Minnesota Conference UCC Bids Farewell to Rev. Sheri Nelson

It is with great sadness that we announce that Rev. Sheri Nelson, Director of Outdoor Ministry, has resigned her position effective October 11, 2025. Sheri has accepted a new call to serve as pastor at First Congregational-Christian United Church of Christ in New Gloucester, Maine, starting October 27.

Sheri joined the staff of the Minnesota Conference UCC staff in May 2019, although, her ministry within the Conference began years earlier through her tireless support of Conference-wide youth and outdoor ministries, countless hours of volunteering at Pilgrim Point camp, and serving as a local church pastor. 

Since joining the Conference staff, Sheri has provided creative and collaborative leadership throughout an incredibly complex and challenging season for the Conference, our wider communities, and world. Sheri leaves a legacy of innovation, experimentation, and curiosity. During her ministry with the Conference, Sheri:

• shaped a new model for outdoor ministry after the sale of Pilgrim Point Camp;
• developed collaborative online environmental trainings and community gatherings throughout the pandemic;
• helped launch and guide the young adult leadership cohort;
• served as one of the founders and nurturers of the Great Lakes Creation Care Collaborative, a movement that now includes all UCC conferences and United Church of Canada regions that border the Great Lakes;
• inspired a deeper sense of our call to create “places of belonging and intentionally reconnecting to the Living Earth, where the Spirit breathes Belovedness into us and through us.”  

We are so grateful for Sheri’s commitment to equipping and affirming the leadership of youth and young adults, her advocacy for our greater Minnesota congregations, and her constant witness to the interconnectedness with all Creation. 

Sheri shared these reflections in her letter to the Conference board and staff:

"My decision to leave this work does not come without many tears shed. I love the work I have done and the people I have worked with along the way. However, after months of discernment and prayer, the Spirit is asking me to use my skills in a new setting…I am thankful for all the people I have met and with whom I built relationships, especially around the ecological spirituality that continues to grow within our Conference, the UCC, and beyond. In relationships with one another and the earth, we will ensure there is an earthly heaven for all of us, not just a powerful few."

We will gather to celebrate Sheri’s ministry on Saturday, October 11, 4:00-6:00pm at Hazel Park UCC in St. Paul. Join us for this time of fellowship, refreshments, and a service of farewell. REGISTER

Please hold Sheri and her family in your hearts and prayers as she prepares for this bold new venture to which the Spirit is calling her.

Clergy Retreat Registration Now Open

Register by Monday, October 6

Location: Dunrovin Retreat Center

Dates: October 21-23, arrive 5 pm Tuesday & depart 11:30 am Thursday

Cost: $250 (scholarship support is available)

REGISTER

Please plan to pause from the rhythms and demands of daily life with a community of colleagues in the beautiful St. Croix River valley as we explore together our theme of Connection.

Like a grove of growing trees, our roots are deepening and branches are stretching. Sometimes we're thriving, sometimes we’re dry and achy. Come to this retreat for rest and reflection (and something else starting with R) with people who get you, who know what your complicated life as a minister is like. Your laughter is welcome. So is your weariness and craving for a long walk or chocolate. Together, we'll explore connection: to faith, to the world, to your heart, and to the loving support you have.

Our facilitator is Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, psalmist, musician, spiritual director from Strawberry Point, Iowa. There will be worship, music, reflection, and plenty of open time for whatever your heart wants.

Travel with the Conference to the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland

Dates: April 26 – May 4, 2026

Cost: $3,000 (limited scholarship funds are available)

Who: Adults 18+

Registration will open November 1, 2025

The Corrymeela Community is a place rich with stories—stories of pain and conflict, of forgiveness and reconciliation, of hope, and above all, stories of learning to live well together. As an ecumenical Christian community located on Ireland's North Coast, Corrymeela is committed to fostering courageous conversations across differences, with the goal of co-creating a more peaceful world. For decades, it has facilitated these conversations among groups in Northern Ireland and around the globe.

