The Damascus Project and The Lay Academy: A Comparison

by Rev. Tisha Brown

Over the last year I have received a number of inquiries about the similarities and differences between the Wisconsin Conference Lay Academy and the newly emerging Damascus Project. I hope this article will help answer some of your questions. In addition, I am always available and eager to respond to questions and to receive comments. You can reach me at tbrown@wcucc.org or call m

e at 608-846-7880.
Read the article 

Larry and Rob will provide an overview of the Doctrine of Discovery and explain why the issue is being studied by Conference churches prior to considering a resolution to repudiate the document at the 2019 Annual Meeting.

Larry is a member of the Hochunk Nation, the Warrior Clan.  He was baptized in 1957 at the Hocak (Hochunk) Church, which is part of the WI Conference of the UCC.  He completed the WI Conference Lay Academy in 2016 and is currently a spiritual leader of the Hocak Church. Larry has personally felt the effects of racism that he traces back to historic documents like Papal Bulls laying out the Doctrine of Discovery, and he has done a great deal of study and speaking on the topic. Rev. Rob McDougall is Associate Conference Minister with primary responsibility for the Northwest Association of the Conference. The location for the event is Younger Family Campus Center (second floor), Lakeland University, W3718 South Dr., Plymouth, Wis.

Living the Light
April 5-6, 2019
Glacier Canyon Conference Center in the Wilderness Resort in the Wisconsin Dells

 

The Annual Meeting is taking a different form for 2019. Due to hosting General Synod in June, the Associations and Conference decided to combine annual meetings this year into One Meeting to engage in the business of two settings of the Church. The meeting will include sessions for Conference business and breakout sessions by Association.

 

Annual Meeting relies on the help of volunteers! Give a little of your time and get to connect with everyone attending Annual Meeting. Greet friends and acquaintances you haven't seen since the last Annual Meeting. Your spouse/partner is also welcome to be a volunteer. Volunteer opportunities 

 

Just prior to Annual Meeting, the Conference is offering a Boundary Training. Boundary Training information and registration. Space is limited to the first 32 participants. Register by March 20.

The Catalyst Team of the Wisconsin Conference invites you to this Taste and See Event to explore three programs designed to support your congregation in taking your next best step.

 

Readiness 360 helps congregations identify:

• Where to start with a new ministry
• How to get unstuck
• Building on your strengths
• How to shift focus from maintenance to mission

Coaching equips clergy to:

• build on their strengths

• identify and act on priorities

• identify ministry goals and work toward them

• thrive in ministry

First Congregational UCC, 131 N. Webster St, Port Washington
Flyer for Lenten series
Event speaker bios 

Offering to be collected March 31, 2019

 

About 62% of this offering goes overseas in partnership with Church World Service, several Denominations in the US (including the UCC), and local relief agencies who have staff and volunteers organized in areas of need. Most of the expenditures are put into the budget to support long-term sustainable development. All funding is reviewed and monitored by a leadership committee that also reviews grant requests for long-term disaster rehabilitation initiatives. The remainder of the OGHS offering, approximately 38%, is used domestically for disaster relief, and to aid refugees and immigrants fleeing to the US and territories for a better life.    

 

One Great Hour of Sharing Offering is extremely efficient, cost-effective way to reach out and help people near and far. On average, for every dollar given to One Great Hour of Sharing, 95 cents is used directly for mission programming; and 5 cents for interpretation materials. Any associated administrative costs are paid by gifts to Our Church's Wider Mission National Basic Support. Let's all reach out on March 31 to people who need our help including immigrants, people in the US and its territories, and people all over the world. 

More information about OGHS

 

Increase your understanding of the systemic violence that is racism in our society, our communities, and our churches by attending this workshop and retreat. As the church, it is our duty to not just be not racist, but to be anti-racist. This means we need to identify and work against racism. This workshop will help us to identify the insidious ways we perpetuate racism without even thinking about it. Whether this is your first step or a continuation of your journey, this workshop will meet you where you are to help you get closer to being an anti-racist, pro-reconciling leader for your church and community.
More information

Church Building and Loan Fund is offering new services to congregations - stewardship, re-purposing, and capital campaign consultations! Click HERE for more information. I'd love to hear from you!   

--Chuck Blaisdell, Regional Mission Interpreter, Church Building & Loan Fund

Founders' Day Lecture
Bradley Theater, Lakeland University, W3718 South Dr., Plymouth, Wis.
Presenter: Sr. Joan Dawber, founder and executive director of Lifeway Network in New York City
March 26, 2019, 11am-Noon

Sr. Joan will present the story of LifeWay Network and its response to human trafficking, or what it is more correctly named modern-day slavery. Learn about human trafficking globally and right here in the United States, who it impacts, tactics used by traffickers and red flags in order to prevent, recognize and report trafficking. Lecture is free; lunch with Sr. Joan following presentation is $10. For more information, click here.

Searching Churches

New Calls

• Rev. Laura Kolden has been called as pastor at First UCC in Belleville, effective February 3, 2019.
• Rev. Peter Norland has been called as pastor at Portage Lake United Church in Houghton, Mich., effective February 3, 2019.

Installations and Ordinations

• Laura Kolden was ordained at Salem UCC in Verona on February 10, 2019.

Good Tidings

• Community UCC in Medford became an ONA church on February 14, 2019
• Pilgrim UCC in Fond du Lac became an ONA church on February 19, 2019

The Conference Transitions feature appears monthly in the Wisconsin Conference Life. Please share your transition information, including church anniversaries, with the newsletter editor by emailing Nola.