Perhaps the greatest teaching tool we have is one another.  Within the ministerial body of the United Church of Christ we have a wealth of talent and expertise that, if shared, can strengthen the entire community.  Our intention through the New Church Leadership Initiative is to create intentional connecting opportunities at our annual leadership training gathering, allowing us to learn from one another in our various settings.  Networking is vital to our continued development and growth. 

One additional tool useful to remaining connected with one another is the publication of a leadership development newsletter published quarterly by the national office, highlighting the work in innovative ministries from conferences around the nation working in new church development.  Click here to read the 2007 Spring New Times.

Read an article by Rev. Michael Piazza reflecting on Cathedral of Hope's experience in Church Multiplication.  In addition, this edition contains information about our UCC Coaching program and features one of new church starts, Immanuel Latino Ministries.  Click here to read the Fall 2007 New Times Newsletter.

Read updates on new churches in the UCC as well as articles on technology and finacial accounting in new churches.  Click here to read the Spring 2008 New Times Newsletter.

Upcoming New Church Development Events in 2008

If your conference has an upcoming event that you would like posted, email the information to Vivian Santiago-Riccio at SantiagV@ucc.org.

Starting Small Group Ministries…

It is the question every church is asking – how do we grow?  How do we get the word out into our community about our church?  How do we greet people and make them feel welcome?  How do we build a strong and vital church?

In this seminar, we will hear from a group of leaders from Holy Trinity Commnuity Church, UCC who are leaunching small groups within their church. They will talk about:

Following their presentations, we will have time for questions and discussion about the ideas, issues and challenges you bring from your setting.

For more information, contact Rev. Cameron Trimble in the Southeast Conference Office or email her at ctrimble@secucc.org. To register, go to the Southeast Conference website at http://www.secucc.org/development/leadtrain.php.

Conference on Congregational Transformation

September 20, 2008, First Christian Church, 109 E. Wilshire Avenue, Fullerton, CA  92832, 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.   Southern California/Nevada Conference

The content for this event will include inspirational and meditative worship presentations by practicing leaders of transformation in local congregations, engaging small group exchanges in which congregational leaders seriously grapple with the specific issues of transformation, and effective resources that have proved records of success and that are presented in a hopeful and easy-to-understand manner.    For more information, contact:  Troy Sybrant, Cluster Leader (626) 798-0591 or Don Dewey, Co-Regional Minister-President (626) 296-0385.

How To Get More Members For Your Congregation with  Jim Griffith

Saturday, October 4, 2008, from 9-3 (location to be determined), Massachusetts Conference UCC

Cost: $175.00 per church (lunch included)

This workshop is limited to teams of a pastor plus at least 3 lay leaders. This event will be open to the first 30 church teams that register. Recruit your team now!  Please RSVP by September 5.  Please contact Karen Methot at methotk@macucc.org or phone 508-875-5233, ext. 234.

E-mail, Websites & Podcasts – Oh My!

A church engaged in marketing and web development? What happened to knocking on doors and inviting the neighbors to church? Well, those days are gone. So where do you start? How do you wisely spend your limited resources?

In this seminar, our facilitator will lead us through developing a basic marketing strategy.  Specifically, we will:

• Talk about basic web design principles
• Online e-mail services
• Blogs
• Podcasts

For more information, contact Rev. Cameron Trimble in the Southeast Conference Office or email her at ctrimble@secucc.org. To register, go to the Southeast Conference website at http://www.secucc.org/development/leadtrain.php.

Becoming the Church that Tomorrow Requires

Saturday, November 1 (All Saints Day) from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (lunch included), Southern California/Nevada Conference

David Schoen heads up the efforts for new and renewing churches in the UCC, Congregational Vitality initiatives, and evangelism workshops in the UCC.  We will wrestle with current realities of smaller, older congregations in a whole new world: generational differences, demographic changes, and the internet.  We will work toward becoming a more welcoming church, both toward aging "baby boomers" and younger "millennials" who live in a "post-modern" culture.  For more information contact Rev. Paul Lance at (310) 375-4441.

A Day with Martha Grace Reese

Saturday, November 15, 2008, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Massachusetts Conference UCC

Gay Reese completed a 4-year Lily study of Evangelism in Mainline Protestant Churches and her remarkable book, Unbinding the Gospel focuses on how congregations can reclaim the lost art of evangelism.  To be eligible for this workshop, a pastor and a team of at least five lay people must read and do the exercises in Unbinding the Gospel.  There will be follow-up coaching of teams after this event.  For more information, contact Paul Nickerson (nickersonp@macucc.org) or by phone: 508-875-5233, ext. 236.