The Minnesota Conference's trip to Northern Ireland will include meaningful discussions and transformative learning experiences as we explore the legacy of conflict in Northern Ireland. Together, we will reflect on how, as followers of Christ, we are called to help build a more just and peaceful world—one where people can live well together, even when we do not agree. We hope this journey will inspire us all to learn from our friends at Corrymeela and across Northern Ireland as we consider how we, too, can become peacebuilders in times of division and unrest.

In addition to our four days at Corrymeela, the trip will include two days in Belfast to explore and learn about the history of the Troubles, the long peace process, and the current context and ongoing work amid complex cultural and political shifts. The final day of the trip will provide an opportunity to explore the city of Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.

We have space for 20 participants. In addition, the Conference has allocated funding to fully subsidize the trip for five additional young adult participants (ages 18-29).

Anyone interested in learning more about the trip are invited to attend a Zoom information session on Thursday, October 23, or Tuesday, October 28. Both sessions will be at 7 pm. LEARN MORE

Sign Up for Special Communications from the Conference

Looking for regular inspiration around generosity? Seeking new practices in faith and fundraising? Sign up for two special resources from the Minnesota Conference:

• "Provoking Generosity" newsletter: Join others inspired by the scripture "Provoke one another to love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24).
• Outdoor Ministry newsletter to get updates on retreats, convenings, and more.

SIGN UP HERE

OWL Training Begins September 19

This unique course is specifically designed to engage people of faith in examining how sexuality education and ministry intersect and exploring the Our Whole Lives/Sexuality and Our Faith lifespan curricula. This course will include four weekends in 2025 as well as Zoom meetings in between the weekend learning times.

Participants must be available for all sessions: Sept 19-20, Oct 24-25, Nov 14-16 (OWL training weekend), and Dec 5-6. Cost: $150 for UTS students (code: STUDENT) | $300 for members of the MN Conference UCC (code: MNCONF) | $500 for all others.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

FourTHursday on September 23 to Focus on Reimagining Faith Formation Ministries in the Minnesota Conference UCC

Thursday, September 23 | 11:30am - 1:30pm

Join in-person (lunch begins at 11:30 am) or via Zoom (community conversation begins at noon)

Minnesota Church Center, 122 W. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404

REGISTER

Join us for a robust and creative conversation about the future of faith formation ministries in the Minnesota Conference UCC. Rev. Kevin Brown, Associate Conference Minister for Faith Formation, will facilitate our conversation about the new ministry priorities discerned as part of the Faith Formation & Outdoor Ministry Assessment, which was presented at the Conference’s 2025 Annual Meeting. 

At the center of the assessment findings was a clear call for the Conference to foster greater collaboration with and between local congregations, expand resourcing and support to equip local church pastors and lay leaders, improve communication in all aspects of the Conference’s ministry, and cultivate a culture of lifelong spiritual formation within all areas of our shared ministry. Please join the work to live more fully into these priorities by adding your voice, ideas, perspectives, and collaborative energy to this conversation and the journey ahead.

To guarantee lunch, register by Tuesday, September 23.

Neighbors in Need Special Offering: October 5

The Neighbors in Need offering supports ministries of justice and compassion, with one-third of the offering given to the Council for American Indian Ministries and the remaining two-thirds supporting UCC justice ministries. In 2025, the Neighbors in Need Offering supported 26 grant recipients across the UCC who were engaged in projects of direct service and advocacy.

While many of our churches collect the offering on part of World Communion Sunday, contributions to this offering can be collected on any Sunday during the calendar year. Thank you for your support and generosity!

DOWNLOAD a promotional toolkit and other resources are available.

Reminder to Clergy: Please Complete your Annual Information Review Form

The clergy Annual Information Review Form is due! If you have not yet completed it, please do so via this link.

Partner News & Events

Fall Wellness Ministries Volunteer Series Offered

The fall Orientation of Wellness Ministries Volunteers Series will be offered on Tuesdays, September 23–October 28, 3:00-4:30 pm CT.

This 6-session series prepares you to share information about Wellness Ministries within the UCC, a process to orient volunteers, and the development or enhancement of current health and wholeness ministries within the congregation and the community.

