United Church of Christ

For Consideration at General Synod 35: Proposed Amendments to the UCC Constitution & Bylaws
2025-06-03 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
This Webinar is being hosted by the UCCB to engage with the wider church about the proposed Amendments to the UCC Constitution and ByLaws. The three sets of amendments will be voted on at General Synod 35. Come to learn more and ask questions!

OWL Taking Flight: What Fresh Hell is This? The Impact of Identity Erasure
2025-06-04 12:00 - 13:00
Heather Corinna, founder of Scarleteen.com, joins Rev. Amy Johnson and Dr. Melanie Davis to discuss the impact of policies, laws, and executive orders on the lives of trans/intersex/nonbinary/queer people of all ages. Scarleteen is the largest online resource for comprehensive and highly inclusive sex and relationships education, information and support centering young people.

Lessons, Stories, and Theologies of Small Town and Rural (STAR) Churches in 2025
2025-06-05 15:30 - 16:30
We are joined by a number of Small Town and Rural (STAR) faith and lay leaders for an important conversation to learn about the lessons that all of our faith communities face today. We’ll hear personal accounts of their journeys and how scripture and theology guide them towards framing the future of our churches and our faith.

Into the Deep: Womxn 2 Womxn Series Part III
2025-06-10 15:30 - 16:30
Join us for an intimate workshop and learning community space for womxn as we journey toward Synod together! We’ll grow together and share communal space in an open-meeting format. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to build community and gather.

National Faith Mobilization for Sun Day on September 21st
2025-06-11 13:00 - 14:00
On September 21st, the UCC will hold a denomination-wide Climate Hope Sunday. This will be a day of worship and action. Liturgical resources will be provided along with advocacy cards directed at Members of Congress. The advocacy cards will feature the winning art from this year’s Climate Hope Art Contest, and they will allow members a chance to let their congress members know about their desire for robust policies to address the climate crisis. Climate Hope Sunday will coincide with a national day of action being spearheaded by Bill McKibben, Jim Antal, and others as they celebrate “Sun-Day” and draw attention to the renewable energy that can power our future. Our theme will be “Bringing Climate Hope to Sun-Day.” At this launch, we will share about the plans for this event and how the process of ordering advocacy cards will work.

A Little One Shall Lead - A Small Church Story Project
2025-06-12 15:30 - 16:30
In this webinar, we’ll hear stories about how the wider church and congregations can discover opportunity in their smallness. The stories highlight how to create spirited worship, highly engaged prayer practices, and an invitation to live into a committed and generous responses to suffering in the communities where they are located. These compelling stories from 17-small UCC congregations can offer perspective on how denominations may relate with small congregations in fresh ways, and how seminaries, through inclusion of small church studies and field experiences, may enrich clergy education.

Into the Deep: Banned Books Service Project
2025-06-23 15:30 - 16:30
Join us to learn more about our General Synod service project this year focusing on creating Banned Book libraries in Kanas City and across our wider Church! We’ll dive deeper into why banned book libraries matter, how to participate in this year’s service project and how to create a banned book library in your congregation.

Service of Appreciation for Federal Environmental Justice Staff and Grantees
2025-07-23 13:00 - 14:00
For communities around the country, environmental justice staff at the EPA and other federal agencies along with grantee organizations embody many of the most cherished and important values held in our society. They protect our health and our environment. They serve as public servants deeply concerned about the wellbeing of others, especially the most vulnerable.
As one of the bodies that helped launch the Environmental Justice movement in the United States, the United Church of Christ (UCC) is committed to honoring these public servants in a time of uncertainty about the future of federal environmental justice programs.
In this service, we will honor those working on environmental justice with gratitude. We will gather together in strength, comfort, and solidarity as we renew our collective resilience as an ongoing movement.
Selected environmental justice staff will provide messages, along with environmental justice pioneers including:

Charles Lee, retired Senior Policy Advisor for Environmental Justice at EPA
Richard Moore, former Co-Chair of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council
Dollie Burwell, leader of Warren County, North Carolina protests
Rev. Benjamin Chavis, Jr., former director of United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice

The service will be led by the Rev. Terry Yasuko Ogawa, Area Conference Minister, SNEUCC and former UCC Dr. Charles E. Cobb Environmental Justice Resident.
If you are unable to make the service at the scheduled time, a link to the recording will be sent to all those who register.
(This service will take the place of the monthly Creation Justice Webinar hosted by the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt, Minister of Environmental Justice for the United Church of Christ, and the Rev. Michael Malcom, Executive Director for the People’s Justice Council and Alabama Interfaith Power & Light.)

