Conference Minister Corner

Read the whole message on nhcucc.org

Rev. Gordon Rankin | Conference Minister

As we move into the month of September, preparations for our Conference Annual Meeting start to become a major part of my focus. This year, I am also starting to focus on what I’ll be doing the week after Annual Meeting.

October 27th through 30th, I will be in Washington DC, joining with other Conference Ministers and the leaders from the UCC Washington DC office to engage in some advocacy. ...Read the full article here.

Friends in the New Hampshire Conference and Beyond,  

In the picture above, you see the beautiful faces of the youth and children who live at the Daisy Dube Children’s Home in Mt. Selinda, Zimbabwe. This picture is from when I was able to visit with them last November during my sabbatical time with our partners in the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe. Together we had a wonderful talk about the differences between Zimbabwe and New Hampshire, a tour where they proudly showed me their rooms, and a time to distribute some clothing that had been sent for them. Without question, their infectious personalities and their impactful stories captured my heart.  

On July 13th, tragedy struck the Daisy Dube Children’s Home. A fire quickly gutted the entire building. Little was left beyond cinderblock walls and a foundation. Thankfully, all the children and their caretakers were safe, but the building was a complete loss. The 22 children who resided at Daisy Dube were moved into a wing of the dormitories for nursing students at the Mt. Salinda Hospital. A couple of charitable organizations stepped up in a big way and were able to meet the immediate needs (clothing, school uniforms, etc.) for the children.  Yet these children remain displaced, and we want to help them come home.

Our partners in the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe have developed a plan to build four new cottage buildings on the site where the old orphanage building existed. Each cottage will house eight children and a caretaker. The plan to build in cottages is both a desire, as it helps provide better services, and a requirement of the government of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe government has in turn made the commitment that as the cottages are built, they will build a solar array to help power them. 

This is no small undertaking. The estimated cost for building each cottage (labor and materials) will be $80,000. The hope is to build at least three of the cottages before November when the rainy season will begin and potentially hamper building efforts. The three cottages will allow all the current residents of Daisy Dube to move into their new homes. So, we are hoping to raise $240,000 in the next couple of months.

With the support of the Board of Directors and Ukama Mission Group, I have agreed that the New Hampshire Conference, in cooperation with UCC/Disciples of Christ Global Ministries, will take the lead on an appeal to fund raise for the rebuilding of the Daisy Dube Children Home. As you can tell, our fundraising goal is ambitious both in amount and timeline, but the need, and God’s call to address this need, is clear.

And so, I have two asks to make of all our New Hampshire Conference churches as well as of the members and friends of our churches. First, please contribute. Gifts are welcomed from both churches and individuals. To give, you may send a check to the “New Hampshire Conference, 140 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke NH 03275” with “Daisy Dube Appeal” in the memo. Or you can give online using our website at www.nhcucc.org. By clicking on the donate button, then the “Other Donation” button and writing “Daisy Dube Appeal” in the “Give to” box, your donation will go to this appeal.  

My second request would be that you let me know if there are those outside of our own church communities who you believe I should contact to support this appeal. If you would send such information to me at grankin@nhcucc.org, I’d greatly appreciate it.  

I would draw your attention once more to the picture above. Friends, these children need our help, and I have no doubt that through the grace of God we are going to provide it. I am profoundly grateful for any and every way you are able to help support this appeal for the Daisy Dube Children’s Home.  

Yours in Faith,

Rev. Gordon Rankin

Conference Minister

New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ

224^th Annual Meeting of the New Hampshire Conference

& 1^st Annual Meeting of the Granite State Association

Saturday, October 25, 2025

Geneva Point Conference Center

Theme: “Another Way”

Theme Scripture: Jeremiah 6:16

Keynote Speaker: Reverend Derek Terry, Acting Executive Director

UCC Open and Affirming Coalition

Registration opens: September 8 (at 5 pm)

Registration closed: October 6 (at 11:59 pm)

Please follow this link to read the Call to the Annual Meeting

Prepared to Serve 2026 is just around the corner! Our PTS Planning team is currently outlining workshop subjects, and we would appreciate your input. Please complete this quick survey to let us know what subjects you (and your churches) would be most interested in this year. If you have any questions, please contact Kayla Pingree. Thank you for your time and effort!

In her wonderful book, “Braiding Sweetgrass,” Robin Wall Kimmerer speaks as a botanist and a member of the Potawatomi Nation. After writing about listening to the plants and the forest, she says, “We have to unlearn hurrying (p. 233).” In contemporary ministry, we feel there is too much to do and too little time to do it. Yet, the “hurrying” can inhibit awareness, communication, and caring.

