Wisconsin Conference Life Newsletter
July 20, 2022
Pastor wrote a musical, and 'A Funny Thing Happened'
What happens when you combine a musically talented pastor with a charitably minded congregation with a grand biblical story?

At Salem UCC in Plymouth, you get “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Nineveh,” an original musical written by the Rev. Jim Hoppert, the congregation’s pastor. The production, an updated version of the story of Jonah, drew 240 people to three performances from July 15 to 17 and generated more than $2,000 from a freewill offering. The money will be split between a local food pantry and the Wisconsin Conference Ukraine Emergency Appeal.

The idea for the musical came to Hoppert about five years ago, and he wrote most of it while on sabbatical, planning to stage the production in summer 2020. Then COVID intervened.

In this issue: scroll down to find these articles
  • Building use by outside groups
  • ONA Coalition virtual gathering
  • OWL signup deadline July 24
  • Upcoming webinar
  • A Taste of Heavenly Meetings
  • COP for Clergy
  • COP for CE/FF
  • Help others
  • Conference transitions
Thinking about letting outside groups use church facilities? Find out what you need to know
It’s not unusual for churches to allow nonmembers such as community organizations and recovery groups to use church facilities. In fact, opening your doors to groups that share your values might well advance your mission, and generate some income in the process. But your hospitality also presents some questions: Does the outside group have to share your beliefs? Who’s responsible for cleaning up? How does the income earned affect your nonprofit status? UCC General Counsel Heather Kimmel answers these and other questions in a new blog post.
Register now for ONA Coalition virtual gathering
The UCC’s Open and Affirming Coalition will hold its first national gathering since 2019 on Aug. 5-7. The virtual event will include celebrations of the 50th anniversaries of the founding of the ONA Coalition and of the ordination of the Rev. Bill Johnson, the first openly gay man authorized to exercise the ministry of word and sacrament in a historic Christian denomination. The gathering also will be the Rev. Andy Lang’s last as executive director of the ONA Coalition, and he will deliver a State of the Movement address.

The 2022 gathering, whose theme is “Shaping Generations: Queer Justice and Love in the UCC,” comes as gains achieved by LGBTQ+ individuals and allies have come under attack by politicians and some religious leaders. Click to register. Questions? Email the Rev. Ellen Huffman.
July 24 is deadline for OWL signup
Clergy and lay leaders who plan to offer an Our Whole Lives program in their congregations have until July 24 to register for three days of facilitation training. Our Whole Lives, or OWL, is a comprehensive human sexuality curriculum for elementary-age children through older adults, developed by the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association. Facilitator training will be offered at the elementary, youth and adult levels. Each participant may attend training for just one age level, so consider sending a team to be trained to start or expand the OWL program in your church.  
 
The training will take place Aug. 26-28 at the Daycholah Center in Green Lake. Cost is $375 for a shared double-occupancy room, meals and training for UCC participants and $450 for non-UCC participants. A limited number of private rooms are available for $475 for UCC participants and $550 for non-UCC participants. Commuter rate (meals and snacks included) is $275 for UCC participants and $350 for non-UCC participants.
 
Register here. Questions? Email Lisa Hart, associate conference minister for faith formation and justice ministries.
Upcoming webinar
Building an Endowment
An endowment can support a congregation and its wider mission. But where do you start? This webinar will provide ideas and policies for creating and growing an endowment for your congregation.
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Date: July 27
Save these dates for a Taste of Heavenly Meetings
Do you want pceople to participate more in your church meetings? Would you like to gain confidence as a meeting facilitator and leader?  

Get a Taste of Heavenly Meetings by experiencing them for yourself.  

Learn and try out three easy-to-learn activities that help people connect, review progress, and make decisions quickly and consider how they might help your church balance business and community.  

This highly interactive 90-minute workshop will be offered twice on Zoom:  

4 to 5:30 p.m. Central, Monday, Aug. 29 
 
4 to 5:30 p.m. Central, Tuesday, Sept. 13

Whether you are experienced at leading meetings or using Zoom or not, if you want to find out how church meetings can be more engaging, this workshop is for you.  
Cost is $10 per session, and you can come to one or both. Registration opens Aug. 1. 
Communities of Practice for Clergy
Registration now open for groups starting in September
Note: Previous COP participants need to register again each year to continue in a group
 
Communities of Practice clergy groups provide the sustenance that your ministry needs in order to be effective well into the future. COP groups are designed to be peer learning groups, focused both on the practice of ministry and your growth in your role as a pastoral minister.
 
Join a Christian Education/Faith Formation Community of Practice
The Christian Education/Faith Formation Commission of the Wisconsin Conference offers a Communities of Practice program for educators similar to the successful COP program for pastors. Lay volunteers or paid staff involved in Sunday school, youth group, or overall education/faith formation are supported and enriched by involvement in a COP with others practicing ministry in similar ways.
 
Groups will:
  • Be composed of about six Christian educators/youth leaders from throughout the Wisconsin Conference.
  • Have a trained facilitator who has experience in Christian education/faith formation ministry.
  • Meet every four to six weeks for three hours at a day and time that is reasonable for those involved.
  • Meet at a central location when possible, or use technology to meet remotely. 
 
If you, or the faith formation leader/staff at your church, would appreciate the support of a network of Christian education/faith formation peers, register today. COP groups for 2021-2022 will start in September. The cost for the year is $250. For more information, read the webpage or contact Lisa Hart. Note: Previous COP participants need to register again each year to continue in a group
Help others by donating now
The General Fund of the Wisconsin Conference helps us connect, support and resource pastors, leaders, and congregations. Your gift allows the Conference to provide relevant and timely help during the pandemic and beyond. Donate to the General Fund
Conference transitions
Wisconsin Conference UCC searches
  • The Wisconsin Conference UCC is searching for an Associate Conference Minister. Details
  • The Wisconsin Conference UCC is searching for an Annual Meeting Coordinator. Details

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

Wider Church Searches
  • The national office of the UCC has several openings. Details

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.
The Kairos Call to Action Newsletter was created to support the efforts of congregations, families and individuals who want to be a part of the UCC’s Kairos Call to Action. Through this newsletter the Conference Creation Care Team will provide resources for study and worship, encourage advocacy on behalf of climate justice, and help congregations find and connect with partners who share this common concern and commitment.

Renewing the Soul of the Beloved Community is a communication dedicated to sharing resources and tools, wisdom and insight for congregations and individuals navigating these challenging days. Created by the Conference Supportive Ministries Team, this publication will highlight resources to aid in steering your path forward.
Ignite Your Fire, Feed Your Soul,
Build Your Faith... In Nature's Sanctuary

We invite all to subscribe to the UCCI email newsletter to receive our latest news and inspiration! Also, please consider liking and following UCCI on Facebook and Instagram. It's a great virtual community–you are an important part of it!

Join the Conference-wide Creation Care Team!

Are you passionate about Creation Care? Want to connect with others who are taking action to care for the earth? The Creation Care Team's primary focus is to encourage, support and provide resources to congregations in the Wisconsin Conference as they do what they can to care for creation. If you would like to be a part of this team, or for more information on the Creation Care Team, contact John Helt. You can also go to the Creation Care webpage to learn more.
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!
Get Involved! A Conference-wide Racial Justice Task Force gathers resources and encourages congregations to engage in conversations around race. If you and your congregation are interested in participating in this group, you are welcome. Contact Lisa Hart get involved.

More information on the Racial Justice Task force is available on the Conference's Racial Justice webpages.

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