The Future of Faith - Perspectives from Young Leaders in Diverse Religions and Countries
2025-07-31 12:00 - 13:00
In a world marked by fragmentation and fear, young people of faith are not retreating—they are rising. They are drawing on sacred teachings to respond with courage, creativity, and compassion, becoming bridge-builders in divided societies. Through dialogue and mutual learning, we will highlight how interreligious solidarity can be a powerful force for healing, justice, and hope. Join two dynamic multi-faith young leaders to learn how young people are deepening or returning to their faith in response to the profound challenges of our time. This program is an invitation to envision a future where diverse faith traditions collaborate to cultivate collective dignity, love, kindness, and respect, building a better world for all of G-d’s (Allah’s) creation.
Nurture the Soul’s Future of Faith: So many of us are living in the most divided times we’ve known collectively. Between fascism, genocide, war, famine, environmental collapse, and uncertainty about our relationships and what we are called to be in such a time – we find ourselves deepening or returning to our faith. This series is curated to help us learn from the thought leaders who are exploring these themes and is an invitation to come into a dreaming space where all of G-d’s creation can be cared for – a space where we can know that collective dignity, love, kindness, and respect is honored and how our different perspectives of faith can build up a better world!

Revitalizing Labor Sunday – Liturgy and Solidarity
2025-08-07 15:30 - 16:30
The affordability of meeting our basic human needs is beyond comfortable reach for more people than ever. Wages, salaries, and worker protections are suppressed. How can churches help meet the needs within their congregations, their communities, and our country? The United Church of Christ is revitalizing Labor Sunday as an inflection point for specifically naming the unjust causes of our current struggles, and the power we have within and without our sanctuaries to manifest real change that helps everyone thrive. Join a conversation with UCC Minister for Economic Justice Rev. Seth Wispelwey on “liturgies for labor” and organizing for worker justice where you are.

Strategies That Meet the Moment
2025-08-13 13:00 - 14:00
During a time in which it is commonplace to read news articles and opinions that speak of the Trump administration taking us into “uncharted territory,” what strategies and tactics make the most sense for those seeking climate justice? In wrestling with such questions, we can learn from past struggles as well as cleareyed assessments of the present while charting a path forward. With research into effective communication and tactics along with case studies of those engaged in the practice of seeking change, staff from the Climate Advocacy Lab will provide us with a wealth of insights to enable each of us to become better equipped as advocates. Our featured speakers will be KyungSun Lee, Justin Rolfe-Redding, and Maliyah Womack.
Even if you cannot make the live event, still register, and we will send you a recording.
This monthly installment of Creation Justice Webinars is co-hosted by the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt who serves as the Minister of Environmental Justice for the United Church of Christ and the Rev. Michael Malcom who serves as the Executive Director for Alabama Interfaith Power & Light and the People’s Justice Council.

Future of Faith: Is Religion Bad News for Human Rights?
2025-08-14 12:00 - 13:30
Why at times is religion so dishonest when it gets things wrong, the instinctive reaction is protect the institution, don’t tell the truth. Has religion been the catalyst for war and division and if so what conversations do we need to have to rectify that?
A Nurture the Soul special offering, Future of Faith: So many of us are living in the most divided times we’ve known collectively. Between fascism, genocide, war, famine, environmental collapse, and uncertainty about our relationships and what we are called to be in such a time – we find ourselves deepening or returning to our faith. This series is curated to help us learn from the thought leaders who are exploring these themes and is an invitation to come into a dreaming space where all of G-d’s creation can be cared for – a space where we can know that collective dignity, love, kindness, and respect is honored and how our different perspectives of faith can build up a better world.

