To equip, empower, connect and celebrate the churches of the Michigan Conference

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As you read this, I am returning from the second annual, four-day, Michigan Conference Clergy Preaching retreat at beautiful Tower Hill Camp on the dunes of Lake Michigan. For this event all clergy participants received generous scholarships to reduce the cost of the event, through a Brown grant but mostly by what your local churches give through the “Basic Support” designation of “Our Church’s Wider Mission." (OCWM)

There are many ways to support the denomination within OCWM. Through special envelope offerings such as the Christmas Fund (which the Michigan Conference sends straight to the national Pension Board to help retired clergy in need) or One Great Hour of Sharing (that we send straight to the National Setting of the UCC for their ministry of disaster relief.) But it is your “Basic Support” gift within OCWM that stays most local and allows us to equip, encourage and connect the churches and clergy of the Michigan Conference, responding to real needs, right here and right now. 

One way we do that is attending to the care of our clergy. This is the focus of Rev. Cheryl Burke, our Associate Conference Minister of Clergy Care and Formation. Under her leadership, in the last two months we have launched thirteen new caring clergy groups. Six of these groups are led by committed clergy volunteers, the rest are led by staff. No pastor should have to do this work alone, nor should our Committees on Ministry. This is why Cheryl is meeting with them all, to connect us in best practices and community.

The care of congregations is the focus for Rev. Lawrence Richardson, our Associate Conference Minister of Church Vitality and Transitions. He meets with governing boards about strategy, vision and revitalization. When churches are seeking a pastor, he helps recruit candidates and connect our search committees to the person that God has already called. This week, he co-led the preaching retreat with me. Where does that fall in his job description? Under the category of “We’re all part of a team and we help each other out.”  

Today, I’ve highlighted only two members of our staff, but that team spirit honestly applies to all six people you see on our webpage, where you can read more about who is doing what and why. Just don’t hold us to it too strictly, because we will all step out and help each other in order to help our churches. 

As Conference Minister, I know that relationships are the key to our ministry, but because the body of Christ has many changing members, that work is never complete. That is why you will see staff us out visiting and preaching at different churches on Sunday mornings, and at installations and at ordinations. I believe we must be outward focused, coming out to see you in your churches rather than expecting you to come to us. So thank you for inviting us, confiding in us, challenging us and sharing your worship with us. I have not yet been to every one of our 144 congregations, but I’m officially over the half-way point with my current tally of 77. Some people want to visit all the national parks in their lifetime, I just want to visit all the Michigan churches!

But life is more than work, so allow me to share, on a brief personal note, that my partner Jim and I got married last month, on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, on the tenth anniversary of our first date. We said our vows in a private ceremony at church with just the pastor and some immediate family. Our reception was wedding cake on the front porch, followed by pizza in the kitchen, for dessert because…why not? Life at its best is a feast of love that flows freely in an order we can neither control nor predict. For Jim and I, that quiet and low key day was pretty close to perfect - small, sacred and special, and now I share a small slice of it with you. As for gifts, we are well past the age of needing toasters, coasters or candlesticks, so we ask only for your prayers, or if you absolutely insist on marking the occasion, we are registered here.

Peace and Blessings, 

Lillian Daniel

Michigan Conference Minister

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Gerrit H. Marx, our German Ecumenical Partner, will be visiting the Michigan Conference UCC on Sunday June 2, 2024.

You are cordially invited to join us in welcoming him to worship at East Church in Grand Rapids for their Music Celebration at 10:30am.

You are also invited to treat yourself to lunch at New Holland Brewery after worship for an opportunity to visit with Gerrit.

Please RSVP by May 30, 2024 to swaminister@michucc.org so that we can include you in the reservation holding space for lunch at 1:00pm.

Conference Staff is offering four monthly groups that are drop in.

These groups meet Wednesdays from 12:00noon - 1:00pm

We highly encourage Pastors and Members In Discernment to join these

Caring Clergy Communities on Zoom any time.

First Wednesday Leadership Lunch with Lillian Daniel

Second Wednesday Book of the Month with Jenn Ringgold

Third Wednesday Clergy Cafe with Cheryl Burke

Fourth Wednesday Spiritual Practices for Pastors with Lawrence Richardson

Member in Discernment (Second Thursday and Third Monday) and

Retired Clergy Cafe (First Thursday) are also available for drop in.

The Michigan Conference UCC desires to support leaders with resources that meet unique needs and help them feel encouraged, cared for and equipped in our shared ministry.