rev. Joanne Thomson.
New Process for Licensed Ministry
The Southwest Association, along with the three other Associations in the Wisconsin Conference, has adopted a new process for licensed ministry. Both the Conference Commission on Church and Ministry and our national MESA (Ministerial Excellence, Support, and Authorization) team have developed a new framework for understanding licensed ministry. We encourage you to take a look at www.ucc.org/ministers to learn more about the changes affecting the authorization of ministry in the United Church of Christ.
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