Faith and Ministry Lay Communities of Practice

Have you participated in Lay Academy or Damascus Project Programming?

Are you a committed, engaged lay leader?

Do you long for a safe place to talk about faith and life?

Are you seeking support and inspiration?

If you answer yes to these questions, the Faith and Ministry Lay Communities of Practice are the place for you!

Faith and Ministry Lay Communities of Practice are facilitated small groups for lay people. All group meetings take place via Zoom except our orientation retreat. These groups are currently open only to Lay Academy Alumni and Damascus Project participants. Within these groups you will grow in faith, develop as a leader and work with other lay people to brainstorm, share resources and troubleshoot challenges facing your congregation.

Important Dates & Costs:

In-Person Orientation Retreat & Initial Faith and Ministry Lay Community of Practice Group Meeting

This retreat is required for first-time participants and highly recommended for those planning to continue in their groups. During the retreat you will meet your group and your facilitator and schedule your monthly zoom gatherings.  Faith and Ministry Lay Community of Practice groups meet November – May on Zoom.

Friday, Oct. 21, 7:00 pm to Saturday, Oct. 22, 3:00 pm.

Trost Conference Center

4459 Gray Rd., DeForest, WI 53532

Virtual attendance is an option. Contact Tisha Brown to request this option. Please still register for the group.

Cost for 1-year of Group Participation is $125

Click HERE to register for the Retreat and for the 2022-2023 Faith and Ministry Lay Communities of Practice.

Coming to the Retreat? Reserve your Hotel: To reserve a room at a discounted price, call the DeForest Holiday Inn Express at 608-846-8686 and ask for a room in the United Church of Christ block for October 21. Participants are responsible for their own room cost and reservations. The hotel is located at 7184 Morrisonville Road, DeForest, WI 53532.

Hotel Cost: $74.

Questions? Contact Tisha Brown

Meet the Facilitators:

Cathy Wille has served in her work life as a high school biology teacher for 18 years and served as a licensed professional counselor in the Samaritan network of counseling centers for 24 years.  She has helped establish and been part of the Communities of Practice both as co-administrator and facilitator in the Wisconsin Conference, providing facilitator trainings in Wisconsin and other Conferences for 10+ years.  She is a life-long member of the United Church of Christ and has served on local church, conference and national committees.

Bonnie Andrews After a vocation of supporting volunteerism in nonprofits locally and around the state, it seems fitting that Bonnie’s avocation seems to be volunteering.  She is active in her local congregation, Bethel Bethany in Milwaukee, and for the Conference recently serving as a Five Practices, Community of Practice and Faith/Ministry facilitator; is part of the Supportive Ministries team, and co-chaired the Local Arrangements Committee for General Synod 32 in Milwaukee.

Jean Duchrow is a proud member of the McFarland UCC Church and has served as Vice Moderator and Moderator.  She trained in the Befriender Ministry where she started a group for her congregation.  She is a 4-year graduate of Lay Academy after which she served as hostess and facilitator for the following years 3, 4 and 5.  She has served as a facilitator for Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations and Faith and Ministry Lay Communities of Practice.

From Bonnie, Cathy and Jean:

“We are honored and privileged to be part of these groups as facilitators. These groups leave us feeling deeply hopeful because we find ourselves in the company of people who love the church as much as we do. This gives us hope that the church has a future!”