Conference Minister's Annual Meeting Recap
by Franz Rigert

 

This year's Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Conference featured lots of energy around "Shift: from Maintenance to Mission!" Highlights include:

• The unveiling of our new Mission, Values and Vision Statement from the Conference Board of Directors. Learn more
• Keynote addresses about the future Church by Cameron Trimble, Center for Progressive Renewal, who believes "the best days for Christianity are ahead of us."
• Passing of a resolution to study (and work toward) becoming an Immigrant Welcoming Conference at Annual Meeting 2017. More info 
• The passing of a 2017 balanced budget and full nomination slate.
• Shift small group breakouts and workshops to learn and to share best practices, networks and resources.
• A Shift rally to celebrate the many congregations that are engaging in Shift activities that bring positive change to their community or congregation in one of these areas - justice ministries, spiritual formation, leadership development, community based ministries, nimble governance and alternative models to ministry.
• Recognition of long-time treasurer Rich Fluechtling and Board Chair Steve Hirby as they prepare to move on to other endeavors.
• Celebration of more than 70 Lay Academy graduates from Faith Foundations and Lay Ministry Skills courses.
• A stirring Sunday morning sermon by Rev. Tanya Sadagopan, who encouraged us to recognize the value of all of the many things we already do to make our communities better places to live, and to invite those outside our churches to join us in making a difference.
• A fun-filled and entertaining skit looking at a Shift challenge in a fictitious local church, by Steve Savides and Company.
• Celebration of the Campital Campaign success and announcement of our new UCCI Development Director, Glenn Svetnicka, as part of a strategy to ensure the camps' sustainability.
• Wonderful worship!
• Good food! Good faith! Good friendship!

For more info on the Annual Meeting also read Tisha Brown's blog post and see an album of photos on our Facebook page (you don't have to use Facebook to view them!). Our thanks go to Pat Mahoney, Congregational UCC Neenah, for taking the majority of the photos featured in the album. 

 

During Friday afternoon's opening worship service at this year's annual meeting Tisha Brown shared the three primary settings in which our conference-wide conversation around Shift will be continuing in the coming year.

In addition to these concerted efforts of the conference, we also are relying on all of you to share ideas with one another and be a resource to one another. Follow up on contacts you made at annual meeting and look around to see what other churches in your area are doing so you can beg, borrow or steal their ideas to try in your own context. This is a time of holy experimenting as together we continue laying the foundation for a renewed Christianity. We are excited to be in ministry with all of you and look forward to seeing what the future will hold as we walk this journey - God's People on the Move!

 

The voting body at the Wisconsin Conference UCC Annual Meeting voted to enter into a time of study around issues of immigration and our faith, with the purpose being to vote on a resolution to become an Immigrant Welcoming Conference at the 2017 annual meeting. The Wisconsin Conference Immigration Working Group presented this resolution, along with goals they are challenging the congregations in the Wisconsin Conference to meet in the coming year. The first goal is for at least 66 congregations in the Wisconsin Conference to engage in the study of this issue and submit this form prior to March 1, 2017. The second goal is for 30 congregations in the Wisconsin Conference to vote to become Immigrant Welcoming Congregations prior to our 2017 annual meeting. The third goal is for 12 congregations to become directly involved in the resettlement of refugees or asylum-seekers.

 

In order to bring the resolution to the floor for a vote next June, the first goal must be met. The other two goals are encouragement for congregations to take action and begin to live into being an Immigrant Welcoming Conference. Resources are available to congregations in the Resource Center on the conference website. There are two online resources to choose from for the purpose of engaging in study of the issues. The first resource is provided by the United Church of Christ and the second resource is provided by the Wisconsin Council of Churches. Additional resources are also listed for further study. Members of the Immigration Working Group will also be available to provide support and guidance to congregations as they engage in this study and consider becoming "immigrant welcoming." Contact Lisa Hart to connect with the Group. 

Have you let us know that you are going to National Youth Event? We want your group to be included in any Wisconsin Conference activities, so please let Lisa Hart know if you will be at NYE. Also, Conferences have a tradition of wearing Conference t-shirts at NYE...don't miss out on getting your Wisconsin Conference t-shirt! (We'll be wearing them for our group picture.) Orders are due on Thursday, June 30th. Order here and pick up your shirt in Orlando.

 

More information

Searching Churches

Churches that recently started searching for a new pastor:

• Roberts Congregational UCC, Roberts
• First Congregational UCC, La Crosse
• First Congregational UCC, East Troy
• Peace UCC, Schofield

To see all searching churches, click here.

New Calls

• Rev. Julie M. Goranson was called as Pastor and Teacher to Grace UCC, Wausau, effective June 1, 2016.

Installations and Ordinations

• Rev. Erik Koepnick was installed at Calvary Memorial UCC in Milwaukee on Sunday, June 5, 2016.

Retirements

• Rev. Wayne Drueck has retired from Grace UCC, Wausau. A celebration of his ministry was held May 15, 2016.
• Rev. Bill Clyma has retired from Peace UCC in Marinette. His final Sunday was June 5, 2016.

• Rev. Delbert Permann, longtime Wisconsin Conference UCC minister and resident in River Falls, will return to his alma mater this summer to be inducted into the Yankton College Humanities Hall of Honor.  

In Memoriam

• Ralph E. "Bud" Howland died on June 17, 2016. Bud was father to Rev. Deborah Jean Howland, interim chaplain at Cedar Communities. Obituary
• Vivian Luella Meier passed away on June 19, 2016. Vivian was a Lay Academy student and member of the United Church of Christ in Reeseville. 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.