The question of how best to care for God’s beautiful, but fragile, Creation typically prompts answers about initiatives involving solar energy, recycling, water use and other steps we can take to minimize or reverse the harm we humans cause to the natural environment. But what if we added one more item to the list: Doing church in a way that deepened our relationship with Creation – and our Creator?

It’s already happening in Wisconsin, where a couple of loose-knit communities affiliated with a movement called “Wild Church” have popped up in recent years.

The movement naturally appeals to those for whom the climate crisis requires an urgent response from people of faith. But it also resonates with unchurched individuals searching for community.

The Wild Church movement has emerged organically over the past decade or so. Now supported by the Wild Church Network, the movement is non-hierarchical and non-credal – less traditional church than spontaneously arising communities of believers whose faith calls them into intimate relationships with land, water and creatures.



Services are as varied as the individual Wild Church gatherings and may or may not reflect the traditional liturgical calendar. They do involve reflections on the natural surroundings and, often, “wandering time” that gives participants a chance to roam and ponder the landscape.



“Wild Church isn’t just doing indoor church in an outdoor setting. It’s about trying to worship with nature,” says the Rev. Daniel Cooperrider, a UCC pastor who lives in Madison and has facilitated Flicker Pop-up Wild Church gatherings west of Madison. He is married to the Rev. Dr. Julia Burkey, pastor of Orchard Ridge UCC, who helps facilitate.

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In a message emailed to the Wisconsin Conference this week, Conference Minister Franz Rigert said people of faith “must stand up and call upon our leaders to use diplomatic pressure to demand a full ceasefire” in Israel’s war against Hamas. Franz suggested five specific actions:

• Contact your representatives in Washington to ask that they call for a ceasefire and a suspension of funding to the Israeli government until the killing stops.
• Donate to the UCC’s urgent appeal for humanitarian aid.
• Engage in conversations about this conflict with humility, sensitivity and love, acknowledging that there are no easy solutions.
• Pray for peace.
• Commit to a more intention practice of peace in daily life.

“We hold fast to the teachings of Jesus, doubling down on love, and affirming – despite it all – that life is yet good, and God is at work bringing beauty and blessings to a broken and fragile world,” Franz wrote.

Read the complete letter

UCC General Minister and President Karen Georgia Thompson last week was among 30 leaders of Christian communions who signed a letter to the Biden administration calling for an immediate ceasefire, de-escalation and restraint by all parties involved in the war in the Middle East. The letter also called on the administration to recognize the need to address the root causes of conflict in the region.

“Peace with justice is the only lasting solution that will protect the long-term security and sustainability of the State of Israel and the self-determination and independence of Palestinians,” the leaders wrote. “The United States must demonstrate its commitment to the protection of all human life, advocating for a just and durable resolution to this crisis in which all Israelis and Palestinians might realize a vision of a just peace, illuminating human dignity, advancing security and self-determination for all.”

Read the full letter.

McFarland UCC to host evening with Native activist

McFarland UCC and a group of community partners will host Native American author and activist Mark Charles for an evening of learning about the now-discredited Doctrine of Discovery and ways in which we can take meaningful actions of healing toward Indigenous Peoples. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. at Waubesa Intermediate School in McFarland. Charles also will speak the following day at worship at McFarland UCC. Learn more at mcfarlanducc.org.

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 18

Where: Waubesa Intermediate School, 5605 Red Oak Trail, McFarland

Register now to participate by Zoom

Join the Palestine Justice Working Group

The Palestine Justice Working Group comprises clergy and lay people committed to providing education and advocacy around the issues driving the Israel-Palestine conflict. It meets monthly by Zoom. The group has been moved to act by UCC General Synod resolutions advocating a “just peace” in the region, as well as by the Kairos Palestine document issued by Palestinian Christians. To learn more, email the facilitator, the Rev. Steve Davis, or team member Tom Beilman. 

Time: 7 p.m. 

Date: Monday, Nov. 27

Register now 

UCC Webinar: You Can’t Stop Justice

On Giving Tuesday, two prophetic leaders will join in an online conversation about the never-ending river of justice that extends from one generation to the next. The Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis Jr. coined the phrase "environmental racism" and helped lead the struggle for environmental justice, while Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson went from leading a grassroots environmental justice organization to making headlines for his courageous stand in calling for commonsense gun legislation.

Time: 11 a.m.

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 28

Register now

Conversation with the Supportive Ministries Team

The Conference Supportive Ministries Team will host an hourlong Zoom conversation with ministry colleagues from around the Wisconsin Conference to explore questions that can “Nurture the Soul of the Beloved Community

Time: Noon

Date: Wednesday, Dec. 6

Register now

Save the date

• Jan. 26-28: Winter Soulstice Retreat for high school youths at Daycholah Center, with music and worship leadership by Andra Moran. Email Lisa Hart for more information.
• June 7-8: Wisconsin Conference Annual Meeting at Green Lake Conference Center.
• July 17-20: 2024 Great Lakes and West Central Regional Youth Event at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.  

The Conference is still receiving mail that was incorrectly addressed to our former headquarters. Please make sure you have our correct address: Wisconsin Conference UCC, W1000 Spring Grove Road, Ripon, WI 54971-8647. This also is the address for each association as well as for the Wisconsin Foundation UCC.

Searching Churches

• The Madison Christian Community is searching for a director of children's and family ministries. Details
• First Congregational UCC in Tomah is searching for pastor. Details
• To see all searching churches, click here.
• Interim ministry openings

Wider Church Searches

• Current openings are available at the national United Church of Christ. Details

Installations and Ordinations

• Tamara Cox was installed at Community UCC in Medford on Nov. 5.
• The Rev. Katya Ouchakof reaffirmed her ordination into the UCC at Memorial UCC in Fitchburg on Nov. 5.

New Calls

• The Rev. Tiff Bates has been called as intentional interim pastor at Congregational UCC in Edgerton, effective Nov. 1.
• Jennifer Seaich has been called as pastor at Plymouth Congregational UCC in Dodgeville, effective Nov. 6.

In Memoriam

• Violet Tully, widow of the Rev. Robert Tully, died on Nov. 4. Obituary

The Conference Transitions feature appears monthly in the Wisconsin Conference Life. Please share your transition information, including church anniversaries, with the newsletter editor by emailing Nola.