Pastor Jim Langreder, who serves First Congregational UCC churches in Hartland and Genesee, was featured in late April in an article in the Freeman, the newspaper serving Waukesha County. A licensed minister, Jim is in the final stages of preparing for ordination. The Freeman article highlighted his commitment to spreading a message of inclusivity.

Has your congregation made news in the community you serve? Let us know by emailing [email protected].

This year’s youth@synod program will allow middle- and high school-aged youths to take a deeper dive into the issue of homelessness. We have partnered with the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless to offer youths hands on opportunities to learn about the root causes of homelessness, hear the real stories of individuals who have experienced housing insecurity at different levels and take a closer look at justice vs. charity models they can engage with once they return home. It is our hope that each youth experiences something that is life and faith changing for them and sparks a movement the end homelessness, one area at a time.

In addition to the sessions around homelessness, we will offer several workshops led by national staff that in some way relate to homelessness myths and realities. There will be time to meet with each of our elected officers and informal gatherings to just unwind.

This year’s program has been strategically designed to leave time and space for youth to explore the other offerings of General Synod and have downtime.

If you have any questions, please visit the general synod youth page. Feel free to reach out to Rev. Trayce Potter.

As we begin Mental Health Awareness Month, we would like to remind our churches that at this June’s Annual Meeting, we are hopeful that delegates will have the opportunity to vote on whether the Wisconsin Conference UCC will be designated a WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, Engaged) Conference for Mental Health. We are excited that almost 40 Wisconsin Conference congregations are engaged in the process of becoming WISE congregations. But in order for delegates to vote on the issue of the Conference becoming WISE, we need responses from at least 64 of our congregations to say they engaged in discussion about the WISE Resolution that is being considered by the Conference. The discussion can be with any group in the congregation. The congregation does not need to take a position on the issue of the Conference becoming a WISE Conference or make a decision to engage in the process themselves, but merely need to discuss the issue of the Conference becoming WISE.

Response forms will be accepted through June 5. Please contact Lisa Hart if you have questions.

The Supportive Ministries Team hosts a monthly discussion on topics from the Renewing the Soul newsletter. The next one, "From Preservation to Persevering for the Long Haul," will take place on Zoom at noon Central time on Wednesday, May 3.

Time: Noon Central

Date: May 3

Time: Monday, May 8

Date: 7 p.m.

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. The Rev. Andrew Warner will draw on his experience with the Wisconsin Foundation UCC when discussing how to raise, manage, and use endowment funds.

Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, May 24

Register here

This summer Middleton Community Church ( will be hosting a Forest Retreat at Camp Balsams, our congregation's summer camp in the north woods. This will be an adult contemplative retreat rooted in the practice of forest bathing to promote physical, mental, and spiritual health. While stays at Camp Balsams are usually reserved for MCC members, this retreat is open to the general public and we'd love to have others from the Wisconsin Conference UCC churches join us.

Space is limited for the Aug. 18-20 retreat, and pre-registration is due by May 14th. Contact pastor Zayna Thomley with inquiries.

Consider the information shared. For details, and to arrange pulpit pickup, email Bryan.

Our database has changed and the Church Life app is no longer available. We are working on figuring out how to have people in the Conference access the same information that was available in Church Life. If you would like to be part of a group to help test the new system, please email Nola Risse-Connolly.

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

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