Mental Health, Church Statistics and a Benediction

By Michigan Conference Minister Lillian Daniel 

Tomorrow, I will be doing my monthly Leadership Lunch on Zoom and as usual, the topic comes straight from our churches and clergy who asked us to discuss mental health and the church. If you haven’t come to one of these Zoom lunches on the first Wednesday of the month yet, they are easy to register for in advance, and then you are signed up for them all. We always end before the hour and each month I seem to see a different group, which is wonderful because it’s yet another way for me to get to know our pastors and lay leaders. Our topics are wide ranging but organic to the Michigan Conference, so send us your thoughts for future topics and you can see past topics recorded here.

Reminder to all our churches, your statistics are due to the denomination by March 6.  If forms aren’t your thing, Lisa Soulliere from our office is always here to help. These UCC yearbook numbers about budgets, attendance and membership are not there to judge your church. They are a helpful way for our denomination to track the trends of what we are seeing around the country.

As for what I am seeing as I visit churches in Michigan, it is a rare church that has caught up to its pre-pandemic attendance in-person but many are doing better than they were a year ago.  Again, while a significant number of our churches are experiencing budget constraints, others are looking at building programs, and the smart ones are thinking about ways to monetize their space and benefit their communities. Many Michigan churches are still not seeing all their families with children and youth but those same churches may see new families, who are showing up looking for what the UCC can offer, an inclusive and open-minded Christian church where you don’t have to leave your brain on the sidewalk outside the church doors. 

Speaking of youth, here’s some good news.  The Michigan Conference doubled its numbers from last year at our recent youth retreat, where our churches worked together to do something great for our kids. 

Pastor Support Survey Highlights

During the month of January, Conference Staff asked Michigan Conference Pastors to share priorities and strategies for how the Conference can help to equip, encourage, empower, and connect them in ministry.

The most common areas of interest were:

LGBTQIA+ (42%)

Multi-generational Ministry (36%)

Worship Resources (34%)

Racial Consciousness/Antiracism (34%)

Centering Prayer/Spiritual Practices (34%)

Part Time Ministry (32%)

Chaplaincy and Alternative Building Use were also mentioned frequently.

The majority of folks who filled out the survey were Full Time (41%) and Part Time (33%) clergy, with MIDs, retired clergy, licensed ministers, chaplains, and others also sharing their needs.

Almost 70% of those who completed the survey are "intrigued and look forward to seeing what supports become available" as a result of the collected information.

Associate Conference Minister of Clergy Care and Formation, Rev. Cheryl Burke is working diligently to review data and seek out those who would like to help form and lead groups. Cheryl will also be working with other Conference Staff to determine additional ways that we can resource our church leaders and connect them to what they need.

As email was the most common preferred method of communication (73%),

we will continue to share information in this Newsletter via email, and reach out directly as more specific opportunities are created.

Conference Transitions

The Conference Transitions feature appears in the monthly Michigan Conference Newsletter. Please share your transition information, including church anniversaries, with commmunications@michucc.org

Searching Churches

• Edgewood United Church, UCC in East Lansing is searching for a full time pastor. Details
• Trinity Church of the United Church of Christ in Northport is searching for a part time pastor Details
• First Congregational Church, UCC in New Baltimore is searching for a part time pastor.  Details
• For a complete list of searching UCC churches in Michigan click here

Ecclesiastical Councils

• An Ecclesiastical Council is scheduled March 3 at 3:00pm for Aaron Rieder at  First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ – 218 W. 2nd Street, Gaylord, MI 49735. Aaron Rieder is a Member in Discernment of the United Northern Association and a member of First Congregational Church, Cheboygan, MI. 
• An Ecclesiastical Council is scheduled March 10 at 3:00pm for Anthony Carter at Shrine of the Black Madonna Pan-African Orthodox Church, 7625 Linwood St., Detroit, MI 48206. Anthony is a Member in Discernment of the Detroit Metropolitan Association.  

Installations

• A service of Installation was held on January 21 for Rev. Bryan Simon at The United Church, Ovid
• A service of Installation and Ordination is scheduled February 18 at 3:00pm for Rev. Roslyn Bouier at Trinity-St. Mark’s UCC, Detroit 
• A service of Installation is scheduled March 17 at 2:30pm for Rev. Jonathan White at Bostwick Lake Congregational UCC, Rockford

National Setting Scholarships & Grants

The United Church of Christ has scholarships and grants available for a variety of purposes in three broad categories: Ministry Education Scholarships, Program Grants, and Leadership Development Scholarships. In addition to what is listed here, check with the Admissions Office at your educational institution to find out about additional scholarships that may be available.

• All online Scholarship application forms open on December 1 each year and close on March 1 of the following year at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. Scholarships are processed for use in the fall.