The Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ

Welcome to the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ

Welcome to the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ. The Minnesota Conference is one of thirty-seven conferences of the United Church of Christ in this country. There are nearly 33,000 members of the United Church of Christ in 140 congregations in the Minnesota Conference. The Minnesota Conference is a member of the West-Central Region which includes the following other United Church of Christ Conferences: Iowa, Missouri Mid-South, Kansas-Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota and Northern Plains

Announcements

Recreating the Church: Leadership for the Postmodern Age

It's time to do something different in our churches

Rev. Dick Hamm leads a retreat for pastors and lay leaders

Recreating the Church: Leadership for the Postmodern Age

September 14-15, 2008

Christ the King Retreat Center  -  Buffalo Lake, Minnesota

Attached is the brochure and registration form.  Registration deadline is 04 September 2008.

Send registrations to the Conference Office:

    Minnesota Conference UCC

    122 W Franklin Ave, Ste 323

    Minneapolis, MN 55404

--or email to:  alisonb@uccmn.org 

*Scholarship assistance for clergy is available by calling the Conference Office: 612-871-0359

Welcoming Church Workshop

17 May 2008, StarTribune: "Church bars severely autistic boy from mass." The Church of St Joseph in Bertha, MN filed court papers this spring to block Adam Race, a 225 pound, 13-year old from participation. Adam's parents chose to ignore the order, which they view as discriminatory.

A year earlier, the New York Times carried an article with the provocative title: "Sex Offenders Test Churches' Core Beliefs." Both articles and countless other situations lead us to ask:

How Can Our Church be Welcoming and Safe for All?

03 October 2008 - Friday - 9:30am-3:00pm

United Theological Seminary

See the attached brochure for more details

Building Now for the 22nd Century

How does where we worship change how we worship and

what does this mean for the future of the church?

Put on by the UCC Architects, this fantastic three-day event includes workshops ("From Worship to Architecture" and "The Christian Imperative for Greening and Sustainability"), panel discussions ("Spaces and Worship for the 22nd Century") and tours of architecturally significant churches and public buildings in the Twin Cities area. Speakers include Rev. Dr. Leonard Sweet, author of FaithQuakes and The Gospel According to Starbucks, Dr. John W. Cook, Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Dipko, Rev. Dr. William C. Green, Linda Mack, Loan Soranno, AIA, and Dr. Mons A. Teig. See attached flyer for more details, schedule and registration information.

Antiracism Study Dialogue Circles

New Antiracism Study Dialogue Circles will be forming this fall

This fall there will be two opportunities to participate in Antiracism Study Dialogue Circles held at Cherokee Park United Church in St. Paul. The Circles are designed to build capacity so that those who have participated in a circle will later have the opportunity to consider training to be a Circle leader. A congregation can develop in its own congregation folks who have been trained as Circle leaders. Beginning in early September, there will be one circle on Tuesday and one on Saturday. The Circles are made possible with support of the Minnesota Conference UCC, Emmaus Antiracism Team and the St. Paul Foundation. Please see the attached flyer.

IN-CARE POLICIES

Updated In-Care Policies are now available.

To download the In Care Policy of the Minnesota Conference, date January 17, 2008, click here...

To download the Ordination Preparation Policy, dated January 17, 2008, click here...

To download the Assessment Guidelines for M.Div. Equivalency, dated April 19, 2007, click here...

To download the Procedures for an Ecclesiastical Council, dated April 19, 2007, click here...

Professional Development

Link to Iowa Conference web site for continuing education offerings available to Minnesota clergy: www.ucciaconf.org

Policy Manual

MN Conference Policy Manual is Now Available on Web Site

Directions: Click on Board of Directors (above) and scroll down to the Policy Manual.

An Important Reminder From the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is reminding you that for fiscal year 2008 the per capita dues will remain at $10. We trust that you have made appropriate arrangements in your local church budgets.

Upcoming Events

NYE
Friday, July 25, 2008

NYE
Saturday, July 26, 2008

NYE
Sunday, July 27, 2008

NYE
Monday, July 28, 2008

OCWM Fundraiser at the Metrodome
Saturday, August 2, 2008

Board of Directors
Saturday, August 2, 2008

Click Here to see All Upcoming Events

Annual Meeting Has Largest Attendance in Eight Years

Over three hundred and sixty people attended the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Delegates and visitors were welcomed and led through the weekend's program by Co-Chairs, Rev. Carol Joyce and Rev. Tom Ewald.

Putting Green Environmental Adventure Park

Something New and Fun for Youth and/or Families

Lyndale UCC Takes Stand for Marriage Equality for All

Some of you may have heard Rev. Don Portwood and Moderator Michael Vanderford of Lyndale UCC on Minnesota Public Radio and/or KARE 11 News or read about them in the Star Tribune. Below is a copy of the press release sent out last week in response to the congregational vote earlier this month.

Reflections on standing in protest outside a house of worship

by David McMahill

Remarks by Rev. Dr. Karen Smith Sellers

Gathered in Special Meeting, October 8, 2005

Exciting Still Singing News

The final Still Singing CD has been produced. It includes 12 songs and has been selling like hot cakes, at least in those churches that are promoting it. Under 20 churches have placed their orders and we've already reached $2,772.00 in sales!! Think of what we can do if all the rest of the churches get started selling. Everyone loves this eclectic mix of UCC artists from around the nation.

A Just Peace Church

The Just Peace Church vision is a hallmark of United Church of Christ theological identity. For nearly two decades, the Just Peace Church program has been a grassroots movement of UCC congregations committed to corporately naming and boldly proclaiming a public identity as a justice-doing, peace-seeking church.