As a service to congregations registration for the series is free. Registration is limited to ensure a more personalized experience for individuals. All reading materials are found on the 2025 Wellness Ministries Toolkit flash drive, available at the UCC Resources Store. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions because each one provides the foundation for the next session.

REGISTER

UCC Offers Simple Website Management

UCC Everywhere (UCCE) is a state-of-the-art website builder for church leaders within the UCC in need of a new church, Association or Conference website. The UCCE package includes a content management system with integrated instructions, a library of training videos and a customer support team to help you with your website updating needs.

Whether you’ve built websites before or are just getting started building your church’s digital footprint, UCCE is here to make the process as smooth as possible.

LEARN MORE & GET STARTED FOR $45 PER MONTH

Church. Organize. Neighbor. Love.

These are liminal times. The church is uniquely positioned to voice difficult truths, shape difficult decisions, and move toward God’s preferred future. Yet prophetic presence in our communities can feel dangerous and action can feel hopeless. You are not alone!

The Ministry Lab’s four-panel series invites you into conversation with:

• CHURCH leaders to ground us in our unique doctrines and social statements as they invite us into Christ’s shared call to love our neighbors in new ways;
• urban and rural faith-based leaders who will equip folx to ORGANIZE, partner, and collaborate rooted in the Way of Jesus;
• diverse community leaders who inspire redefining NEIGHBOR as collective action amidst a more expansive sense of community; and
• ecumenical clergy serving in diverse settings whose examples of LOVE in action will empower new and deeper relationships with non-traditional community partners.

Four Tuesdays: October 7, 14, 21, 28, at 2:00 pm CT via Zoom



REGISTER

"Creating Hope" Learning Event is September 18

On September 18 the Damascus Project will co-sponsor a hybrid, day-long learning event with Dr. Andrew Root of Luther Seminary. The event is hosted by and held at First UCC Appleton, Wisconsin, and sponsored by Samaritan Care of the Fox Valley, Wisconsin. Damascus Project is underwriting the hybrid technology and we will be issuing course certificates to any authorized ministers who want to attend all or part of the day as a continuing education event.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

You're Invited to United Theological Seminary's Fall Convocation

Thursday, September 25, starting at 12:15 pm CT.

This year’s free, hybrid event features the esteemed Rev. Dr. Wilson Yates, United’s President Emeritus and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion, Society, and the Arts, 1967–2005.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Upcoming Minnesota Pride Events

September 13, 10 am-4 pm Brainerd Pride

September 13, Columbia Heights Pride

September 20, 11am-4 pm St. Cloud Pride

September 20, Carver County Pride

Healthy Communication Workshop with Sarah Lehman

Workshop: Working with Complexity Well

Thursday, September 18, 1030 am – 12 pm (online)

REGISTER

Joys & Concerns

You are invited to the installation service celebrating the covenant relationship of Rev. Beth Hoffman Copenhaver with Congregational UCC in Detroit Lakes on Sunday, September 21, at 3:00 pm. All clergy are invited to process with red stoles. A reception will follow the service.

You are invited to a farewell service for Rev. Jan Crissinger at Zion UCC in LeSueur on September 28, from 10 am-noon.

A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life and Ministry of St. Mark's UCC in Bloomington will be held September 27. Learn more.

Join New Brighton UCC for the installation of Rev. Cynthia Riggin on October 5 from 3-4 pm. Learn more.

Rev. Jill Warner's farewell service will be held at New Journey UCC in Hutchinson on October 12 from 10-11 am.

Revs. Janet Bodin and Deb Braun will be installed at Union Congregational UCC on October 12 from 3-4:30 pm.

Upcoming Conference Events

September 12-14: Women's Retreat

September 19-20: OWL training (first weekend)

September 25: FourTHursday

October 21-23: Fall Clergy Retreat

View all events on the Conference's website.

• Check out the employment opportunities portion of our website for all open positions.
• Send story ideas, insights and more to communications@uccmn.org. COMMAntary is published on Thursdays; submissions are due the Tuesday prior to publication at noon.
• The Conference website offers a wealth of resources for authorized ministers, local churches, faith formation leaders, and on topics including outdoor ministry, racial justice, and more.

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