Decolonizing Mental Health and Empowering Holistic Wellness
2025-08-28 15:30 - 17:00
Join us for an introductory conversation that invites faith leaders into a transformative and lifelong process of letting go of supremacist theologies and monocultural care paradigms of mental wellness. This webinar will explore the intersections of mental wellness, spiritual formation, and liberative care that affirms the dignity of each being. Rooted in an Internal Family Systems framework centered on the lived realities of BIPOC communities, participants will learn how intrapersonal healing can catalyze collective healing and renewal. By integrating cultural humility, prophetic theology, and trauma-informed practices, faith leaders can reshape spiritual care praxis and co-create communities grounded in justice, belonging, and sacred restoration.

OWL Taking Flight: Building a Trans/Nonbinary-Inclusive Teen Library
2025-09-03 12:00 - 13:00
Join Melanie Davis and Sloane Kazim for a discussion about how to make sure your library at home, at church, in your community–is inclusive of trans/nonbinary representation. Now, more than ever, this matters!

Climate Action Assembly
2025-09-03 13:00 - 14:00
The UCC Council for Climate Justice will be hosting a Climate Action Assembly to further the connectedness and action in the UCC for pursuing climate justice. In this gathering, we will hear from the Rev. Jim Antal about the upcoming national day of action on September 21st called Sun Day. We will also hear from Rebeca Perera, the Chief Credit Officer for the Cornerstone Fund, on the present and future outlook for churches going solar after the reconciliation bill. Additional updates will be given about Creation Justice Churches and Climate Hope Affiliates.

Dumpster Fire Ethics: Rethinking How We Follow Jesus
2025-09-04 15:30 - 16:30
In times of social, political, and economic crisis we need new ways to think about morality and ethics to make sure that our ethical approaches serve the moment and compel us into just and healing action. Sociologist, liturgist, and sacred music composer Amanda Udis-Kessler offers us a new way of thinking about ethics that is consonant with the commitments of progressive Christianity and that helps us follow Jesus in times of violence, cruelty, and corruption. This ethical approach has implications for our spiritual development, personal growth, church practices, and justice work. Join us for a conversation with Amanda about her 2024 Pilgrim Press book Abundant Lives: A Progressive Christian Ethic of Flourishing.

Emerging Strategies to Fight AI Data Centers
2025-09-10 13:00 - 14:00
Emerging threats demand emerging strategies. The rise of AI data centers has been a driver in the rise in power demand and increasing greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Moreover, the advanced cooling systems required by these data centers necessitate high levels of water consumption which can have serious ecological consequences, especially in places of water scarcity. Finally, the technological components of AI data centers require the extracting of rare earth minerals in addition to generating enormous amounts of electronic waste. The justice concerns intertwined with these issues are many when one considers the racial and economic disparities in bearing the cost of everything from increased utility bills to the harms of climate change. To address what is at stake and point us toward emerging strategies, we will hear from following featured guests:
-Anthony Rogers-Wright, The Black Hive of Movement for Black Lives
-Nayyirah Shariff, Flint Rising
-Wanda Mosley, Black Voters Matter
-Lindsay Harper, Arm in Arm
Even if you cannot make the live event, still register, and we will send you a recording.
This monthly installment of Creation Justice Webinars is co-hosted by the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt who serves as the Minister of Environmental Justice for the United Church of Christ and the Rev. Michael Malcom who serves as the Executive Director for Alabama Interfaith Power & Light and the People’s Justice Council.

Clergy Conversation Series on Addiction & Families: Family Matters/Families Matter - Part I
2025-09-11 15:30 - 16:30
Join us for a 3-part series on Addiction & Families: Family Matter/Families Matter. Part I, Language Matters: Defining the Words We Use. In this webinar, we (Erica Poellot and Dee-Dee Stout) discuss how our language around substance use has changed and why this is crucial for us to understand before having deeper conversations about addiction. Words such as recovery, addiction, dependence, substance use disorders, enabling/codependency, harm reduction, and more will be covered. We may also discuss some of the history & myths of harm reduction and abstinence-only treatment. There will be time for Q&A with the panelists after each session!

