Wisconsin Conference Life Newsletter
November 2, 2022
Illinois pastor to succeed retiring ACM Rob MacDougall
The Rev. Michael Jones has accepted a call to join the staff of the Wisconsin Conference UCC as associate conference minister for the Northwest Association. Michael will succeed the Rev. Rob MacDougall, who is retiring at the end of the year.

In an email to the Conference announcing the move, Conference Minister Franz Rigert, who chaired the search team, said: “Our discernment was guided by the Holy Spirit and by prayer, and Michael emerged as the unanimous choice because of his strong relational gifts, significant experience in Church and Ministry leadership and conflict resolution, and pastoral qualities of listening, bridge building, theological anchoring and vision setting.” 

Michael currently is pastor of St. John UCC in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and has spent five years as chair of the Chicago Metropolitan Association Church and Ministry Team. He previously served congregations in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Michael (back left in photo) and his husband, Blake, and their two young daughters will move to Eau Claire in January. An Ohio native, Michael received a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Indiana University and a master of divinity from Harvard Divinity School. In his free time, Michael enjoys spending time with his family, swimming, playing the piano, singing and studying history.
In this issue: scroll down to find these articles
  • 'God Loves You'
  • Year-end gifts notice
  • Upcoming webinars
  • Youth events for 2022-2023
  • Damascus Project director search
  • OCWM bulletin insert available
  • Attend a Leadership Forward meeting
  • Help others
  • Conference transitions
Board book’s theme: God loves you always
“Picture the Bible” now has a younger sibling: “God Loves You,” a board book for children up to age 5.

Where “Picture the Bible” used 52 images to help school-age children engage biblical texts, “God Loves You” focuses on just 13 stories, with the art cropped to make it feel more intimate for younger children. Both books were written by the Rev. Stacy Johnson Myers, minister of Christian education at First Congregational UCC in River Falls.

“Each page focuses on a specific story and links to an experience a child might have,” she says. “So, kids can really see themselves in the stories and in the art, and hear the repeated refrain that God loves you all the time.”

The book is designed to be used at home or in a congregational setting. “I can see parents reading to a child, or Sunday School teachers, or in a nursery,” Stacy says. “I can see congregations giving it to a young child when they are baptized. It's the church’s fundamental message: God loves you.”

“God Loves You” is available from Pilgrim Press for $7.99.
Year-end gifts
Please help the finance office. Send your special supports, association dues and other payments prior to the year-end deadline. This would really assist us process the volume of final payments that arrive in the last weeks of the year.

  • Individual year-end gifts. Contributions are deductible in the year made. Checks will need to be made out with a 2022 date and postmarked by Dec. 31 for credit in 2022.
  • Churches' year-end gifts. Must be post marked no later than Jan. 6. Please clearly mark that your gift is intended for 2022 by including a 2022 remittance form or clearly identifying what you are remitting for 2022.

Please send payments to Wisconsin Conference UCC, 4459 Gray Road, DeForest, WI 53532.
Upcoming webinars
Climate ambassador training
How do we link our faith to the climate crisis? How do we effectively talk about climate change with others? What opportunities do we have to make a difference in our local churches and communities? These questions and more will be addressed in the Blessed Tomorrow Ambassadors Training Program that is being offered by the United Church of Christ and ecoAmerica. Featured presenters include the Rev. Carol Devine, the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt, the Rev. Emma Brewer-Wallin, the Rev. Michael Malcom, and Andrew Wells-Bean. Training participants will receive a free copy of Berndt’s book "Cathedral on Fire: A Church Handbook for the Climate Crisis."
Date: Nov. 5
Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
 
UCC webinar: Centering Africa at the UN Climate Conference
In November, leaders from the world’s nations will be convening at COP27, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. While this summit has been described as "the African COP," activists from the continent have asserted that they are already being shut out. In this webinar, we will center the climate concerns and issues faced by Africa, the continent that bears the least responsibility for the climate crisis yet is most vulnerable to its destructive impacts.
Date: Nov. 9
Time: Noon

