United Church of Christ

Thriving in Rural and Small-Town UCC Churches & Ministries
2024-03-07 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
A recent United Church of Christ survey found that over 60% of UCC congregations have small memberships, mostly found in rural and small-town settings. Join us for this 3-part Nurture the Soul series featuring the vitality and thriving experiences of rural and small-town church settings. UCC church members and pastoral leaders share their personal experiences of life in rural and small towns and the innovative ways of doing church and ministry in these settings and their essential contributions to the wider UCC.

The Need for Justice Leaders Within Congregations: Episode 1
2024-03-14 15:30 - 16:30 | Livestream
Join us in this 2-part series as we meet with the founders of the Justice Leadership program. We’ll explore why there is a need for justice leaders in congregations and how we are all leaders. We’ll also delve into the themes they cover during their fellowship such as: the pervasiveness of the worldview of Domination and how that has impacted life as we know it; the necessary shift from a congregational self-care primary mission to cultural transformation mission for the good of the world and the Church; and understanding Christianity as centered in Justice and the powerful Biblical Narrative.
Rev. Richard Gamble (he/him) is a founder and the executive director of the Justice Leadership Program. He is also the senior pastor at Keystone United Church of Christ. Rich has been involved in faith-based peace and justice work for over forty years. He has worked as an activist, a community organizer, and as the executive director of a community organizing agency. He also has worked as an advocate and as the director of an advocacy program and co-chair of the board of an advocacy agency.
Eliza Penick (she/her) is a program director for the Justice Leadership Program. She has worked in non-profit education, fundraising, program development, and community engagement for fifteen years, with a particular passion for food sustainability and sovereignty. Her sources of joy are family, urban homesteads, mountain biking, and the exploration of art, play, and new places.

The Need for Justice Leaders Within Congregations: Episode 2
2024-03-21 15:30 - 16:30 | Livestream

Nurture the Soul: Building Congregational Community Safety
2024-04-11 15:30 - 16:30 | Livestream
Join us to learn more about how congregations can build an ecology of community safety that is rooted in care, investing in each other, believing in each other, and trusting each other and the rhythms and cycles around/within us.
With our guest thought leaders and faith practitioners, we explore the “Ecology of Community Safety” guide to offer practical skills, psycho-social care practices, planning tools, and analysis of current conditions, all towards practicing new ways of creating safety within our own congregational contexts.

Nurture the Soul: Building Up a New World with Fellows from Across 5 Conferences
2024-04-18 15:30 - 16:30, 2024-04-25 15:30 - 16:30, 2024-05-02 15:30 - 16:30, 2024-05-09 15:30 - 16:30, 2024-05-16 15:30 - 16:30
The needs are great, and the stakes are high in the work of justice building. The good news is most of our local churches are already equipped more than they know. In fact, many local churches might find renewal and growth by revisioning and reprioritizing what it means to be engaged in ongoing justice work and using a more intersectional analysis as to where they will have transformative impact. For the past two years Rev. Tracy Howe designed a fellowship to intensively train a handful of leaders and nurture the support necessary for sustained engagement in the complex and urgent issues facing our world. Through this leadership program 5-Fellows, worked to develop organizing strategies, programing and educational opportunities regionally, according to specific needs and contexts in which the fellows live. Come and learn more about their experiences and glean from the wisdom of their dedication to build congregation and community engagement.

UCC and the Mental Health Journey: It’s the WISE Thing to Do
2024-05-23 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
The World Health Organization definition of mental health is “state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well, and work well, and contribute to their community… it is a basic human right.” The Mental Health Network W.I.S.E. program, (welcoming inclusive, supportive and engaged) provides a path for congregations, associations, conferences and nonprofit organizations to join to reduce stigma and promote mental well-being. Come learn how to become W.I.S.E. and hear the stories of those who have taken this journey.

Nurture the Soul: Love of Children 3-Part Series
2024-05-30 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
The landscape of children’s and youth ministry has been quickly changing over the last decade and these changes were accelerated with the pandemic and other social justice issues. As a result, many of us are wondering how to effectively provide services to and ministry with young people. This webinar series is an opportunity to learn more about today’s youth culture, how we can support them in their faith formation as well as gain some practical skills to equip our leaders to walk alongside of them.

