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Wisconsin Conference Life Newsletter
Oct. 10, 2019 
rev. jane anderson image Building Up the Body of Christ
by Rev. Jane Anderson

I enjoy traveling across our beautiful state this time of year, seeing all the fall colors and taking in the gorgeous landscape. We really are privileged to live in such a beautiful place on this planet. I also greatly enjoy visiting and worshiping with our congregations in the conference. It is a privilege to be with you and journey alongside you as you minister in your various settings.
 
Our churches are filled with many faithful people who have experienced the love and grace of God and daily seek to live out their Christian calling extending God's love and grace to others in their community and beyond. It is a joy to witness Christ at work in and through so many people in our churches.
 
Yet, far too often I hear from people that they don't feel welcome, supported, encouraged on their faith journey by members of their church. In some places, disagreements and alienation have arisen creating feelings of tension and loneliness. In a few places, conflict has arisen and become so combative that members feel the need to leave for their own spiritual health and well-being. I grieve, as I know you do, when this happens. And please know that we in the conference are trying to assist our churches in distress through the Conflict Transformation Team and our field staff.
 
All of this has caused me to wonder aloud with you about the nature and purpose of the church and what does membership in our churches really mean? What are we really about as a community of faith? And how are we helping to build up the Body of Christ, rather
than tear it down? What are we doing to safeguard our spiritual homes?  
Clergy Compensation Guidelines Updated

The faithful support of pastors serving congregations is a vital part of ministry in local churches. Just as churches care for members, friends and others in their community, we must also care for our pastors and their families. To assist churches in this endeavor, the Wisconsin Conference Commission on Church and Ministry has updated the Wisconsin Conference clergy compensation guidelines.
Read more, and view updated guidelines here

UCC Climate Care Discussion Guide for Congregations Available

If you've been following recent news of current climate care activism, you likely know who Greta Thunberg is. The 17 year old Swedish activist has written a book titled "No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference." The UCC has released a church-based discussion guide for this book that you can use to spark focused conversations in your congregation. Download the guide here. And if you do hold a discussion, we'd love to hear about your experience! Just send an email with a brief description to resourcecenter@wcucc.org.
Youth Events: Register Now 

The Wisconsin Conference UCC and United Church Camps, Inc., are pleased to present the following youth events for 2019-2020! For more information about any of the events below, please click here
 
Knock Knock Middle School Retreat
November 22-24, 2019
Pilgrim Center
 
Jesus Core High School/Young Adult Retreat
January 9-12, 2020
Pilgrim Center
Registration available in November
 
Youth Faith Formation Retreats
November 8-10, 2019
February 28-March 1, 2020
March 6-8, 2020
Pilgrim Center
Registration for November retreat
Young Ambassadors Youth Exchange  
June 23-July 14, 2020 in Germany
July 7-28, 2021 in Wisconsin
Cost: $1650

We are looking for Wisconsin Conference UCC youth and young adults aged 15-22 to participate in this two-year exchange with our church partners from the Moers Church District in Germany. This is a wonderful opportunity for travel abroad, expanding your horizons and learning about Christians from Germany - their culture, faith, and customs. The Moers Church District is located in the North Rhine-Westphalia region one hour north of Dusseldorf. Based on previous exchanges, quality time will be spent with your host family, you will participate in an engaging group program, and often the group will visit Berlin for some days of touring. It is expected that participants will commit to both ends of the exchange, as you will be hosting the person in 2021 who hosts you in Germany.
 
If you are interested in participating in this opportunity you can email Lisa Hart at the Wisconsin Conference Office by October 31. 
Congregational Conflict Workshop 
 
Congregational conflict and what we can do about it - a workshop for pastors and church leaders. The workshop will be led by the Wisconsin Conference UCC Conflict Transformation team. 
 
At this workshop, you will learn:
  • how to get ahead of the storm
  • how not to get sucked into the vortex
  • how to slow down the spin
  • what to do when in the storm's "eye"
  • how to find shelter in the midst of it all
  • and how to build an ark, rather than constructing a dam, for rising water
The same workshop will be held in two locations:
Thursday, November 7, 2019, from 10am to 3pm
Grace UCC, Wausau
Register for Wausau workshop
 
Thursday, November 14, 2019, from 10am to 3pm
First Congregational UCC, Watertown
 
View event flyer
Faith in Numbers Event Free Registration  

The 4th Annual Faith in Numbers, hosted by Wegner CPAs, is two weeks away and we want to make sure you are there! As part of our relationship with Wegner CPAs, we have free registrations for the first 20 churches that sign up using the code: FINSPONSOR.
 
