A Peaceful Presence in an Anxious Election Season

THANK YOU Poll Chaplains!

As a part of the 2022 General Election, held on November 9th, the Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign worked to provide a peaceful and pastoral presence during these unprecedented times by stationing poll chaplains across the state. Poll chaplains were stationed outside of polling

stations in Milwaukee and some of its suburbs, Madison, Green Bay, Beloit, Racine and Kenosha.

Poll chaplains offered prayer when asked and heard gratitude from poll workers and city/village employees for their presence in an era of threats against poll workers. One poll chaplain reported meeting many first-time voters and “one man who hadn’t voted in 45 years!”

We’re deeply grateful to all those who volunteered to serve in this way. Even though their sites were calm and few problems required their intervention, they made a difference simply by being there, offering a ministry of presence and demonstrating their faith communities' commitment to defending the rights of every voter and the integrity of our democracy.

The project received good media coverage – no doubt because it provided a more positive alternative to

stories about fears of intimidation and disruption at the polls.

• Wisconsin Poll Chaplains Look to Be a Buffer Against Intimidation Tactics, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Seeking to Bring Peace, Ensure Justice, Clergy Prepare to Stand Watch at the Polls, Wisconsin Examiner
• Peace at the Polls: Rabbi Natalie Louise Shribman Will Be a Chaplain at the Polls, for a Peaceful

Presence, Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

DHS Launches Free COVID Telehealth Service

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced last week the opening of a no-cost telehealth service designed to increase access to COVID antiviral medications.

Those medications must be started with five days of symptoms appearing, even if the symptoms are mild. That makes quick response essential. Access to health providers who can prescribe antivirals can be a barrier, a problem the telehealth service is designed to overcome.

DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake believes the program will be "especially important in extending our ability to serve rural, elderly, and other underserved populations."

Adults who have tested positive for COVID can access the service between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. seven days a week online or by calling 833-273-6330. DHS promises an assessment within 5-30 minutes. If appropriate, a clinician will prescribe antiviral medications that are widely available at pharmacies around the state. Patients without pharmacy access can have medicines shipped to them overnight.

Antiviral treatments can reduce the risk of severe symptoms, hospitalization, or death from COVID. For more information on the program, see the DHS website.

WCC Wed: A New Learning Community for Church Leaders

In this conversation, Rev. Dr. Christopher James and Deaconess Johnna George (WCC staff) discuss the new Madison Learning Community, an initiative of University of Dubuque Theological Seminary offering seminary-level courses to Madison-area pastors, church leaders, and others eager to deepen ministry skills in a diverse Christian community committed to the local Church. Tune in to hear Rev. James talk about

• details about the Madison Learning Community
• what the first course "Proclaiming the Word of God" will look like
• his hopes for the greater Church through offerings like these

Click here to listen to their conversation

To learn more, check out www.madisonseminary.org

Awkward Holiday Conversations

Thursday, Nov. 17 from 6:30 to 7:45pm OR Thursday, Dec. 15 from 6:30 to 7:45pm, Online

You’re all in the kitchen, catching up, nibbling in advance of the Thanksgiving meal when, whammo, one of your relatives makes a politically charged statement that you know not everyone in the room agrees with. The statement has the potential to sink the meal and cause rifts among family members. How do you respond?

The politics of our time have pulled Christians of all stripes into adversarial relationships. Instead of living as beloved children of God, seeking to love our neighbors, we have believed the lie that the only way to discuss politics is to win the argument and demonize the other side. The alternative is to avoid it altogether, and sadly, many do. But both approaches leave us wanting and do nothing to create a more just world. Come to this workshop to practice having conversations in a way that reflects both the kindness and the courage of Jesus.

Resilience is a Group Project:

WCC's Annual Meeting

Tuesday, December 6, Online

Join us on December 6th for the Wisconsin Council of Churches Annual Meeting. Registration costs $49 and includes access to opening worship, the keynote by Dr. Irie Lynne Session, the business meeting held on the morning of Tuesday, December 6th, and access to afternoon workshops.

