Introducing New Clergy Care Groups of the Michigan Conference

In 2024, our Conference Minister Lillian Daniel reorganized the staffing pattern to meet the need for focused clergy care, which will be a conference-wide priority in the year ahead. This crucial work now falls under the leadership of Rev. Cheryl Burke in her new role of Associate Conference Minister of Clergy Care and Formation, who began her work with a survey of our pastors. Those results confirmed that our pastors need and are interested in connecting for renewal, learning, wellness, and support. 

Clergy Care Groups (CCG’s) are one of the ways that the Michigan Conference will address this need. These groups will be relational and may be formed as affinity groups with a focus, or as general gatherings geographically. An email will be sent directly to pastors and clergy for Group Registration. Group topics, days, times, and locations will be chosen by facilitators and listed for Registration. Space will be limited, and groups will require at least 5-6 group members to begin. Please sign up as soon as possible if you are interested in being part of a group. As space allows, we will invite our colleagues from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Michigan Region.

Proposed groups currently being formed by facilitators are; Spiritual Deepening, Spiritual Issues in Retirement, New Clergy Mentoring, Preaching Workshop, Health and Wellness, Rural Progressive Presence, Mindfulness, Peer Support, Chaplains, Engagement in Retirement, Circle of Friends, Senior Pastors of Multi-staff Churches, MIDs, Multigenerational Ministry, Clergy Cafe and more.

If you are already part of an existing support group that you would like to have listed for others to join, if you would like to facilitate a new CCG group, or if you have other ideas for clergy care, contact Rev. Cheryl Burke, Associate Conference Minister of Clergy Care and Formation, cheryl@michucc.org 517-292-3102

Pastors, be on the lookout for an email coming soon.

Groups will being in April.

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

• Shelby Congregational UCC in Shelby is searching for an interim pastor. Details
• Douglas Congregational UCC in Douglas is searching for a full time pastor. Details
• Edgewood United Church, UCC in East Lansing is searching for a full time pastor. Details
• For a complete list of searching UCC churches in Michigan click here

Ecclesiastical Councils

• 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 and Ordinations

• A service of Installation is scheduled March 17 at 2:30pm for Rev. Jonathan White at Bostwick Lake Congregational UCC, Rockford
• A service of Installation and Ordination is scheduled April 14, 2024 at 3:00pm for Rev. Marcia Meabon at Webster UCC, Dexter
• A service of Installation is scheduled May 4, 2024 at 3:00pm for Rev. Matthew Hogue-Smith at Peoples Church of Flint
• A service of Ordination is scheduled May 19, 2024 at 3:00pm for Rev. Dr. Selma Massey at Whosoever Ministry, at Grosse Pointe Congregational Church, Grosse Pointe Farms

In Memoriam

• The Rev. Joseph Policoro died recently.  Rev. Policoro was Michigan Conference clergy from 1983-1996 and served with calls in Bangor, Stanton, and Northport, as well as being on the Church and Ministry Committee and attending General Synod events.