History of the LINK Event
The Apostle Paul wrote* to the Church in Philippi, in celebration and affirmation of a working and wonderful partnership that he enjoyed with the Philippian Christians.  The Epistle and the relationship illustrate the spirit of Koinonia that was foundational to their common mission and ministry, a spirit equally vital to our Church in these challenging times.  Koinonia expresses ideas of commonality, friendship, and fellowship. It suggests a sense of bonding, closeness and sharing with one another.   The United Church of Christ Leaders in Koinonia (LinK) Event draws upon this rich New Testament tradition of partnership and fellowship.  This exciting program strives to enhance our ministries by strengthening the sense of covenanted partnership between local churches, church leaders and the national setting of the church, a partnership based on and driven by the Gospel.  It is a celebration of our "partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." 

Partnership in the Gospel 
The United Church of Christ LinK Event strengthens connections between local congregations and the national setting of the church by bringing local church pastors, lay leaders, and national staff together at the Church House in Cleveland to be in dialog and experience the gifts of all common ministries.   LinK participants are primarily selected from a pool of names provided by the Conferences or constituent bodies of the UCC.  A team comprised of staff representatives from ministry areas comes together to plan creatively each event and extends invitations, striving for broad representation.   Preference is given to invite those leaders who have never visited the Church House in Cleveland. 

Events for Leadership Development
Since October, 2001 the national setting has been graced by over 600 UCC pastors and lay leaders who have attended LinK Events.  These gatherings have included members of groups such as campus ministry staff and volunteers, seminarians, UCC pastors under the age of 40, military chaplains, UCC Science and Technology Network, UCC professional chaplains and counselors, licensed ministers, pastors who have come to the UCC from other traditions, and African American, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander and Asian American pastors and lay leaders.  Planning for future exciting LinK Events is ongoing!

*Koinonia "I thank my God every time I remember you, always praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…"
Philippians 1:3-5 (International Standard Version)

For more information about LinK please contact Jan Gomoll
(Contact information in the right column of this page).