What's Next Series: The Re-Member Yourself as a Sacred Creator
2025-09-15 15:30 - 16:30
This series began prior to the 2024 election cycle and is designed to help educate us around the big questions of our faith. To live into the Still Speaking G-d, we are the embodiment of who and what we are called to be to one another – whether it be spiritually, culturally, and lovingly during a time when we are being pulled apart at the seams. Part of this embodiment is examining the ways that art speaks and moves us towards expression and collectiveness.
Join poet, artist and Creative Formation practitioner, Ally Markotich, to re-member yourself as a sacred creator. During our time together, Ally will share about her own story of coming back to herself as creative and inspire you to claim your colorful prowess. Become aware of common cultural and personal myths that hold us back from our innate creativity and learn simple ways to reweave creativity into your story. Bring a pencil and some color (markers, colored pencils or paint) as Ally will complete our gathering by guiding us through a simple 4-step visual prayer process to awaken insight. Come and experience the “ahas” creativity can bring when engaged as a spiritual practice for your life.

Clergy Conversation Series on Addiction & Families: Family Matters/Families Matter - Part II
2025-09-18 15:30 - 16:30
Part II – For this 2nd part of this 3-part series, we’ll continue to learn from Erica Poellot & Dee-Dee Stout as they open this conversation with these questions: How do we support our loved ones without enabling their drug use? Or does that even really matter? Join us as we take a deep dive into the many options families have today beyond the traditional intervention that not only is rarely effective but often has lasting negative effects which can devastate families sometimes forever.

Clergy Conversation Series on Addiction & Families: Family Matters/Families Matter - Part III
2025-09-25 15:30 - 16:30
Part III – Practicing Harm Reduction for Clergy and Lay Leaders: How Changing Our Minds Helps the People We Love & Serve (and Ourselves). For Part III, we’ll hear from Erica Poellot & Dee-Dee Stout as they look at the broader issue of countertransference in clergy’s work with families and others when it comes to drug use, especially illicit drug use. How does this phenomena interfere with our work? How can it help us? What are the tenets of harm reduction & harm reduction psychotherapy that anyone can use as part of an overall loving, Christ-centered approach to people who use drugs of any kind? We’ll discuss how a harm reduction approach can give us a better and more effective way to work with those who problematically use drugs and their families and keep us aligned with our hearts.

Celebrating Neighbors in Need Grant Recipients
2025-09-30 15:00 - 16:30
Join Rachel McDonald, Generosity Officer Our Church’s Wider Mission and Special Mission Offerings and Christine Lucarelli, Minister for Granting and Scholarships to learn about the Neighbors in Need grants and hear from three grant recipients. Hear about the ministries supported through these grants, including a breakfast program for children, a LGBTQIA+ safe space, and a network of accessible food pantries. The grants that strengthen these initiatives from Anchorage to Chattanooga are funded gifts to the Neighbors in Need offering. Join to be inspired for your own local ministries and to build enthusiasm for the all-church Neighbors in Need offering many congregations will collect on October 5th.

OWL Taking Flight: Sex Ed in the South
2025-10-01 12:00 - 13:00
Tanya Bass, Southern Sexologist and Our Whole Lives Trainer, will join us for an engaging discussion about the importance of Sex Ed in the South.

Disability Justice in Congregational Contexts Part I: What is Disability and What is Ableism?
2025-10-02 15:30 - 16:30
You’re invited for a 3-part series to go deeper into the All Church Read, “Building Up a New World: Congregational Organizing for Transformative Impact,” focusing on Chapter 5, “Disability Justice in Congregational Contexts” with current and former members of the UCC Disability Ministries Board.
In Part I, we’ll explore the complexities and different models of disability to better understand and define disability as it relates to lived experiences. We’ll also explore ableism — the system of oppression experienced by disability communities. This understanding will serve as a foundation for parts II and III of the series.

