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Ministry Together
Clergy Resources from the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest
May | 2025
| | Learn and Worship with The Stable as opportunity to gain ARPR hours | | |
You can support a new ministry in our region, The Stable, and gain hours of Anti-racism/Pro-reconciliation experience at the same time!
The Stable is an online study church led by Rev. Jia Starr Brown and supported by our Upper Midwest region. (Timely connection – when you and your congregation make gifts to the Pentecost Special Offering, some of the money directly supports new ministries like The Stable.) The study sessions are held on Thursday nights, which allows people from many congregations – or no congregation – to join in the learning and worship. See the website here.
This summer, The Stable is offering a few 1-topic sessions, such as Decolonizing Prayer and Decolonizing Church Music. These are efforts to better understand how human culture sometimes overshadows God’s gospel; the hope is to better see and live out Jesus’ true teaching without human add-ons or negations. Participation in these sessions will meet ARPR experience requirements for annual ministerial standing.
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Josh Patty, Regional Minister & President, will be providing a sermon for use during the summer, but specifically around General Assembly, which is July 12-15 in Memphis, TN. Register for GA here.
Instructions on how to access the recording will be sent sooner to that time.
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Regional Gathering
October 18, 2025
Save the date! Join with Disciples from across the region on Saturday, Oct. 18, as we explore what it means to listen for God. The Regional Gathering is held at the Christian Conference Center. For promotional material, including graphics, please contact the regional office at office@uppermidwestcc.org. For more information.
| | Important News and Resources | |
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Celebrations for Clergy Colleagues
Congratulations to Laurie Pound-Feille on her retirement as senior minister of First Christian Church, Minneapolis!
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Congratulations to John Bolen on the 50th anniversary of his ordination!
Congratulations to John Bennet on the 60th anniversary of his ordination! FCC, Jefferson City, MO, will be hosting a party for him on June 22. He was on UMW regional staff in the 1990s.
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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.
We pray for Don Naftz's healing. Don suffered a fall and broken clavicle last week.
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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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Bondurant Christian Church is in the search process.
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Highland Park Christian Church is in the search 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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Lennox Christian Church is in the search process.
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Trinity Christian Church, Bridgewater, are in the search 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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Central Christian Church, Marshalltown has called Michael Carlson as interim.
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Pleasantville Christian Church is in the search process.
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Mitchellville Christian Church is seeking pulpit supply.
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First Christian Church, Newton has called Alan Berneman as interim.
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Elkhart Christian Church is in the search process and has called Lisa Grace as interim.
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United Protestant Church, Silver Bay will enter the search process.
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Prescott United Church working with Cromwell UCC is in the search and call process.
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First Christian Church, Woodbine and Moorhead Christian Church are in the search process.
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First Christian Church, Packwood and First Christian Church, Fairfield are in the search process.
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First Christian Church, Ames, will enter the search process.
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First Christian Church, Minneapolis, will enter the search process.
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Park Avenue Christian Church, Des Moines, will enter the search process.
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First Christian Church, Creston, will enter the search process.
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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.
| | | Continuing Education Opportunities | |
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United Seminary
Empowering Religious Support for Trans Lives
May 30, 9a-3p
In person only. For more information.
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Faith+Lead
The Path from "I" to "We"
June 2, 11:30a-12:30p
Webinar on extending Christian Community to the neighborhood. For more information.
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Faith+Lead
Will Willimon on Evangelism
June 17, 6-8:30p
Both online and in person. For more information.
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Proclamation Project
Preaching Conference
Nov 10-12, Phoenix, AZ
More information to come.
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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 | | | | | |