Serving parishes and other ministries requires much spiritual strength these days. The Pastoral Leadership Development Groups (PLDGs) provide a place to develop that strength. A partnership between the NH Conference of the UCC and PCS in Manchester, the groups offer the opportunity to attend to personal and professional issues. For 17 years, the PLDGs program has nurtured silence, words, and skills to discover and re-affirm the deeper values of each participant.

Groups are available for Parish Based, Retired, Newly Called (to ministry or to the NH Conference), MIDs, and a new group starting for Licensed Ministers. PLDGs meet once a month from September to June for two hours. They are led by clergy with advanced training in pastoral psychotherapy, systems theory, and/or clinical pastoral education.

The coming year’s Parish Based PLDGs are forming now through October. The Newly Called, Retired, MID, and Licensed Minister groups have a rolling entry time and may be joined at any time during the year. Contact Rev. Dr. David Reynolds at dbr@pcs-nh.org if you are interested in joining a group or have questions. Click here to see a list of the groups and facilitators. Explore joining a PLDG where you can “unlearn hurrying,” and find ways to deepen your personal and professional self.

The Granite State Association calls for an

Ecclesiastical Council

to consider Cindy D’Andrea for Ordination

Sunday, September 7^th

at 3 pm

In-person: South Congregational Church, Newport

(20 Church St., Newport, NH)

Or on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84416783022?pwd=7pqMtxnABPVa9D4Yv7UbQ8Xch9jEh6.1

The Committee on Ministry (COM) for Ministerial Discernment has recommended Cindy D’Andrea to an Ecclesiastical Council of the Gathered Association for consideration of Ordination Pending Call. Authorized Ministers, Delegates and members of all Granite State Association churches are encouraged to attend, in person or via Zoom, for this time of discernment.

Cindy’s Ordination portfolio is available for review at:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/6hzqyitko9caddv54vofu/AOgep5FDc7EzggK26O7UqU4?rlkey=d2gj5l9tcr9pvlxjvccl4tco6&st=n4vg6a6n&dl=0. 

The COM for Ministerial Discernment has specifical asked the Authorized Ministers and Delegates review the following sections of the portfolio: Abstract, Spiritual Autobiography, Understanding of Call and Conclusion. Also please review the reflection on the first three Marks for Ministry: Exhibiting Spiritual Foundation, Engaging Sacred Stories, and Applying Theology to Real Life. Finally we ask they read the Report for the Chair of the Committee on Ministry for Ministerial Discernment.  

UCC Faith and Theology in the Public Square

FINAL WEEK TO REGISTER FOR FALL 2025

In this time of turmoil, as lay leaders and clergy we may find ourselves in the position of needing or wanting to present a theological understanding different from those currently impacting our nation's internal and external affairs. Inherent in who we are as a denomination and leaders of it is the biblical call to be active in advocacy alongside of the most vulnerable members of our communities and to be mindful at all times of how our language might impact those who are victimized and marginalized by our society. 

In addition to exploring the theological underpinnings of progressive Protestantism, this course will engage learners in exploring the impacts of how they write and speak theologically. Join is in building confidence and clarity in how we address the moral issues of our times.

This fall course is being instructed by the Rev. Dr. Gail Kinney and will be held in person in West Lebanon on Sept 6, Oct 4, Nov 1, Dec 6 from 9am—4pm. Cost $350 (scholarship assistance is available through the Conference for clergy and MIDs—connect with the NH Dean for Ministry21 for more information nhdean@min21.org).

Want to know more about this course before you register? Let Rev. Kullgren know and you can receive an invite to the informational session being held this Wednesday evening from 7-8:30pm via zoom. 

Learn more about Ministry21, this course, and those being offered in the Spring of 2026 by following this link. Registration will be accessible through each course's information. 

Ministry21 is a collaboration of the Vermont and New Hampshire Conferences, and is partially funded through the generosity of the Brown Endowment of United Church Funds.

It’s Time to Stand Up for our Laws: Your Voice Matters

Every death in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank is a tragedy. As taxpayers, it’s our dollars paying for the weapons that are killing tens of thousands of innocent civilians.

The evidence shows that our government officials are breaking U.S. laws. When our government breaks the law, citizens have a responsibility to make it known and to work to put an end to those violations.

Section 620i of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act states “No assistance shall be furnished under this chapter or the Arms Export Control Act [22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.] to any country when it is made known to the President that the government of such country prohibits or otherwise restricts, directly or indirectly, the transport or delivery of United States humanitarian assistance”. It is apparent that Israel is impeding the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, therefore selling bombs to Israel to continue the bombing is illegal. The only allowed exception to Section 620i is for the security of the United States. Is bombing Gaza making the U.S. more secure?

