Dear Authorized Ministers in the Wisconsin Conference, United Church of Christ,

Grace and peace to you!

The Ministerial Oversight Team of the newly formed Wisconsin Conference Committee on Ministry has begun meeting and reviewing the standing requirements for Authorized Ministers in the Wisconsin Conference. The Ministerial Oversight Team looks forward to working with you as you fulfill your covenanted obligations as an Authorized Minister in the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ. It’s our goal to support all Licensed and Ordained Ministers by clearly outlining requirements for Standing, and by offering opportunities to meet these requirements.

The Wisconsin Conference Office communicates with Authorized Ministers when their Boundary Training and/or Anti-Racism Training requirements are due to be renewed based on what is in the database, but it is important that you, as an Authorized Minister, are also aware of when you need to fulfill these standing requirements. If you are unaware of the last time you took Boundary Training and/or Anti-Racism Training, please contact Andrea at the Conference Office.

The former Commission on Church and Ministry communicated with all Authorized Ministers regarding the Anti-Racism Training requirement when the first course was offered in 2023. All Authorized Ministers are expected to have completed the course by the end of 2025. If you have not completed the first course, please sign up for the January-February 2026 Exploring Implicit Bias offering listed below. The Damascus Project will be offering a 2.0 course for those who have already completed the first course in Spring 2026 for their second, three-year requirement.

Please see the information below on standing requirements.

Standing Requirements for Authorized Ministers in the Wisconsin Conference:

As approved by the previous Commission on Church and Ministry, all Authorized Ministers, Licensed or Ordained, have five requirements to retain and maintain good Standing in the Wisconsin Conference:

1. Submission of the Annual Information Review Form once a year (The 2025 Annual Information Review Forms can be found here).
2. Participation in and completion of a Boundary Training Course* every four years. 
3. Participation in and completion of an Anti-Racism Training Course* every three years
4. Continuing Education.
5. Attendance at Conference or wider church gatherings.

The Responsibilities of Authorized Ministers regarding Standing Requirements:

It is the responsibility of Authorized Ministers in the Wisconsin Conference to:

1. Fulfill these Standing requirements.
2. Receive a Certificate of Completion from the Boundary Training Course leader/institution and/or Anti-Racism Course leader/institution. This should be requested if not received as they are not sent to the Wisconsin Conference Office!
3. Send an electronic or paper copy of your certificate to the Wisconsin Conference office.

Wisconsin Conference and Other Approved Upcoming Course Offerings

• Exploring Implicit Bias through the Damascus Project: January 26, Feb 9 and Feb 16, 2026 on Monday mornings 10 a.m. -12 noon. Click here to register
• Boundary Awareness Training: A Contemplative Approach through the Damascus Project: Thursday, November 13, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Click here to register
• Boundary Awareness Training 2.0: Through the Lens of Clergy Wellness through the Southern New England Conference: December 2nd & 3rd, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (Eastern time zone). Click here to register
• Boundary Awareness Training 2.0: Through the Lens of Clergy Wellness through the Southern New England Conference: March 3, 2026, 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Eastern time zone). Click here to register

*All Boundary Training Courses and Anti-Racism Training Courses that are not offered through the Wisconsin Conference must be approved by the Ministerial Oversight Team. You can find a form to fill out and submit by clicking this link: Alternate Program Request Form.

A few other reminders:

• Continuing Education Scholarships are available to clergy in need -more information here.
• We implore you, as an Authorized Minister, to make sure you are up-to-date on your standing requirements. It is your responsibility, as an Authorized Minister and as part of your covenantal and professional obligations, to fulfill these requirements.

In Christ,

The Ministerial Oversight Team of the Wisconsin Conference 

Jamie Dieckhoff

Kevin Haass

Kim Henning

Mary Jane Huber

Michael Jones

Shannon Joshi

Eric Kirkegaard

Deborah Kunkel

Julie Mavity Maddalena

Carol Merriman

Chris Myers, Chair

Timothy Shirley

Shawn Stapleton