This day is filled with relevant breakout sessions including Donor Advised Funds: An Introduction and Key Strategies, Key Performance Indicators: Track What is Important to you, and a Does Culture Matter? Roundtable. All of these sessions are filled with tips that you can take straight back to your organization and implement. The impact of this day is made not only with the presentations, but through all of the connections created between the attendees of this conference. Collaborate with other churches, listen to other organization's pain points, share your success stories, and make this conference our best one yet!
 
Please click HERE to see the full agenda and register for the event.
 
We hope to see you there! 
Save the Date: National Youth Event 2020  
July 22-25, 2020
Perdue University
Theme: Unite!
 
When?  July 22-25, 2020
 
Where?  Purdue University
 
Who?  Youth who have finished 6th grade through 12th grade;      Young adults 18-22; Youth leaders and chaperones
 
What?  This 4 day event is celebrated as the largest denominational gathering. Often bringing in 4,000 participants, this time together is centered on faith, leadership, service and social justice to empower our youth and young adults.

Cost?  $375*...includes housing, meals and program
                   
*The Wisconsin Conference UCC will organize bus transportation to and from Purdue. Cost to be determined. More information will be available in January.
 
Workshop proposals are being accepted until November 30th. Workshops can be geared toward younger youth, older youth, young adults, or adult leaders. If you are interested in being considered to lead a workshop, click here for the application .
 
Questions? Contact Lisa Hart 
View the agenda and confirmed speakers at the National Youth Event website
Boundary Training 
November 12, 2019
Community UCC, Middleton
 
We ask that all authorized ministers - members in discernment, active pastors, chaplains, licensed and commissioned ministers, retired ministers still performing ministerial functions - attend a boundary training session every four years to stay current on the latest thinking and laws that affect our work as faith leaders in our denomination.
Register here

Claiming Your Life As It is: Soul of Aging
A Circle of Trust retreat 
Cedar Valley Retreat Center
January 31-February 2, 2020
 
Are you yearning to explore the joys, challenges, and gifts of the aging process; wishing to be transformed as you grow, hopefully, into a wise old human? Two facilitators trained by the Center for Courage & Renewal, Winton Boyd and Kirsten Anglea, will create the space for reflection on how to age well, with dignity and integrity.
Please consider joining us at Cedar Valley Retreat Center in West Bend in January 2020 for this first of two Soul of Aging retreats, inspired by the work of Parker Palmer.
 
"To ripen--not just grow up, but to keep on maturing through our entire lives--takes great courage and great vulnerability. We can end up unripe, bitter, not able to reap the fruits of this life, or as elders, we can explore and share the tender. bittersweet and ferocious truths of growing old." ~ Sherry Anderson
 
Questions - Contact Winton Boyd 
Conference Transitions

Searching Churches
 
No churches recently started a search. To see all searching churches, click here.

Wider Church Searches

The National Office of the UCC has a number of open positions.
View them here

New Calls
  • Rev. Gary Brinn has been called as pastor at Hope UCC in Sturgeon Bay, effective October 1, 2019. Gary is new to the Conference. Welcome!
In Memoriam
  • Robert "Bob" Koepcke, father of Rev. Robert Koepcke, passed away on September 26, 2019. Obituary
  • Rev. Philip Yeager passed away on September 28, 2019. 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.
This newsletter is made possible by contributions to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support.

The Wisconsin Conference UCC is an Open and Affirming Conference, and an Immigrant Welcoming Conference.

Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ
4459 Gray Road | DeForest, WI  53532

In This Issue
Clergy Compensation Guidelines
Climate Care Discussion Guide
Youth Events
Youth Exchange
National Youth Event
Boundary Training
Soul of Aging Retreat
Conference Transitions
Church Spotlight



This Southeast Association church is led by pastor Mary Jane Huber. The congregation is involved with many ministries and missions, works ecumenically toward reducing human trafficking, and supports a mission in Malawi.  
 
Check the Conference calendar for upcoming events.
The Parish Paper
 
This month's Parish Paper is " Let's Take a Walk: The Ministry of Accompaniment." Access this issue and archived issues here!
Quick Links



Is your church considering an Open and Affirming Process? The Wisconsin Conference has a committee to help!  Please feel free to use us as resources for your discussions and preparations. Contact Laura McLeod of the Wisconsin Conference UCC Committee on Ministry with LGBTQ Persons.

Also: check out the Facebook page for ONA churches
 
Got News?
Let us know! If you have something you'd like considered for publication in
Wisconsin Conference Life, email Nola at the Wisconsin Conference.