Future of Faith: Grace in the Wilderness
2025-10-06 15:30 - 16:30
So many of us are living in the most divided times we’ve known collectively. Between fascism, genocide, war, famine, environmental collapse, and uncertainty about our relationships and what we are called to be in such a time – we find ourselves deepening or returning to our faith. Join New Hampshire Conference Minister Rev. Gordon Rankin for an engaging conversation around the future of faith in their local and regional contexts and discover how finding grace in the wilderness can be a counter-cultural practice of living into our faith expressions.

Understanding Gender: Beyond the Binary
2025-10-07 15:30 - 16:30
This webinar offers an accessible introduction to gender and gender variance, exploring how understandings and embodiments of gender have shifted across time and cultures. Together we will consider how stereotypes and assumptions shape our views, glimpse diverse expressions of gender across history and the globe and listen for what God might be saying to us in this moment. Ultimately, we will reflect on the call to draw the circle wider and build communities of true belonging.

Lee Zeldin's EPA
2025-10-08 13:00 - 14:00
As the EPA Administrator, Lee Zeldin has sought to dismantle environmental protections with unwavering dedication and devotion. From a proposal to rescind the Endangerment Finding that gave the EPA legal authority to combat climate change to sweeping announcements of rollbacks to rules that safeguard the public from air and water pollution, Zeldin has been a man on a mission that is at odds with the EPA’s stated mission of protecting human health and the environment. To help us understand the significance of Zeldin’s actions as well as the challenges they will face, we will hear from the following panel of experts:
-Ann Carlson, Founding Director, Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the UCLA School of Law
-Jen Duggan, Executive Director, Environmental Integrity Project
-Chitra Kumar, Managing Director of Climate & Energy, Union of Concerned Scientists
Even if you cannot make the live event, still register, and we will send you a recording.
This monthly installment of Creation Justice Webinars is co-hosted by the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt, who serves as the Minister of Environmental Justice for the United Church of Christ, and the Rev. Michael Malcom, who serves as the Executive Director for Alabama Interfaith Power & Light and the People’s Justice Council.

Disability Justice in Congregational Contexts Part II: What is Disability Justice
2025-10-09 15:30 - 16:30
In Part II, we’ll explore the creation of the Disability Justice movement by queer and trans disabled folx of color. We’ll also discuss and explain the 10 Principles of Disability Justice, which serve as the foundation and roadmap for congregations seeking to live into disability justice.

What's Next Series: How Art Deepens and Enriches Worship in Divided Times
2025-10-13 15:30 - 16:30
Join us for another edition of our What’s Next Series, a series curated to help us ask what we can do in divided times. We’ll be joined by Rev. Marshela Salgado for an engaging online conversation exploring how art can deepen and enrich worship. Rev. Salgado will share about the work that her congregation has done to promote various forms of art in worship, from art shows to various worship series: Theology of Broadway, [Pop]Culture Theology, Banned Books and more. Together, they’ll discuss practical ways to weave visual, musical, and creative expressions into the worship experience that inspire connection, reflection, justice, and community. This workshop will offer both theological insights and hands-on ideas for integrating art in ways that speak to the heart and spirit of your congregation.
The What’s Next series began prior to the 2024 election cycle and is designed to help educate us around the big questions of our faith. This special offering is curated to push back on the political ideology and divide that has become this nation’s “religion”. To live into the Still Speaking G-d, we are the embodiment of who and what we are called to be to one another – whether it be spiritually, culturally, and lovingly during a time when we are being pulled apart at the seams. Part of this embodiment is examining the ways that art speaks and moves us towards expression and collectiveness.

Disability Justice in Congregational Contexts Part III: How Do We Live into Disability Justice
2025-10-16 15:30 - 16:30
In Part III, we will take what we have learned about disability, ableism, and disability justice and discuss ways to apply it in a congregational context. Topics will include the Accessible to All (A2A) process, celebrating Access Sunday, and an introduction to disability theology. Attendees will leave with concrete tools for helping their congregations undo ableism, increase accessibility, and celebrate disabled leadership and disability wisdom.
