 Building Up the Body of Christ
by Rev. Jane Anderson
I enjoy traveling across our beautiful state this time of year, seeing all the fall colors and taking in the gorgeous landscape. We really are privileged to live in such a beautiful place on this planet. I also greatly enjoy visiting and worshiping with our congregations in the conference. It is a privilege to be with you and journey alongside you as you minister in your various settings.
Our churches are filled with many faithful people who have experienced the love and grace of God and daily seek to live out their Christian calling extending God's love and grace to others in their community and beyond. It is a joy to witness Christ at work in and through so many people in our churches.
Yet, far too often I hear from people that they don't feel welcome, supported, encouraged on their faith journey by members of their church. In some places, disagreements and alienation have arisen creating feelings of tension and loneliness. In a few places, conflict has arisen and become so combative that members feel the need to leave for their own spiritual health and well-being. I grieve, as I know you do, when this happens. And please know that we in the conference are trying to assist our churches in distress through the Conflict Transformation Team and our field staff.
All of this has caused me to wonder aloud with you about the nature and purpose of the church and what does membership in our churches really mean? What are we really about as a community of faith? And how are we helping to build up the Body of Christ, rather
than tear it down? What are we doing to safeguard our spiritual homes?
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Clergy Compensation Guidelines Updated
The faithful support of pastors serving congregations is a vital part of ministry in local churches. Just as churches care for members, friends and others in their community, we must also care for our pastors and their families. To assist churches in this endeavor,
the Wisconsin Conference Commission on Church and Ministry has updated the Wisconsin Conference clergy compensation guidelines.
Read more, and view updated guidelines here
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 UCC Climate Care Discussion Guide for Congregations Available
If you've been following recent news of current climate care activism, you likely know who Greta Thunberg is. The 17 year old Swedish activist has written a book titled "No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference." The UCC has released a church-based discussion guide for this book that you can use to spark focused conversations in your congregation. Download the guide here. And if you do hold a discussion, we'd love to hear about your experience! Just send an email with a brief description to resourcecenter@wcucc.org.
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Youth Events: Register Now
The Wisconsin Conference UCC and United Church Camps, Inc., are pleased to present the following youth events for 2019-2020! For more information about any of the events below, please click here.
Knock Knock Middle School Retreat
November 22-24, 2019
Pilgrim Center
Jesus Core High School/Young Adult Retreat
January 9-12, 2020
Pilgrim Center
Registration available in November
Youth Faith Formation Retreats
November 8-10, 2019
February 28-March 1, 2020
March 6-8, 2020
Pilgrim Center
Registration for November retreat
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Young Ambassadors Youth Exchange
June 23-July 14, 2020 in Germany
July 7-28, 2021 in Wisconsin
Cost: $1650
We are looking for Wisconsin Conference UCC youth and young adults aged 15-22 to participate in this two-year exchange with our church partners from the Moers Church District in Germany. This is a wonderful opportunity for travel abroad, expanding your horizons and learning about Christians from Germany - their culture, faith, and customs. The Moers Church District is located in the North Rhine-Westphalia region one hour north of Dusseldorf. Based on previous exchanges, quality time will be spent with your host family, you will participate in an engaging group program, and often the group will visit Berlin for some days of touring. It is expected that participants will commit to both ends of the exchange, as you will be hosting the person in 2021 who hosts you in Germany.
If you are interested in participating in this opportunity you can email Lisa Hart at the Wisconsin Conference Office by October 31.
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Congregational Conflict Workshop
Congregational conflict and what we can do about it - a workshop for pastors and church leaders. The workshop will be led by the Wisconsin Conference UCC Conflict Transformation team.
At this workshop, you will learn:
- how to get ahead of the storm
- how not to get sucked into the vortex
- how to slow down the spin
- what to do when in the storm's "eye"
- how to find shelter in the midst of it all
- and how to build an ark, rather than constructing a dam, for rising water
The same workshop will be held in two locations:
Thursday, November 14, 2019, from 10am to 3pm
First Congregational UCC, Watertown
View event flyer
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Faith in Numbers Event Free Registration
The 4th Annual Faith in Numbers, hosted by Wegner CPAs, is two weeks away and we want to make sure you are there! As part of our relationship with Wegner CPAs, we have free registrations for the first 20 churches that sign up using the code: FINSPONSOR.
