The Wisconsin Conference Catalyst Team earlier this month awarded grants totaling more than $16,000 to six congregations. The grantees and their projects are Brookfield Congregational Church, for Beloved Inside and Out; Grace UCC, Milwaukee, for Backpack Giveaway and Sandwich Outreach; First Congregational Church, Janesville, for Community Storytelling Through Film; Somers UCC for Diaper Ministry/Food Pantry; Church of Peace UCC, Fond du Lac, for Community Fridge Fondy; and First Congregational UCC, Appleton, for Spirit Covenant. Does your congregation have an idea for an innovative ministry that meets a community need? If the answer is yes, see whether a Catalyst Grant might be right for you.

The Convergence Music Project is inviting pastors, worship leaders, singers and songwriters, and seminarians to attend this year’s annual conference, Converging 2026: Sing Through It! The conference is scheduled for Oct. 7-10 in Louisville, Kentucky. Featured speakers will include Cole Arthur Riley, the Rev. Otis Moss III, the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Wilson, and Jim Wallis. Attendees will experience joyful and inclusive worship and compelling workshops and will have the opportunity to connect with peers from across the country. The Convergence Music Project is an online source of new music for congregational singing that congregations committed to justice, compassion for the poor, inclusive language, creation care, LBGTQ+ affirmation, and expansive theology can trust. Learn more and register for Converging 2026.

If you’re looking to change the way your congregation approaches giving, check out Cultivating Generous Congregations. It’s an interactive virtual seminar designed to demonstrate how pastors and lay leaders can unlock and energize congregational generosity by exploring steps to creating sustainable cultural change in your church. Topics will include the importance of adaptive leadership, fiscal transparency, and donor care. Webinars will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, Aug. 26, Sept. 9 and 23, Oct. 7 and 21, and Nov. 4 Additional self-paced learning will take place between sessions.

Learn more and register.

Download the flyer.

Are you engaged in your own congregation and looking for ways to serve the wider Wisconsin Conference? Consider volunteering for one of the teams associated with the Committee on Ministry. Opportunities are available on the Executive Team and the Oversight, Authorization, Member in Discernment, Licensing, and Regional Local Church Support teams. Want to learn more? Email Associate Conference Minister Rachel Bauman or call her at 608-630-2992.

The Small Church Working Group will meet tonight by Zoom to continue the conversation about how small churches can nurture a conversation about church life cycle. If you’re a pastor, lay leader or member of a small church, this is a great opportunity to tackle a topic that’s top of mind for many of our congregations. To jump-start tonight’s discussion, please read the attached document. The Zoom discussion will begin at 6:30 p.m. Register for tonight’s meeting.

Read the document.

The Wisconsin Conference UCC Open and Affirming Team issued a statement earlier this month declaring that recent Supreme Court decisions allowing states to restrict the rights of transgender women and girls to participate in sports are contrary to our faith. The statement told members of the trans community: “You are beloved by God. You are not alone. Our ONA congregations remain committed to welcoming you, standing with you, and celebrating the gifts you bring to the Body of Christ.” The Wisconsin Conference is home to more than 80 Open and Affirming congregations. Read the full statement.

We are aware of two recent scams that have circulated within the Wisconsin Conference. In one, an email appeared to come from the now-defunct Southwest Association and included an online invitation. Clicking the invitation could lead to attempts to collect personal information or solicit money. In the second, someone impersonated the Rev. Jeannie Douglas and requested gift cards.

Please be cautious with unexpected emails or requests for money, gift cards, or personal information. If a message seems suspicious, do not click on links or respond to the request. Instead, verify the request directly with the person or organization using trusted contact information, not information provided in the potential scam email.

Online training and resources

• AARP Fraud Watch Network — Free scam-awareness resources, webinars, videos, tip sheets, and alerts designed to help people recognize and avoid fraud.
• AARP Fraud Hub — Free online webinars covering current scams and tactics, including impersonation, romance, cryptocurrency, and tech-support scams.
• FTC Pass It On — Free Federal Trade Commission educational materials covering common scams such as government impersonation, tech support, romance, family-emergency, and business impersonation scams.
• FTC Consumer Advice: Scam Resources — Downloadable articles, activity sheets, presentations, and other educational materials that can be used for individual or group scam-awareness training.

The Wisconsin Conference will convene by Zoom at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, to approve the 2027 Conference budget. . . . Registration for 2026-2027 Wisconsin Conference Youth retreats will open by Sept. 1. Watch your inbox for additional details. . . . . Living Well, Leading Well is the theme of this fall’s clergy retreat, which will take place from 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, through 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Daycholah Center. . . . The fall retreat of the Great Lakes Association of United Church Educators will take place Oct. 6-8 at Waycross Camp and Retreat Center in Morgantown, Indiana. Questions? Email Lisa Hart.

• Conference website homepage
• Online event calendar
• Facebook page

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. Donate to the General Fund

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, WISE for Mental Health Conference and an Immigrant Welcoming Conference.

Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ

W1000 Spring Grove Road, Ripon, WI 54971

mail@wcucc.org

www.wcucc.org