Wider Church Ministries

Wider Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ supports congregations and other settings of the church in developing relationships with a wider church that is global, multiracial, and multicultural, open and affirming, and accessible to all. Our Associate General Minister is Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson.

Wider Church Ministries works in partnership with the Division of Overseas Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) through Global Ministries—the worldwide mission program of both denominations. Some Wider Church Ministries programs are unique to the United Church of Christ, others are shared with the Disciples of Christ.

Humanitarian and Development Ministries
One Great Hour of Sharing
Disaster Ministries
Refugee and Immigration Ministries
Volunteer Ministries

Global Ministries
Be a Global Mission Church
Child and Elder Sponsorship Program
Global Advocacy and Education
People in Mission
People to People Pilgrimages
Special Giving Opportunities
Where we work and global partners

The Rev. Karen Georgia A. Thompson serves as Co-Executive of Global Ministries and Associate General Minister for Wider Church Ministries and Operations. She has served in the national setting of the United Church of Christ for 10 years – two years as Minister for Racial Justice and 8 years as Minister for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations where she was instrumental in reshaping the ecumenical and interfaith efforts of the WCC. Her years in the global ecumenical community led to her service in the leadership of the National Council of Churches, World Council of Churches, and other global and national ecumenical and interfaith bodies. Her passion for racial justice moved her work on behalf of the UCC into a global context, affording the opportunity to participate globally in efforts to reduce the marginalization experienced by African descendant peoples and other communities globally. Before joining the national staff of the UCC, Karen Georgia served in the Florida Conference United Church of Christ as a Pastor and on the Conference staff as the Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery. She also worked in the nonprofit arena for over 10 years in senior leadership positions.

Karen Georgia earned a Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College in New York, a Master’s in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC, and a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York. She also studied Public Policy at Duke University and earned her Doctorate in Ministry at Seattle University.