This day is filled with relevant breakout sessions including Donor Advised Funds: An Introduction and Key Strategies, Key Performance Indicators: Track What is Important to you, and a Does Culture Matter? Roundtable. All of these sessions are filled with tips that you can take straight back to your organization and implement. The impact of this day is made not only with the presentations, but through all of the connections created between the attendees of this conference. Collaborate with other churches, listen to other organization's pain points, share your success stories, and make this conference our best one yet!
Please click HERE to see the full agenda and register for the event.
We hope to see you there!
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Save the Date: National Youth Event 2020
July 22-25, 2020
Perdue University
Theme: Unite!
When? July 22-25, 2020
Where? Purdue University
Who? Youth who have finished 6th grade through 12th grade; Young adults 18-22; Youth leaders and chaperones
What?
This 4 day event is celebrated as the largest denominational gathering. Often bringing in 4,000 participants, this time together is centered on faith, leadership, service and social justice to empower our youth and young adults.
Cost? $375*...includes housing, meals and program
*The Wisconsin Conference UCC will organize bus transportation to and from Purdue. Cost to be determined. More information will be available in January.
Workshop proposals are being accepted until November 30th. Workshops can be geared toward younger youth, older youth, young adults, or adult leaders. If you are interested in being considered to lead a workshop,
click here for the application
.
Questions? Contact Lisa Hart
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November 12, 2019
Community UCC, Middleton
We ask that all authorized ministers - members in discernment, active pastors, chaplains, licensed and commissioned ministers, retired ministers still performing ministerial functions - attend a boundary training session every four years to stay current on the latest thinking and laws that affect our work as faith leaders in our denomination.
Register here
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Claiming Your Life As It is: Soul of Aging
A Circle of Trust retreat
Cedar Valley Retreat Center
January 31-February 2, 2020
Are you yearning to explore the joys, challenges, and gifts of the aging process; wishing to be transformed as you grow, hopefully, into a wise old human? Two facilitators trained by the Center for Courage & Renewal, Winton Boyd and Kirsten Anglea, will create the space for reflection on how to age well, with dignity and integrity.
Please consider joining us at Cedar Valley Retreat Center in West Bend in January 2020 for this first of two Soul of Aging retreats, inspired by the work of Parker Palmer.
"To ripen--not just grow up, but to keep on maturing through our entire lives--takes great courage and great vulnerability. We can end up unripe, bitter, not able to reap the fruits of this life, or as elders, we can explore and share the tender. bittersweet and ferocious truths of growing old." ~ Sherry Anderson
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Conference Transitions
No churches recently started a search. To see all searching churches, click here.
Wider Church Searches
The National Office of the UCC has a number of open positions.
View them here
New Calls
- Rev. Gary Brinn has been called as pastor at Hope UCC in Sturgeon Bay, effective October 1, 2019. Gary is new to the Conference. Welcome!
In Memoriam
- Robert "Bob" Koepcke, father of Rev. Robert Koepcke, passed away on September 26, 2019. Obituary
- Rev. Philip Yeager passed away on September 28, 2019. Obituary
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.
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Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ
4459 Gray Road | DeForest, WI 53532
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Church Spotlight
This Southeast Association church is led by pastor Mary Jane Huber. The congregation is involved with many ministries and missions, works ecumenically toward reducing human trafficking, and supports a mission in Malawi.
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Check the Conference
calendar
for upcoming events.
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Is your church considering an Open and Affirming Process? The Wisconsin Conference has a committee to help! Please feel free to use us as resources for your discussions and preparations. Contact
Laura McLeod of the Wisconsin Conference UCC Committee on Ministry with LGBTQ Persons.
Also: check out the
Facebook page for ONA churches!
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Got News?
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Let us know! If you have something you'd like considered for publication in
Wisconsin Conference Life, email
Nola at the Wisconsin Conference.
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