Dear Friends,

I write to share the news that Merrilyn Vaughn-Hoffman, our outstanding Search and Call Coordinator, is retiring after more than 20 years of service to the Michigan Conference UCC. If any one of you has ever searched for a pastor or if you are a minister who has followed God’s call to Michigan, chances are you've been touched by Merrilyn’s gracious powers of connection, between congregations in search of a pastor and the clergy who apply. Perhaps she has talked you through an upcoming search committee interview, or helped you as you write your profile description or sent you an encouraging email that guided you forward in faith. 

I know I feel enormously blessed to have known Merrilyn, who has the distinction of having worked with six different Conference Ministers. Taking her work seriously, but never herself, Merrilyn has represented the Michigan Conference with Christian kindness and a wicked sense of humor. As just one example, when she recently took ill, her email to me began, “Not to be like Secretary Austin, this is to advise you that I have been hospitalized since yesterday for tests.” 

Little did any of us realize then, that those health concerns would turn out to be much more serious than she knew. And so it is with sadness, and with the permission of Merrilyn and her family, that I ask for your prayers as she  begins hospice care at home for a very recently diagnosed and sudden stage 4 cancer. While Merrilyn can not take visitors or calls at this time, we at the Conference will make sure that any emails of appreciation you send to merrilyn@michucc.org will get to her and her family, or you may send a card directly to her home at 1075 Applegate Lane, East Lansing, MI 48823, and of course it goes without saying that our prayers in this instant need no intermediary. 

There are so many people, in so many positions, all members of the body of Christ, who over the years have been ready to step up and do whatever is needed to equip, empower, encourage and connect the churches and clergy of the Michigan Conference. That was Merrilyn, a member of People’s Church in East Lansing, who loved the wider church and made every team she was on better than it was. In that same team spirit, Associate Conference Minister Lawrence Richardson will take any current communications related to Search and Call, as all of us on staff work together to step into shoes we can not fill. While Merrilyn’s retirement comes earlier than she desired and faster than we could have planned for, such sudden timing will not prevent us from honoring her years of service in ministry. I know you join me in giving thanks to God for all that Merrilyn has done at the Michigan Conference as we miss her here in the office, pray for her at her home and lift up her meaningful ministry of connecting congregations and clergy to God’s call. 

Peace and Blessings, 

Lillian Daniel

Conference Minister