Episode I – Thick Trust: Taking Young People’s Longings and Belonging Seriously
The inner and outer lives of Gen Z and Alpha are complex and layered. The way young people form bonds and make meaning is changing as the world grows more complicated daily. As leaders, allies, and co-conspirators, we must take seriously the need to build layered positive relationships with young people that help them grow and flourish. This webinar will provide practical ways to build “trust capital” with young people and have brave conversations

Nurture the Soul: Love of Children 3-Part Series
2024-06-06 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
The landscape of children’s and youth ministry has been quickly changing over the last decade and these changes were accelerated with the pandemic and other social justice issues. As a result, many of us are wondering how to effectively provide services to and ministry with young people. This webinar series is an opportunity to learn more about today’s youth culture, how we can support them in their faith formation as well as gain some practical skills to equip our leaders to walk alongside of them.

Episode II: Volunteer Engagement in our pandemic informed world has changed and continues to evolve. Volunteering is different, and people view their time differently. Churches, non-profit organizations, and companies are slowly receiving volunteers that commit to their organization long-term. And yet, a thriving, sustainable Children’s Ministry is founded on a healthy group of volunteers. So how do we as leaders support, serve and connect with volunteers in our pandemic informed ministry settings? Please join us for a purposeful conversation as we explore how to build relationships with our volunteers and motivate them to return. Volunteers enter service with expectations for how their time will be used or how the opportunity aligns with their passions. This conversation will allow us to explore how to engage a volunteer’s passions and build connections to lead to long-term volunteer commitment.

Nurture the Soul: Love of Children 3-Part Series
2024-06-13 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
The landscape of children’s and youth ministry has been quickly changing over the last decade and these changes were accelerated with the pandemic and other social justice issues. As a result, many of us are wondering how to effectively provide services to and ministry with young people. This webinar series is an opportunity to learn more about today’s youth culture, how we can support them in their faith formation as well as gain some practical skills to equip our leaders to walk alongside of them.

Nurture the Soul: Navigating Election Do’s & Don’ts for Churches - Be Prophetic, Not Partisan!
2024-07-25 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
The United Church of Christ’s mission calls us to “welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.” As a denomination committed to such values and justice for all, we must speak boldly in the public square through public policy advocacy – as well as election engagement – that collectively shapes our common life together. These two activities are part of what we understand as “politics”. In a country where there is significant confusion and misinformation about the constitutional relationship between church and state, some choose to shy away from politics all together. Yet, politics can not only be seen as part of our civic duty as citizens, but also an activity of righteous resistance and discipleship as Christians. Jesus’ ministry and message had significant political implications for his time – as it does for us today!
However, in our hyper-partisan climate today, clarifying how we engage in politics is critical. Churches and clergy must abide by IRS guidelines to protect 501c3 (tax-exempt) status. It is critical that we are well informed about what we CAN (and can’t!) do as churches in the political sphere and particularly around the 2024 election.
Join a discussion with Heather Kimmel, the United Church of Christ’s General Counsel, and Rev. Michael Neuroth, Director of the UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy, on the “Do’s & Don’ts” for congregations around the election – “Be Prophetic, Not Partisan!”
This webinar is part of the Nurture the Soul series and the UCC’s Our Faith Our Vote 2024 Campaign – “Vote with Love!”

Nurture the Soul: A conversation with member ministries of the UCC Council for Racial and Ethnic Ministries (COREM)
2024-08-01 15:30, 2024-08-08 15:30, 2024-08-15 15:30 | Zoom
The Council for Racial and Ethnic Ministries (COREM) is a ministry of racial and ethnic groups of the United Church of Christ – United Black Christians, Ministers for Racial Social Economic Justice, Pacific Islander Asian-American Ministries, Colectivo de UCC Latinx Ministries, Council for American Indian Ministry and United Samoan Ministries. COREM advocates for the racial and ethnic concerns within the United Church of Christ.
Please join Rev Roberto Ochoa as he has conversations with leaders from three member ministries of COREM as each ethnic/racial ministry shares to the wider church their vision and mission for a just world for all.
On August 1st, Roberto will be joined by Ms. Eppie Encabo, Moderator of the Pacific Islander and American Asian Ministries (PAAM), Rev. Mitchell Young, Vice Moderator, and Kahu Rennie Mau, Moderator of Hawaiian PAAM as they share the success of PAAM’s most recent convocation held in Hawaii in June.
On August 8th, Roberto will be joined by Ms. Zillah J. Wesley, President of the United Black Christians (UBC) and Ms. Deborah Dee Brayton, Vice President in which they will discuss the various events and activities by the UBC in 2024 and plans for 2025.
On August 15th, Roberto will be joined by Rev. Yinessa Romero, Moderator of the Colectivo de UCC Latinx Ministries and Rev. Lorraine Ceniceros, Vice Moderator as they review the Colectivo’s activities in the 2024 leading up to a planned gathering of UCC Latinx leaders later in the year.

