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Ministry Together
Clergy Resources from the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest
June | 2024
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Worship Planning Opportunity | |
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Marcia McFee, who leads Worship Design Studio, is offering our region (and other similar church ministries) a chance to purchase registration for all of our congregations to three upcoming planning retreats in August, January 2025, and May 2025. These would offer themes for 1) Advent/Christmas/Epiphany, 2) Lent/Holy Week/Easter, and 3) Ordinary time in the summer. Retreats would be livestreamed and recorded. This would also include materials for a related series for each season that your congregation could use.
Learn more about these retreats and resources.
Would you and/or your congregation participate in this and use such worship planning materials? Provided there is sufficient interest, this seems like an excellent way for our region to support your worship ministry. Please let me know if your congregation would access and use some of these materials over the course of the next year.
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All ordained and commissioned ministers of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest are required to complete a boundaries course in 2025. Our region is preparing a one-day onsite course for Wednesday, January 22 at the CCC (following Ministers Institute). There also will be an online option of multiple shorter sessions covering the same material.
The 2025 Boundaries Training offered by our region will focus on our Ministerial Code of Ethics. You are invited to help focus our time by completing a survey, which should only take a few minutes. The survey asks two things. First, help us prioritize the session by identifying the five bullet points of the code of ethics you most want discussed in boundaries training. Second, you have the opportunity to suggest case study ideas for small group discussions related to potential boundaries violations. You can find the survey here.
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Important News and Resources | |
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Prayers for Clergy Colleagues
There is a holy and sacred responsibility for each of us to hold one another in prayer. Colleagues of all ages experience health issues, life-altering experiences filled with concern and joy, as well as the fatigue and energy of ministry. Take a moment to offer prayer for one another.
Continued prayers for John Caughron as he journeys the difficult path of ALS. Please remember John's family in your prayers as they support and nurture him during this illness.
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General/Ecumenical Church Jobs
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Congregations in Transition
Friends, these are the congregations in the Upper Midwest in the search and call process. Please keep them in your prayers during these transitions.
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Altoona Christian Church is in the search and call process.
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Bondurant Christian Church is seeking an interim.
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Central Christian Church, Boone, is in the search and call process, with David Clark as the interim.
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Highland Park Christian Church is in the search and call process and has called Arlene Johnson as interim.
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First Christian Church, Adel has called Tim Johnson as interim.
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Davis Street Christian Church, Ottumwa has called Terry Wise as their interim beginning in Jan 2024.
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Lennox Christian Church is in the search and call process.
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Trinity Christian Church, Bridgewater, will enter the search and call process.
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Hedrick Christian Church is seeking pulpit supply.
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Union Church, Ira, is in the search process.
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First Christian Church, Muscatine and Nichols Christian Church are being served by Marcy Heil during the process of search and call.
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Central Christian Church, Marshalltown has called Michael Carlson as interim.
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Pleasantville Christian Church is beginning the search process.
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First Christian Church, Estherville will enter the search process. Doug Burton plans to retire Jan 2025.
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Howard Street Christian Church will enter the search process. Tom Burns plans to retire Aug 2024.
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Looking to Serve?
Each month we list the congregations in the Upper Midwest who are in the search and call process. This month there are 20 congregations in the search and call process. It is challenging to identify enough pulpit supply, interim, and settled ministers for these many congregations to consider.
Please contact Josh or Liz to learn more or share your ideas.
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Clergy Book Study Resumes in Fall | |
The regional Clergy Book Study held on the fourth Thursday, 2 pm, will read Michael Kinnamon's new novel The Nominee. Set in 1991 against the backdrop of America's intensifying culture wars, The Nominee draws inspiration from Michael's own experience of being nominated to serve as General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The prologue and the first four chapters will be the discussion material for August 22. September 26 will cover chapters five through eight. October 24 will cover chapters nine through twelve. This will be an engaging conversation about a time in the history of the Christian Church (disciples of Christ). The zoom link for the clergy study will be sent the morning on the session. If you are interested in participating in the book study, please email Liz Woodward at liz@uppermidwestcc.org | |
Continuing Education Opportunities | |
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United Theological Seminary
Leadership for Social Justice Cohort
Application is due by July 1. To apply.
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Pension Fund Gathering
September 3-5, 2024
The Pension Fund Gathering is in Washington, DC. For more information.
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The Disciples Preaching Retreat
October 28-30, 2024
The Disciples Preaching Retreat, Beautiful Feet, will bein Phoenix, AZ. The Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Frank A. Thomas. For more information.
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Continuing Education Requirement
All Upper Midwest clergy are expected to complete continuing education each year in order to be granted ministerial standing in the following years. Details on our regional website.
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Christian Church in the Upper Midwest | www.uppermidwestcc.org | |
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