In a Holy Week message to the Wisconsin Conference, Conference Minister Franz Rigert reflected on how the Resurrection of Jesus revealed the power of God’s boundless love to bring new life from even the most tragic circumstances. He contrasted that love with the tendency of some Christians to put limits on God’s embrace.

“For me, Easter is about God’s liberating power and God’s expansive grace,” Franz wrote. “Sadly, some Christians see Easter as a narrowing of God’s love rather than a widening of it. This understanding of the Gospel is more about condemnation than transformation.” He singled out Christian Nationalism as an example of an ideology that operates “with little regard or respect for religious pluralism in American life.” That’s not the message of Easter.



“The gift of Easter is an invitation to embrace God’s Spirit of abundance and inclusivity, and to treat all our neighbors with a love that appreciates and honors their sacred journeys,” he wrote. Read Franz’s entire message.

The Conference Catalyst Team has announced plans for three-year grants totaling up to $15,000 to support long-term ministry projects in congregations and the communities they serve. The formal launch of the new grants will take place in June at Annual Meeting 2025. Deadlines for applying for the initial rounds of long-term grants are June 30 and Sept. 30.

The Catalyst program was created to support congregations in undertaking innovative new ministries in collaboration with partners in the local community, especially those that advance the Wisconsin Conference’s core initiatives in the areas of racial and immigration justice. Already, short-term grants have supported congregational efforts to address food insecurity and resettle refugees, among other projects. The new long-term grants are designed specifically to encourage churches to try out big ideas in their communities.



Learn more about Catalyst.

The Jim Antal Keynote for this year’s UCC Earth Summit will be delivered by Katharine Hayhoe, one of the world’s leading climate scientists. Through appearances on PBS and Showtime as well as her widely viewed TED Talks, Hayhoe has reached a broad audience with a compelling perspective on science, climate and faith. The summit will also feature a panel of grassroots leaders in the struggle against environmental racism in North Texas. The 2 ½-hour online event will begin at 1 p.m. April 26.



Register now for the UCC Earth Summit.

If you’re an authorized minister who hasn’t taken the first module of Anti-Racism Training, here’s your chance: The next course will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon on Mondays April 28, May 5 and May 19.

Authorized ministers are required to take Anti-Racism Training every three years. The first module was rolled out in 2023, so if you haven’t taken it, you need to do so this year. A second module will be offered after this year.

The training will be delivered via Zoom and the Damascus Project Learning Network.

Register today.

QPR – the letters stand for Question, Persuade, Refer – are the three keys to preventing suicide, and you can learn more about them in a 90-minute online training session set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. on May 6. The training is offered by the Great Lakes Association of United Church Educators.

Like CPR, QPR is an emergency response that can save the life of someone in crisis, and it is regarded as one of the most effective ways to prevent suicide. Participants will learn how to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal, as well as the common causes of suicidal behavior and warning signs of suicide and how to get help for someone in a crisis. The training is suitable for people of all backgrounds.



Register now

This Holy Week, the Palestine Justice Working Group encourages you to watch a recent talk by the Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, a pastor, theologian and author of “Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, and the Genocide in Gaza.” In it, he challenges mainstream Christians’ uncritical embrace of the actions of the modern state of Israel and challenges all of us to realign our beliefs and actions with Christ – who can be found not among perpetrators of violence but with victims buried under the rubble of war. Isaac is academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College in the West Bank.



Isaac’s presentation is one more way Wisconsin Conference congregations can engage the issue of a just peace between Israel and the Palestinian people. If 30 percent of congregations study the issue, the 2025 Conference Annual Meeting will vote whether to adopt the Declaration for a Just Peace Between Israel and Palestine adopted at the UCC’s 2021 General Synod. If your congregation already has studied the issue, please let us know by completing this brief form.

The Wisconsin Conference Older Adult Ministries work group has introduced a new monthly publication, Aging in Grace, which contains resources for congregations, reflections on the challenges and opportunities faced by senior members of our congregations, and questions intended to help congregations assess their ministry with seniors. Subscribe to Aging in Grace.



The Older Adults Ministries group emerged over the past two years as a platform for sharing ideas and resources to enable churches to be more intentional in ministering with older adults. Seniors account for around three-quarters of members of Christian churches in the United States.

Palestine Justice Working Group

The Wisconsin Conference work group educates UCC members about the state of Israeli-Palestinian relations and advocates for justice for all Palestinians. The group meets by Zoom on the fourth Monday of each month. Meetings are open to all.  

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: April 28

Register now

Supportive Ministries conversation

The Supportive Ministries Team offers two opportunities each month to join a discussion of topics raised in its monthly Becoming the Beloved Community newsletter. The next conversations will take place by Zoom at noon and 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 1. Subscribe to the newsletter.

Register here for the noon discussion

Register here for the evening discussion

Sermon Talk

Join Associate Conference Minister Michael Jones for a Zoom discussion of biblical texts and sermon ideas, with the focus on topics for the month ahead. Whether you use the Revised Common Lectionary or the Narrative Lectionary or choose your own texts, this discussion is for you. Sessions take place at noon on the first Tuesday of each month.

Time: 12:00 p.m.

Date: May 6

Register here

'So, We Did This Thing. . . '

That's the title of an interactive worship to take place the day before Annual Meeting 2025. Designed for for lay leaders and clergy, the workshop will explore innovative ministry approaches. Participants will share real-world experiences—what has worked, what hasn’t, and what we’re learning together. 

Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Date: June 5

Place: Ley Chapel at Daycholah Center

More info and register here

Annual Meeting 2025

"Transformation: Changing from Glory into Glory" is the theme of the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Conference. In the whirlwind of changing times, God’s love remains constant though never stagnant. The Holy Spirit is transforming the Church, and we are agents of this movement. In Christ, we are emerging into a new glory of liberating and loving, uniting and collaborating, and generously sharing our ministry resources. Volunteer and exhibitor options are also available.

Dates: June 6-7

Place: Green Lake Conference Center

More info and register here

Save the date

Aug. 8-10: Our Whole Lives Facilitator Training at Daycholah Center. coming up in August and registration will be opening soon. Participants can choose to be trained in the Youth Level (grades 7-9 and grades 10-12) or the Adult Level (young adult, adult and older adult). Learn more.

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