Nurture the Soul: Filling the J.A.R. of God’s Economic Justice: Jubilee, Abundance, Reparations
2024-08-22 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
God commissions us to establish economies built around deeply-rooted justice, universal equity, and sustaining compassion so that all might thrive. We are to manifest the canceling of debts, the meeting of needs, and the return of stolen land and wealth. Join a conversation with Rev. Seth Wispelwey, UCC Minister for Economic Justice on the concrete ways churches and individuals are newly empowered in this work with the United Church of Christ.

Nurture the Soul: Labor in the Pulpit
2024-08-29 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
God Gave Us One Day of Rest, Unions Gave Us Two
Labor Day is not just a time to celebrate working people and their contributions to our society; it is also a time to remember the struggle workers endured to achieve the many benefits we now enjoy. Labor Day provides a unique opportunity for faith communities and organized labor to rediscover their common bonds: social justice, democracy, equality, the dignity of all people, economic and racial justice, fair treatment in the workplace and the right to form unions. Join a conversation with Rev. Seth Wispelwey, UCC Minister for Economic Justice as we reflect on how this Labor Day can be a launchpad for churches to address current conditions of working people and reaffirm commitments to worker justice every day in these trying times until all are thriving.

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: "Toxic polarization and partisan divides: Holding on to Faith, Hope, and Love this election season"
2024-09-12 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Toxic polarization is a spiritual crisis. In this polarized moment, powerful social forces push us to think people across our divides are evil, extreme, or even subhuman, causing a breakdown of community and trust. Calling toxic polarization a spiritual crisis means it is a problem that exists not just in society but in our hearts, harming us from the inside out. This is a question of who we are as people, not just what kind of democracy or society we’re going to have. The good news is that our faith calls us to a higher standard, teaches us how to live together in daily life, and gives us tools to rebuild community and trust. The One America Movement organization supports faith leaders and faith communities as they put their moral and spiritual resources to bear against toxic polarization. In this UCC Our Faith Our Vote (Vote with Love!) webinar, we will hear from Chandra DeNap Whetstine, Chief Operating Officer at One America and a UCC Member in Discernment, along with Abigail Cipparone, UCC Domestic Policy Advocate, on the dynamics of toxic polarization and how Jesus calls us to respond. In short, we will explore together how to hold on to faith, hope, and love this election season! Join us!

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: God’s Love Knows No Borders
2024-09-18 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
An ecumenical delegation comprised of 10 faith leaders will bear witness at the southern border, from September 12-16. This border immersion experience is offered by the UCC Rio Grande Valley as a way for groups to get a clear picture of the challenges faced at the Texas-Mexico border, and ways to support this life-saving work. The Central Pacific Conference Immigrant Welcoming Network organized faith leaders from four UCC conferences, the ELCA, UMC, UCC Colectivo de Latinx Ministries and the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice in Oregon.
Panelists Include: Rev. Tyler Connoley (CPC Conference Minister), Rev. Ali Lopez, Pastor of UCC Rio Grande Valley, Pastor Keren Rodriguez IMIRJ Organizer/UMC in Aloha, Oregon, and Pastor Lucas Shurson, Faith Lutheran, Caldwell, ID, NW Intermountain Synod of the ELCA (Southern Idaho).

Nurture the Soul: Exploring Access Sunday: A Discussion with UCC Disabilities Ministries
2024-10-03 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
The second Sunday of October is designated Access Sunday in the UCC calendar, a day for celebrating the disability community and advocating for greater access. Each year, the UCC Disabilities Ministries Board produces resources for Access Sunday, including a complete liturgy, original music, and scripture commentary. Come join members of the UCCDM Disability Theology Committee as they discuss the meaning and purpose of Access Sunday, the 2024 resources, and how to start celebrating Access Sunday at your local church!

