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2023 Wisconsin Conference UCC Year in Review
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all … while we wait for the blessed hope
and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Titus 2: 11-13
I greet you in the joyful spirit of Epiphany. The words of Titus remind us that between the grace of God that came to Bethlehem in the birth of Jesus and the full manifestation of God’s glory on Earth, we in the United Church of Christ are called to bear witness to the love of Christ every day.
The love of Christ is faithful in every generation. Four years after COVID-19 radically changed our lives, congregations still are adjusting to new realities. Many have faced significant declines and are enduring the anxiety that accompanies concerns about sustainability. Yet most have embraced new technologies, and nearly all congregations can point to bright spots of ministry that have unleashed new energy. COVID affected the wider church as well. In early 2023, we made the painful decision to sell the Trost Center in DeForest and shift the Conference offices to Daycholah Center on Green Lake, enabling a closer partnership with United Church Camps Inc. and providing UCCI with a financial boost.
The love of Christ is courageous in the face of challenges. Our associate conference ministers – the Revs. Jane Anderson, Rachel Bauman and Michael Jones – continue to guide congregations through the search process at a time when the candidate pool is small, and the number of part-time pastorates is increasing. We consider every creative pastoral option and use the leadership and ministry skills courses of the Damascus Project to train future pastoral leaders. The Rev. Dr. Stephanie Perdew, director of the Damascus Project, secured a $500,000 Lilly Endowment grant that – over the next five years – will widen our pool of learners through expanded course offerings at very reasonable costs. The Damascus Project is the shared educational ministry of the Minnesota and Wisconsin conferences.
The love of Christ demands justice for the oppressed. The justice working groups and Supportive Ministries Team continue to provide resources for local congregations and a collective voice supporting the poor and marginalized. The Damascus Project introduced an implicit bias course, part of our emphasis on anti-racism training. One of our newer working groups – Older Adult Ministries – has produced significant resources for local churches that seek to cultivate deeper connections with seniors. The Creation Care Team, the Immigration Justice Work Group and the Alliance for Justice, which focuses on honoring indigenous peoples, are empowering local congregations with resources to advance these vital ministries.
The love of Christ brings generosity to the world. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the 210 UCC congregations of the Wisconsin Conference remain remarkably generous. Your support through Our Church’s Wider Mission provides three-quarters of the Conference budget and all sorts of resourcing, training and programs, and an incredible global mission outreach. We are deeply grateful to all those who have made commitments to the Leadership Forward Campaign. Already, Leadership Forward has received pledges totaling $1 million. In addition, the Wisconsin Foundation UCC now holds investments of roughly $17 million on behalf of several congregations and the Conference. The Foundation provides an ideal opportunity for your congregation to achieve excellent financial returns through socially responsible investments.
The love of Christ builds beloved community. In our wider Conference life, we are asking this question: “How can we better connect, resource and support each other, as local churches, pastors and lay leaders?” The question has prompted us to rethink church governance structures and to imagine new forms of collaboration. Meanwhile, the staff continues to cultivate care and connection with one another and to build relationships throughout the Conference. At the beginning of 2023 we welcomed ACM Michael Jones and just recently introduced our newest staff member, Carla Myers, who succeeds Susan Taylor as office coordinator. Though Sue is mostly retired, we’re happy that she has agreed to work a few hours a week to coordinate the search-and-call process.
Submitted with a grateful heart in the love of Christ,
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