“Where God Is Still Speaking: Listening in New Ways” is the theme of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Conference UCC, scheduled for June 7-9 at Green Lake Conference Center.

The meeting theme echoes the “God Is Still Speaking” marketing campaign launched by the UCC two decades ago, inspired by a quote attributed to comedian Gracie Allen: "Never place a period where God has placed a comma." The enduring appeal of “God Is Still Speaking” helped Annual Meeting planners settle on a theme.

“It conveys our UCC spirit of openness, wide welcome and our understanding of God’s extravagant love,” Conference Minister Franz Rigert said. “It also reflects our understanding of the scriptures as a continuing testimony. The spiritual values from ancient stories carry truths that inform contemporary life and speak to new issues of justice and compassion.”

The technological and other changes forced on the church by the COVID pandemic have led many congregations to revisit core questions about their mission, Franz said.

“While we may feel a sense of urgency, this journey of becoming the next iteration of church will take some time. And it will take prayerful listening,” he said. “Listening to our still-speaking God and listening to one another as we collectively imagine and collaboratively live out new ideas. We also should be listening to the ‘spiritual but not so religious’ in our midst, as they can help bridge the church from a rigid institution to a more fluid vessel of God’s love. And as always, we should be listening to the marginalized and poor, the broken and troubled. 

“Perhaps most of all, this is time for listening with fresh ears, paying less attention to the ways we have always done things and trusting that the Spirit is inviting us into new dimensions of Gospel witness.” 

Heather Phelps, a longtime Wisconsin resident with deep roots in the UCC, is resource specialist with the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education, which is housed at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. In December, Heather attended the COP28 climate summit in Dubai as part of the Christian Climate Observer Program. She’ll discuss her experience on Thursday during a webinar sponsored by the Wisconsin Conference Creation Care Team. Learn more and register.

Heather talked to Wisconsin Conference Life about the importance of the summit – and the role people of faith can play in caring for creation. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What were your major takeaways from COP28?

It is really cool how climate change and climate action have become mainstream. There was a long period when it seemed no one wanted to talk about climate change publicly. If the CEO of Shell feels obligated to be there, if North Korea is sending a couple of delegates, it feels as if the world as a whole thinks these discussions are important to be part of.

COP28 was the first time fossil fuels were explicitly called out -– the countries of the world have agreed to transition away from fossil fuels in a just and equitable manner. Every country on Earth has at least nominally agreed to abide by that. I don’t want to forget the challenges. At the same time, it’s important not to focus on the ways the glass is half empty and forget the glass is also half full. This really is progress.



Join the discussion with Heather

Host: Wisconsin Conference Creation Care Team

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Feb. 8

Place: Zoom

Register now

Read the entire story

The Wisconsin Conference is mourning the death of Kandy Keuler, the representative of the UCC Insurance Board to the Conference and to many Wisconsin congregations. Kandy died Jan. 20 at Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville. She was 71.

“Kandy was a person of cheer and faith,” Conference Minister Franz Rigert said. “She worked diligently to ensure congregations had solid insurance coverage, and she responded swiftly when we needed her help.” Decades ago, Franz’s father, the Rev. Max Rigert, confirmed Kandy at Congregational UCC in Mineral Point, where she was a lifelong member and cherished friend. She was a graduate of the former Lay Academy.

“Kandy dutifully handled the insurance claims for congregations and for all the fender benders and broken windshields on Conference vehicles through the years,” Franz said. “Together, we remember her kindness and her playful spirit.”

Survivors include her husband, Richard Josh, and children Michael and Carrie. A celebration of life will take place in the spring.

Read the obituary

Sue, who retired in December as the Conference office administrator, offers this thank-you to those who reached out to her. She remains with the Conference as part-time search-and-call coordinator.



I want to thank you all for the many cards, gifts, and well wishes for my retirement. The Rev. Rachel Bauman put together a beautiful scrapbook of all the cards, and I’m told she has more. The scrapbook was filled with so many pages; I was overwhelmed with the weight of this book and then emotionally overwhelmed as I read through each and every sentiment. Congratulations -- you all brought me to tears (and I don’t cry out loud). It’s been an absolute pleasure (and honor) working with you and getting to know you. I don’t have the “minister’s gift of knowing the right words to say,” but I was sincerely touched, moved and proud to be a part of the Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ. My retirement is off to a slow start because of some medical issues, but I’ll get to my long list of things to do soon. Thank you, thank you and thank you again.

