Conference Minister Corner

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Rev. Gordon Rankin | Conference Minister

General Synod 35 is now in the books. I always find it an impossible task to summarize five days of General Synod content, so I won’t even try to do so. But let me see if I can at least offer you a few highlights from the New Hampshire Conference delegation's perspective. ...Read More and view pictures from Synod here!

The Daisy Dube Orphanage building at Mount Selinda, a mission site for Common Global Ministries, was declared a total loss from a fire that burned it on July 13. No one was hurt in the fire. The orphanage ministry continues.  The children who lived at Daisy Dube are staying in the pediatric wing of the Mt. Selinda Hospital. Two organizations, PKZ (https://www.projectkz.org/), and Remit Hope (www.remithope.org) have been able to provide food, clothing, and bedding. PKZ brought the children to Chipinge where they bought new school uniforms and school supplies.  

While these organizations are meeting the immediate needs of the children, the New Hampshire Conference is coordinating with Common Global ministries, the global mission of the UCC and the Disciples of Christ, to assist in fundraising for the rebuilding of the orphanage. We are in the process of creating an appeal which will invite the widest possible support for that effort. Stay tuned — we expect to launch that appeal in a few weeks.  

The outpouring of generosity from many sources has been a great encouragement to our partners in Zimbabwe. If you want to provide support, please contact ukama@nhcucc.org. We can advise you as to how to be sure that your generosity gets to where you want it to go.  

In the meantime, the orphanage and our United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe partners request our prayers as they work diligently to meet not only the physical, but also the emotional and spiritual needs of the children and staff of the orphanage.  

While we are engaged in a search for a settled Associate Conference Minister, we have put together a team of Transitional Associate Conference Ministers who will assist with coverage of the needs of the Conference and our churches. We are excited to share with you our team:

Transitional Associate Conference Minister for Search and Call:

Rev. Linda Hirst

Linda will work with Search and Call Administrator Kayla Pingree and myself to provide assistance to our over thirty churches engaged in the Search and Call process. Linda begins her work for the Conference on August 4^th.

Transitional Associate Conference Minister for Judicatory Ministries:

Rev. Walt Hampton

Walt will provide staff coverage to the following Conference/Granite State Association entities: the Granite State Association (GSA) Committee for Connection and Covenant, the GSA Committee on Ministry for Congregational Empowerment, the Wider Church Relations Ministry Team, the Local Church Support Ministry Team, the Justice and Witness Ministry Team, and the Prepared to Serve Mission Group. Walt will begin his work for the Conference on September 3^rd.

Transitional Associate Conference Minister for Ecclesiastical Celebrations:

Rev. Shayna Appel

Shayna will provide additional Conference representation at the many ecclesiastical celebrations which occur throughout the year including Ecclesiastical Councils, Ordinations, Installations and pastoral partings. Shayna begins her work for the Conference on August 4^th.

All other responsibilities that have previously been associated with the Associate Conference Minister role will be responsibilities in my portfolio during this time of transition. These include staffing the Committee on Ministry for Ministerial Discernment, the Committee on Ministry for Ministerial Authorization, the Ukama Mission Group, and providing oversight for Ministry 21.

We expect to be able to provide you with contact information (email and phone) for our Transitional Associate Conference Minister Team early in August. 

-Gordon

The New Hampshire Conference is accepting up to 10 Speak Out Videos to be played during the Annual Meeting. All videos must be sixty (60) seconds or less and adhere to these protocols. The deadline for Speak Out Video submissions is September 12, 2025. These Video Speak Outs will be the only speak out opportunity at this year's Annual Meeting.

Churches that are celebrating an anniversary (in increments of 25 years), are invited to submit anniversary videos. All videos must be 120 seconds or less and adhere to these protocols. The deadline for submission of Church Anniversary Videos is September 12, 2025.

“This Resolution is Not an End, but a Beginning, a Faithful Act of Truth-telling in a time when Truth is being Silenced”

-Mayadah Tarazi



A Declaration for An End to Genocide in Palestine was passed with overwhelming support (500-20) by the delegates at the UCC General Synod in Kansas City. As far as we know, the UCC is the first U.S. church denomination to condemn Israel's genocide in Gaza "as a genocide" and to condemn the U.S.'s partnership in genocide. It calls on the church to stand even more boldly with Palestinian partners and allies, in solidarity, friendship and resistance, share the Rev. David Grishaw-Jones a delegate and pastor of the Community Church of Durham, NH.

Mayadah Tarazi, a Palestinian representative to the General Synod from Global Ministries’ partner the YMCA of Palestine, shared “This resolution is not an end, but a beginning, a faithful act of truth-telling in a time when truth is being silenced. The genocide is still happening. Every day, around 70 lives are lost in Gaza,” she said. “This resolution gives us hope that the church will move from words to faithful action through advocacy, divestment, education, and deep solidarity.”

The Peace with Justice Advocates asks you to read the linked Resolution and then join our commitment and in the work ahead.



How will You and Your Church move forward?

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Welcome the Stranger!

Help Fight the Mass Deportation of Our Neighbors

As people of faith, we are called to welcome the stranger and believe that everyone should be treated with respect and compassion. Separating families and detaining immigrants in unsanitary living conditions is a policy which rejects the dignity of our immigrant siblings, while lining the pockets of the private prison system and dictators abroad. Help FIGHT these attacks on our immigrant communities today! Learn how to join this urgent work at UCC’s Welcome the Stranger.

Clergy Convocation: Just Eucharist: Communion and the Church's Public Witness

On September 15 - 17, 2025 at the Pilgrim Pines Camp and Retreat Center in Swanzey, NH, Rev. Mary Luti will guide us as we consider "the many ways Communion can 'communize' us for just and courageous living in the world."

The Rev. J. Mary Luti, Ph. D. is a retired seminary professor and pastor, having taught for 20+ years in the fields of Christian History and Worship at the former Andover Newton Theological School (now Andover Newton Seminary at Yale), where she also served as Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Director of the Wilson Chapel. From 2000-2008 she served as Senior Minister of First Church in Cambridge, Congregational, United Church of Christ, in Harvard Square (MA). In retirement, she has served as the sabbatical or interim pastor in several churches in the greater Boston area. A member of the United Church of Christ Stillspeaking Writers Group, she is a regular contributor to the UCC Daily Devotional, and the author of books and articles on various aspects of Christian life, most recently editing a resource for the SSWG entitled, Do This: Communion for Just and Courageous Living. 

There are 46 spots available; please register here.

The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Magill has announced her resignation as Pastor and Teacher of the Small Church Collaborative (Rindge Congregational and Ashburnham Community Church)). Her last day will be July 27. 

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