Nurture the Soul: Discovering Wellness Ministries in your Congregation
2024-10-10 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
This webinar will explore the variety of Wellness Ministries programs in UCC churches. Wellness Ministries resources will be illustrated. You will be invited to share ideas and questions in this interactive session.

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: Healing the Body Politic(s)
2024-10-16 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Ever wonder why there is so much political discussion about our bodies? Why the emphasis to legislate limitations on diversity? Why the need to confine our bodies to assigned roles, behaviors, and relationship styles? This panel discussion will discuss how people of faith can respond to the wide variety of political assaults of what appears to be an anti-body movement because, this election season, our bodies are on the line.

Nurture the Soul: Wellness Ministries Intergenerational Holiday Happenings
2024-10-17 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Reduce loneliness and deepen a sense of community within your congregation by organizing intergenerational gatherings during Thanksgiving and Advent. We will share three different types of activities and answer your questions about how to plan and advertise your events.

Nurture the Soul: Christian Zionism in Our Churches
2024-10-24 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
Over the past century, Christian Zionism has been used to justify first the immigration of Jews to Palestine and then, with the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, justification for the unquestioning support of Israeli policies of occupation and apartheid. So what even is Christian Zionism? How does it appear in our churches? What are some different lenses we can use to examine the scriptures that underpin it?
Rev. Dr. Donald Wagner, retired Presbyterian pastor and theologian, and Rev. William T. Young IV, pastor of Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ, will share with us how they unpack and challenge Christian Zionism in their contexts.

Nurture the Soul: Don’t Be Scared, Be Prepared! What to Expect in the 2024 Election
2024-10-31 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
With November 5th approaching fast, it can be difficult keeping the election anxiety at bay. The past few years have demonstrated how the time between the presidential election and the presidential inauguration can be uncertain, chaotic, and even scary. But one of the best ways to keep the election scaries away is to have a plan in place, as a church, for the many scenarios that could play out on and after election day.
Join us for a conversation about how we can best prepare for November 5th and the following days. We will discuss topics such as 1) election security and ballot counting, 2) how to combat misinformation/disinformation on and after Election Day, and 3) how churches can discern their role as community leaders in keeping our elections safe and accessible.
We’ll hear from experts including Abigail Cipparone (UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy), Chris Crawford (Protect Democracy), Cheryl A. Leanza (UCC Media Justice), Rev. Michael Neuroth (UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy), and Raelyn Roberson (Common Cause).

Nurture the Soul - Building Community Connections to Create Resilient Communities Part I
2024-11-07 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
In this webinar, Katie Howe, Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery will discuss how creating coalitions and community building during non-disaster times can create an environment that can help communities if they experience a disaster including climate-caused, human caused, technological or environmental disasters. She will be joined by Rev. Dr. Becca Girrell from the United Community Church of Morrisville, VT. Rev. Girrell will discuss her experience with building community connections prior to the significant repeated flooding in Morrisville, VT, and how that has had a positive impact on their community.

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: "What's Next" - Naming the Pain: Unresolved Grief and the Lure of Political Extremism
2024-11-11 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
In most cases, anger and fear are the emotions most readily associated with Christian Nationalism and other forms of political extremism. Rev. Dr. Tanya Jeffcoat, however, will examine the ways in which unresolved grief often plays an underlying role in drawing people to extremist positions. After exploring several expressions of unresolved grief, she will offer potential approaches for addressing grief and building communities that offer opportunities to heal from the divisions we face.

Nurture the Soul - Building Community Connections to Create Resilient Communities Part 2
2024-11-14 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
In this webinar, Katie Howe, Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery will discuss how loving our neighbor starts with being prepared for disasters. There are some steps that all churches should be taking regardless of their financial or human resources. She will discuss some of the main ideas in the newly revised Local Church Disaster Preparedness Workbook, and discuss the importance of having a well-structured preparedness plan. She will be joined by Rev. Kelly Hansen, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator for the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference United Church of Christ, and John Etter, a member of Central St. Matthew United Church of Christ in New Orleans, LA, who will discuss their experiences with disaster preparedness.
