While the plan was developed in a time before the Covid-19 pandemic, it has provided strong guidance in the past few weeks, says Conference Minister Rev. Shari Prestemon. "The whole world has changed since the board adopted this plan just one month ago, but the commitments we made then remain incredibly relevant for us now in this crisis, perhaps even more so. To me this is beautiful evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in great and mysterious ways."

Rev. Jane McBride, moderator of the Minnesota Conference board of directors, notes, " The words 'courageous,' 'alive' and 'transforming' in our new statement of calling depict a church that is actively engaged with the world. It articulates the hope so many of us have, that the church is not primarily dedicated to its own survival, but to the abundant sharing of Christ's love. Watching our staff and local church leaders respond to this pandemic, I have truly seen the church come alive in this way."

The following is a brief summary of the plan; the full plan is available on the Conference's website.

Our Calling

God calls the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ to equip a courageous Church alive with Christ’s transforming love.

Our Strategic Priorities

Join the Conversation Tuesday, April 7, from 7-8:30 pm

God continues to work through each of us as our churches minister to people anxious about the novel coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, many church leaders, pastors, and stewardship committees feel stressed about church finances. In the recent Barna survey of Protestant congregations, nearly eight in 10 churches (79%) said financial giving is down, with nearly half (47%) reporting it is down “significantly.” Still, almost all of the pastors surveyed (95%) felt confident their churches will survive and said they haven’t made any changes to their staffing (71%). In other words, your church is not alone!

That’s why the Minnesota and Wisconsin Conference development staff,  in collaboration with The Damascus Project,  are inviting all those interested to join in a Zoom meeting to talk about YOUR stewardship needs, questions, and suggestions.

Please join us Tuesday, April 7, from 7–8:30 pm via Zoom on your computer or by phone (312-626-6799; meeting ID is 349 859 915). Questions? Contact Bob Olsen, 651-757-0647.

New Resources to Support Your Work

Financial Support Related to Federal Stimulus Package

Loans to nonprofits, including many churches, are now available through the federal stimulus package. Churches are urged to review this information and submit an application early, as demand is expected to be high and funds will be exhausted quickly .

Other Resources

Power and Boundary Training Going Online

In light of the cancellation of the in-person Annual Meeting, the Conference will move to an online model for power and boundary training, using the course “Maintaining Boundaries in a Digital Age .” The course is $49 and available on your own time schedule. However, to help with connections with other Minnesota Conference Authorized Ministers and to explore questions and applications to your ministry, we are holding a series of Zoom calls as a follow-up to the course. You only need to attend one of the one-hour calls after you have completed the course.

*If you experienced a problem entering the Lewis Center Online Learning portal last week, that problem should now be corrected. If you continue to see a message asking whether you trust the site, you may click "Trust" or contact Janet Anderson .

The Importance of Email, Facebook and Church Websites

 

Physical distancing during the pandemic creates all sorts of challenges to ministry. How do you sing hymns together? How do you pass the peace? How do you administer communion? What does prayer look like? In other words, what is your church’s new mode of community and worship?

"Doing church" remotely necessitates using technology. Here are the three most important technology tools your church should have.

Think of it this way: you aren’t going to have visitors walking in your doors in the near future, so you need to offer them a new front door!

Conference Staff Available to Bring Greetings to Your Virtual Worship

During the first weeks of this pandemic, Conference staff have been blessed to drop into many of our congregations’ worship services on Facebook Live, You Tube, and other online platforms. In the coming weeks, the Conference Minister and Associate Conference Ministers would welcome specific invitations from pastors and congregations to bring brief greetings and messages of encouragement. Depending on your method of virtual worship, staff can provide a written message for the pastor to read, join you in your Zoom worship to bring greetings directly, or send a video greeting. To make an invitation for someone to attend your worship service in this way, reach out directly to Shari Prestemon,   Anita Bradshaw , or Kevin Brown . We look forward to worshipping with you!

Rev. Wendy Vander Hart began work as the Interim Senior Pastor at First United Church of Christ in Northfield this week. The Minnesota Conference offers prayers of thanksgiving for Wendy and petitions for strength, creativity, health, and love for the First UCC community.

We continue to hold in prayer our Minnesota Conference UCC chaplains, pastors, congregations, and lay leaders. We pray for our government leaders and organizational leaders in every sector who are faced with unimaginable choices. We pray for those on the front lines of this crisis and for their families who worry about their safety and health. We pray for those who have been laid off or face other economic hardship due to this pandemic. We pray for parents and families experiencing additional stress due to school and day care closures. We pray for those who are alone, for those most at risk of contracting the Coronavirus, and for all who are suffering and fearful in these uncertain days. God in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Tell us what you're doing during these challenging times. Please share how your church is coping and reinventing worship and ministries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Send story ideas, insights and more to [email protected] . COMMAntary is published on Wednesdays; submissions are due the Monday prior to publication at noon.



If your church needs assistance: Until the arrival of our Interim Associate Conference Minister on April 6, churches in the northern part of the Conference should contact Conference Minister Shari Prestemon or Associate Conference Ministers Anita Bradshaw and Kevin Brown . Congregations with search and call questions may contact either Anita Bradshaw or Shari Prestemon at 612-871-0359.

POSTPONED: Adult Meditation Retreat, Spring Conference Youth Event, Courage to Lead, Magnify! Annual Meeting

Full information about upcoming camps, retreats, and other faith formation opportunities for all ages is available on the Conference's website.



There are many opportunities within the Minnesota Conference. Check out the  employment opportunities  portion of our website for all open positions. And be sure to like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on news, events, jobs and more.

This newsletter is brought to you by generous contribution to Our Church's Wider Mission.

The Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ (UCC) equips a courageous Church alive with Christ’s transforming love. Through advice, support, and resources, we strengthen the 126 congregations throughout the state to do the redemptive work of God in the world.

www.uccmn.or g