Selling bombs to Israel for the purpose of Israel’s continued bombing action also violates the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy, as well as International Humanitarian Laws, also prohibit the U.S. from providing weapons, as security assistance or for sale, to any government that restricts the delivery of humanitarian aid.

By providing weapons to Israel, while Israel is impeding the transport or delivery of humanitarian assistance to the civilians in Gaza, the Congress and White House are violating those laws.

As citizens, we must not stand by and do nothing while our government officials continue to break these laws. Our Senators and Representatives were elected to act on our behalf. Therefore, we must take the responsibility of ensuring our representatives hear and understand our recognition of the laws that are being broken and seek their support to end those violations.

The NH peace advocacy groups have been reaching out and speaking to our NH Senators and Representatives. Your voice is definitely needed to ensure they know you also care deeply about ending this tragedy. You can write and/or call your Senators and your Congressional Representative.

Ask our NH Senators to support a Senate bill to Block the Bombs.

• Sen. Jeanne Shaheen: Call (202) 224-2841 / 603-647-7500
• Sen. Maggie Hassan: Call (202) 224-3324 / (603) 622-2204

It’s Time to Stand Up for our Laws – You Can Make Your Voice Heard.

Janet Zeller

Concord, NH

YOU Are Invited to Rise and Shine

It’s time to escalate the transformative power of active nonviolence: resistance, care for one another, cooperation, solidarity, allyship, creativity. Now more than ever, we have to tap into our potential to resist together, to support each other, and to stand up for the beauty and belonging of us all.

The Peace with Justice Advocates

Ask YOU to Join us in making this commitment

to RISE to the challenges of our times and SHINE:

In this unprecedented moment:

• I commit to take concrete steps with others to defy fear, confront cruelty, dissolve hate, and work for the well-being of all.
• I commit to connect, train, plan, and take action to resist the injustices we face with courage, goodness, and the power of nonviolent struggle.
• I commit to learn from the examples of people around the world who ended dictatorships with powerful nonviolent movements.
• It has been done before. It can be done again. Therefore:
• I commit to rise to the challenges of this time and to shine with the power of love, truth, and solidarity.

Alarms are ringing. Time to rise . . . and shine!

These are unprecedented times. They require an unprecedented response. People are already taking nonviolent action in small and large, visible and subtle ways.

You can, too.

You’re Invited!

NH UCC Faith Formation Leaders Community of Practice 

August 27 7pm via Zoom

RSVP HERE



Are you involved in leading faith formation at your NH UCC church? We hope you’ll join us on Zoom for a time of community building and sharing! During out Zoom call we'll get to know one another, share our ideas/challenges/questions/etc. All are welcome! 

Thursday, September 4, 6:00 – 9:00pm ET, Boundary Trainers for Ministers in Specialized Settings with Rev. Tara Barber and Rev. Anissa Glaser-Bacon

This training is open to ministers serving in specialized settings throughout the United Church of Christ. Serving in specialized settings requires particular attention to boundaries within the ministry setting and home church that are challenging and different from those serving as local church pastors. This training will focus on matters that relate specifically to issues that these ministers face, providing opportunities for clergy to reflect on best practices and growth in their practice of ministry.*Note - This training completes individual requirements for boundary training ONLY WHEN authorized by a local Committee on Ministry.

Wednesday, September 24, 1:30 – 4:30pm ET, Boundary Training for Retired Ministers with Rev. Tara Barber and Rev. Melanie Oommen

Maintaining healthy boundaries is challenging at any stage in ministry and it is particularly tender and difficult attending to boundaries as we transition out of our last call, and while in retirement. "A Sure Foundation", "The Ministerial Code" and Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly's new book, "The Jubilee Years" along with case studies, will provide the content of this training. Rev. Tara Barber will offer this focused Boundary Awareness Training for those entering and living in retirement. Note - This training completes individual requirements for boundary training ONLY WHEN authorized by a local Committee on Ministry. Participants must be able to use zoom chat and breakout room functions.

Thursday, November 13, (9:00 am – 1:00 pm), The Minister’s Code as a Tool for Boundary Keeping

This advanced unit of Boundary Awareness Training will be offered via Zoom. Registration will open in mid-September and will cost $25. The training will be facilitated by Revs. Jonna Jensen and Gordon Rankin.

The Rev. Walt Hampton has announced his resignation as Pastor of First Church of Christ, Congregational in North Conway. Rev. Hampton's last day will be August 31.

The Rev. Jim Thomas has announced his resignation as Pastor and Teacher of Atkinson Congregational Church. Rev. Thomas' last day will be September 7.

August 24, 2025

Gordon will be away on vacation August 18th - September 1st.

Conference Office

Monday - Friday | 9:00AM - 4:00PM

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