Most sessions will be recorded and registration will include access to these recordings for later use.

NOTE: If you expect to be a meeting delegate from your regional church body (synod, presbytery, diocese,  conference, etc.) please check in with leadership this week about their preferred process for registration. 

Resetting the Table: Building a Culture of Dialogue

December 7 & 8th from 2:00-4:30pm, Online

Differences surrounding moral and social issues have created frictions and challenges for many faith communities and leaders.

Resetting the Table’s sought-after workshop equips religious leaders with tools to support faith communities to listen and speak across differences with honesty, dignity, and grace.

The program provides participants with road-tested exercises they can bring back to their own institutions as well as a chance to experience and model rich dialogue across differences among participating faith leaders. Join us December 7 & 8th from 2:00-4:30pm on zoom for this powerful, hands-on workshop. Advance registration is required. 

Dane County Faith Based Housing Summit

January 31st, 8:30-2:00, Madison

Faith communities in Dane County are invited to a Faith Based Housing Summit on January 31st from 8:30-2:00pm at Orchard Ridge UCC (1501 Gilbert Rd, Madison) for a conversation about how you can be involved in creating and supporting affordable housing. Speakers include Prof Kurt Paulsen of UW Madison on the state of housing in Wisconsin, Rev. Mark Elsdon of Rooted Good & Pres House on the faith communities' call and assets they can add to this conversation, and Don Bernards of Baker Tilly on logistics to think about as you enter work around affordable housing. There will also be a time to network and for those gathered to brainstorm actions the faith community can take together to address the need for affordable housing in Dane County. 

Faith & Democracy Tour

February 5th-7, Waukesha, Brookfield, and Madison

Please join us for one or all of 3 events in Wisconsin with Rev. Jen Butler, founder of Faith in Public Life as a part of her "Faith in Democracy Tour" where she will train communities to reclaim their faith traditions to push back against the misuse of religion by the white Christian nationalism that is attempting to take over our electorate. She will draw from her decades of successful coalition-building and organizing, and her book, Who Stole My Bible?, which is a guidebook for all seeking to reclaim faith-centered justice

Workshop: Talking to Friends and Loved Ones Caught up in Conspiracy Theories and Christian Nationalism

Sunday, Feb 5th in Waukesha – First Baptist Church of Waukesha (247 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha).

The Rise of the Christian Right and White Christian Nationalism

Monday, Feb 6th in Brookfield – Unitarian Universalist Church West (13001 W North Ave, Brookfield).

American Democracy and the Role of Faith

Tuesday, Feb 7th in Madison – 7:00pm – First Baptist Church of Madison (518 N Franklin Ave, Madison).

Applications Open for the 2023 Cohort at

the Ecumenical Center for Clergy Spiritual Renewal

“The Ecumenical Center for Clergy Spiritual Renewal (ECCSR) looks forward to welcoming a new cohort of 18 pastors to participate in Contemplative Renewal at Holy Wisdom Monastery, outside of Madison. If you’re a pastor who hungers for time to listen deeply to God and to your own heart in the context of a supportive, contemplative cohort of ecumenical pastors please consider applying! 

 Applications are open for the 2023 cohort of pastors. Follow the link below for more information if you:

Are open to receiving the blessings of the ancient rhythms of a progressive, ecumenical Benedictine monastery; Live within 4-5 hours driving distance of Madison, WI; Have approximately 3-15 years of experience serving as an ordained pastor in a congregational setting.

Applications will be received until December 31, 2022. This program is made possible at no cost to pastors by a generous Thriving In Ministry Grant from the Lilly Endowment “ Learn more here.

Do you have news to share? Send us a short description with a link to more information, and we will add it to our weekly enews. Email [email protected] with ENEWS in the subject line.

Continue the Work of Justice Across our State

WCC staff work with our networks to strengthen pastors, equip the church for creative ministry, and respond to community crises. Your gift, made today or any day, can be put to work immediately to make the church more effective by building relationships that help us work together.