The Racine Dominicans, a community of Catholic sisters and lay associates based at Siena Center in Racine, are offering 10 grants of $50,000 each to Wisconsin nonprofits working in the areas of immigration, affordable housing and climate justice.



The strongest proposals will serve an unmet community need, demonstrate active collaboration with other organizations or municipal partners, address racial equity, include an educational component and advocate for long-term impact. Applications are due by March 30. Learn more and apply.

United Church Camps Inc. is ramping up for Camp Daycholah, five weeks of camping experiences for youths of all ages at Daycholah Center in Green Lake. Among the new features: weekly themes by age group, two- and three-day sessions for first-time campers and those with packed summer schedules, and expanded options for financial assistance. Camp Daycholah also offers a Fourth of July Family camp and a variety of & Me sessions – short camps for children in kindergarten through second grade and an adult loved one.

Learn more and register.

Conversation with the Supportive Ministries Team

The Supportive Ministries Team will host an hourlong Zoom conversation with ministry colleagues from around the Wisconsin Conference to explore questions that can “Nurture the Soul of the Beloved Community.”

Time: Noon

Date: Today

Register now

Responding To Anti-Immigration Talking Points As People of Faith

The Wisconsin Conference Immigration Justice Working Group will host a Zoom discussion with the Rev. Doug Pagitt, executive director of Vote Common Good. He has extensive experience working on immigration justice issues and border policies and practices. Doug will respond to many of the most common anti-immigration talking points and myths and offer a factual and faith-based response to the anti-immigrant rhetoric flooding the public square. 

Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Date:  Feb. 29

Register now

Celebrate the Mess

Join fellow faith formation leaders at the 2024 Messy Church USA National Conference. Messy Church offers a fresh approach to faith formation, a new form of church for families that uses creativity, celebration and hospitality to engage the stories our faith. The conference will include workshops, large group sessions and Messy Church-style worship and music.

Date: April 18-20

Place: Northfield Community Church, Northfield, Illinois

Learn more and register

Lakeland University Founders’ Day lecture

"Dreaming Courageously: Pope Francis' Vision for the 21st Century Catholic Church and the Challenge of LGBTQ+ Inclusion” is the subject of this year’s lecture, to be delivered by author and scholar Craig Ford.

Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Date: March 5

Place: Younger Family Campus Center, Lakeland University

Register now

Save the date

June 7-9: Wisconsin Conference Annual Meeting at Green Lake Conference Center.

July 17-20: 2024 Great Lakes and West Central Regional Youth Event at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. 

Faith is a journey, and it often helps to connect with others who are on the path. Middle- and high school-age youths are invited to Daycholah Center to explore what it means to be the church and how that commitment continues to evolve. These retreats are appropriate for confirmation classes, but are open to all youths in grades six through 12 who want to explore faith with other young people and supportive adults. Cost of the weekend is $240, and a nonrefundable deposit of $50 is required. Register for the February 16-18 event or the March 1-3 event. There is still space in the February event.

Each year, the national office of the UCC asks every congregation to provide annual church information online. Why is this information requested? Here are 12 important reasons.

The Data Hub will be available through March 6.

To avoid potential delays, please be sure to enter your information as soon as possible. For instructions and helpful documents, click here. Please do not contact the National Setting. Deadline for reporting is March 6. 

The conference also requests church officer data. To submit, fill out this survey online. 

Thank you for providing this important information. Need more details? Check your snail mail -- each church was mailed a packet of information about Yearbook data for 2024. You can also email Nola Risse-Connolly for help. 

Searching Churches

• First Congregational UCC in Appleton is searching for a business administrator. Details
• Emerald Grove UCC in Janesville is searching for a pastor. Details
• Interim ministry openings
• To see all searching churches, click here.

Wider Church Searches

• Current openings at the national United Church of Christ.

Installations and Ordinations

• The Rev. Wanda Veldman was installed at Nekoosa UCC on Jan. 28.
• The Rev. Yvette Eber was installed at Plymouth UCC in Burlington on Jan. 28.

New Calls

• The Rev. Peter Haskins has been called as interim pastor at St. Luke's UCC in South Milwaukee, effective Jan. 1.
• The Rev. Tara Tetzlaff has been called as pastor at Christ Church in Milwaukee, effective Jan. 1.
• The Rev. Jen Petricca Bloesch has been called as pastor at Community of Hope UCC in Madison, effective Jan. 8.

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.