Most of us know what it means to be a 5 for 5 church: Your congregation gives to Our Church’s Wider Mission Wisconsin Impact and the UCC’s four yearly Special Mission Offerings. But are you a 5 for 5 minister? Every authorized minister must meet five requirements to maintain standing in the Wisconsin Conference: Annual Information Review Form, Boundary Awareness Training, Anti-Racism Training, Continuing Education, and Participation in the Covenantal Life of the Conference and Denomination. Fortunately, all the information you need is just one click away on our website. Each requirement is spelled out clearly, and you can link to courses from the page. Unless you have filed for exempt status, all authorized ministers, including retirees, must meet the five requirements. Questions? Contact your associate conference minister or email the Rev. Chris Myers, chair of the Ministerial Oversight Team.

September is National Preparedness Month, so there’s no better time to learn how to better protect our churches and homes before disaster strikes. Our Wisconsin Conference disaster preparedness coordinator, the Rev. Bridget Hill, will facilitate two Zoom sessions to provide practical information that will help your congregation prepare for a disaster, respond effectively when one occurs, and know what steps to take afterward.

Register for webinar scheduled for 10 a.m. Sept. 9.



Register for the webinar scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 22.

There’s still time to register for the fall course offerings planned by our partners at the Damacus Project. Simply click on the course links for more information and to register.

• Strangers Within Your Gates: Holy Hospitality for Immigrants explores the Hebrew Bible through the lens of immigrants and strangers.
• Help, Grow My Church! engages learners with a step-by-step process toward church vitality.
• Healthy Conflict and Communication will teach lay leaders and authorized ministers the practical skills needed to communicate clearly during tough and tender conversations.
• Human Resources Basics for UCC Churches offers a three-week overview of best practices for creating job descriptions and hiring, onboarding, and evaluating staff.

The UCC’s MESA Team – the acronym stands for Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization – will offer two training opportunities in September for pastors, lay leaders, and judicatory staffers. Not Your Predecessors’ PPRC, led by the Rev. Tara Barber, will explore the ways in which the traditional Pastor/Parish Relations Committee has evolved into a Pastoral Support Committee. The webinar will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14. Empowering the Sheep: Living into Multi-Vocational Ministries, facilitated by the Revs. Jeff Nelson and Anissa Glaser-Bacon, will discuss the potential benefits to congregations of a multi-vocational pastor. That session is scheduled for 2:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Register for Not Your Predecessor’s PPRC.



Register for Empowering the Sheep.

The Wisconsin Conference Creation Care Team is partnering with the Waukesha County Creation Care Network to host Celebrating Care for Creation, an interfaith event planned for 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4, at Redeemer UCC in Menomonee Falls. Oct. 4 is the feast day of St. Francis, who famously championed care for creation. The event will include an outdoor prayer service, breakout sessions, and resource-sharing opportunities. The Creation Care Team has prepared a bulletin insert to help congregations promote the event.

Download the bulletin insert.



Register for Celebrating Care for Creation.

Registration is now open for all 2026-2027 Youth Faith Formation events. These include our Youth Faith Formation retreats, the popular Knock Knock Middle School Retreat, and the Winter Soulstice Retreat for high schoolers and college-age young adults. Questions? Email the Rev. Lisa Hart, associate conference minister for faith formation and justice ministries.



Learn more and register for Faith Formation events.

Registration is open for 2026-2027 Communities of Practice. Register here for a clergy group and here for a Christian ed/faith formation group. . . .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. . . . 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 Wisconsin Conference will convene by Zoom at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, to approve the 2027 Conference budget.

• 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