Becoming a Creation Justice church
Creation Justice Churches is a program of the United Church of Christ that guides congregations in discerning how they can best embody a commitment to care for God’s creation. As Christians, this is our first calling in the Bible. It is also a calling that has been integral to the DNA of the UCC as a denomination and the historic role played by the UCC’s Commission for Racial Justice in launching the environmental justice movement. In the face of the climate crisis, the Creation Justice Church program has provided a path of active hope for a growing number of congregations.
Date: Nov. 17
Time: 2:30 p.m. Central time
Wisconsin Conference-United Church Camps youth retreats
Knock Knock Retreat (Middle School Youth)
Daycholah Center
Nov. 18-20
Register by this Friday!
 
Winter Soulstice Retreat: A Winter Camp Experience (High School and College-Age Retreat)
Daycholah Center
Jan. 6-8
 
Youth Faith Formation Retreats (Youth in grades 6-12)
Daycholah Center
Feb. 24-26 or March 3-5
 
Search ongoing for next Damascus leader
The search for a new Damascus Project director is underway. The director’s job is a contract position averaging 30 hours a week. The initial contract term will be 12 months, beginning in January 2023. The director will report to the conference ministers in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
 
The work includes program and curriculum development and implementation, recruitment and onboarding of faculty, and program evaluation. An essential aspect of the work is to build a network of relationships throughout the Wisconsin and Minnesota Conferences that increases enrollment in Damascus Project courses. Maintaining steady communication with Committees on Ministry in each Conference is also important. Click here for a detailed position description.
 
The Wisconsin and Minnesota conferences launched the Damascus Project in 2017 as a collaborative leadership development initiative. The mission of the Damascus Project is to nurture vitality within the body of Christ by transforming the people of God through theological study and equipping them for effective leadership within their congregations. The Damascus Project also provides a potential path to authorized ministry. (For more information about the Damascus Project, go to the-damascus-project.org.)
OCWM bulletin insert for congregations
The Conference has created a bulletin insert about Our Church's Wider Mission detailing how the gifts of a congregation to OCWM Basic Support make a real difference in the life of congregations across our state. Please share the bulletin insert in an upcoming worship service or e-newsletter from the congregation to members.
Join us for Leadership Forward
The Wisconsin Conference is launching the Leadership Forward Campaign, designed to support good leaders in our congregations and equip them for creative ministry. The campaign will strengthen leaders through the Damascus Project, expand the Catalyst grants available to congregations, and care for clergy in every stage of their pastoral careers. Area Meetings around the Conference will provide an opportunity for pastors and lay leaders to learn more about the campaign. Together, we can make a difference in strengthening the UCC in Wisconsin because Leadership Matters.
 
Meetings are scheduled around the Conference:
Kewaskum: Peace UCC, 12-1:30 p.m. Nov. 3
Milwaukee: Bethel Bethany UCC, 12-1:30 p.m. Nov. 10
Sheboygan: Ebenezer UCC, 6-7:30 p.m. Nov. 10
Madison: First Congregational UCC, 6-7:30 p.m. Nov. 15
Virtual presentation 1: 1-2:30 p.m. Nov. 16
Virtual presentation 2: 6:30-8 p.m. Nov. 30
Hartland: First Congregational UCC, 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 13

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
Searching Churches
  • The United Church of Christ in Neillsville is searching for a pastor. Details
  • Grace UCC in Two Rivers is searching for a director for Christian education. Details
  • First Congregational UCC of Ripon is searching for a Christian education director. For details, send an email to the church office.
  • To see all searching churches, click here.

Conference Search
  • The Conference is searching for a Damascus Project Director. Details

Wider Church Searches
  • The National UCC has several openings. Details

New Calls
  • Nicole Herda has been called as pastor at St. Peter's UCC in Kiel, effective Nov. 1.
  • Debra Meyer has been called as minister for community at First Congregational UCC in River Falls, effective Nov. 1.

In Memoriam
  • Marjorie D. Schowalter, wife of the late Rev. Daniel Schowalter died on Oct. 17. Obituary
  • Dale M. Cherney, father of the Rev. Beth Abbott, died on Oct. 22. 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.
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