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bringing Michigan Conference UCC pastors and churches closer together and closer to God

We cannot begin to do justice in such a brief writing to commemorate the tenacious life of the Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Zikmund. Instead, we choose to give heartfelt thanks for her courageous ministry of teaching and preaching. Spanning decades, her faithful work leaves a legacy of tremendous impact on so many levels - individuals, local churches, the Michigan Conference, and the National Ministries of the United Church of Christ have each benefited greatly from her influence.

Born in 1939, Barbara Brown Zikmund, known to many as “BBZ”, began her faith formation journey at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ in Detroit and continued throughout her life to partner with, lead, and shape an impressive list of academic and faith based settings. We are so blessed to have known her and worked with her within the ministry of the Michigan Conference, and our staff are forever changed by her impact. Her capacity to educate others about the importance of our UCC history and encourage active participation in the work of the church was paramount to her ministry and equally so to those who were fortunate to work closely with her. She believed that General Synod was “the work of the church in real time”, and she championed everyone who was willing to ask questions and dig deeper into how to do the work of the church, tirelessly encouraging us to be forces of change in the church and therefore our ministries, to the very best of our ability.

Always ahead of her time, Barbara Brown Zikmund was a trailblazer who made way for an expansive inclusion of female leaders in the church. She uplifted the importance of interfaith relationships in theological education, and influenced the truth-telling of the full history of the United Church of Christ and its five streams. Her writings have been and will continue to be required reading for those pursuing ordination in the United Church of Christ. As we prepared to honor her many accomplishments along with a new, curated collection of her writing at General Synod in Kansas City in the summer of 2025, we were able to sit down with her and capture these memories. 

BBZ believed in God and the church with a deep sense of faith that motivated her to seek excellence. Conference Minister Lillian Daniel shared, “She conveyed and expected excellence. Expecting excellence is a deep gift of the Holy Spirit. It is when the Holy Spirit speaks from one person to another and says ‘I believe in you.’” In her writing, teaching, preaching, leadership and in relationships, BBZ imparted a deep sense of care and commitment. She loved people, and she loved the church. It was a gift to know BBZ believed in us, and as a result of that belief, the ripples of her devotion to the church will be felt for generations.  

When any saint of heaven enters into eternal rest, we often reflect on the brevity of our time with those we love and the deeper meaning of our own earthen journeys. We take heart in knowing this wonderful woman of faith “finished her race” in such a way as to also encourage so many others in forging ahead in their own spiritual paths. May we remember BBZ’s love for others and commitment to excellence, and see these reflected in our own lives as well. BBZ’s race is done, and she has finally reached that excellence that she has aimed for, in the arms of a loving Savior. We give God the glory and our deepest gratitude for the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Zikmund.

 In this time of grieving and loss, we offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Barbara Brown Zikmund. We’d love to hear more about the ways BBZ inspired and impacted each of you. You can send your stories to communications@michucc.org.

Read more about BBZ's life and legacy:

"Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Rev. Barbara Brown Zikmund" by the National Setting of the United Church of Christ

"Lifestory: Rev Barbara Brown Zikmund, trailblazing religion scholar..." by SIGHT

Leadership Skills: "Help! Grow My Church" (Online Course)

This course is a five-session journey which will guide congregations and church leaders into deeper vitality through an Energy, Inclusion, Programs, and Administration Framework (EIPA).

Tuesdays, September 22-October 20, 2026 at 6:00-7:30PM CST via Zoom

Cost: $200-$450

Boundary Training (Zoom only) with Rev. Cheryl Burke

October 29th, 9a-3p: Registration is open for Michigan Conference UCC Boundary Training with Associate Conference Minister Rev. Cheryl Burke for  Active Authorized Ministers, Members in Discernment, Retired Clergy & Lay People.

Before the start of the course, you will receive an email with preparation materials and a Zoom link for online participation.

Cost: $25

MID/Retired Clergy: $10

Read the latest issue of the Funday Monday Faith Formation Newsletter for updates on the Mitten Project, resources for children youth and family ministry, and networking opportunities for faith formation leaders.

APPLICATIONS for 2027 Mitten Project Cohort Churches are open NOW thru November 13.

Get started on your Program Proposal today!

Learn more about the Mitten Project on our Conference Website and by attending a workshop at the Annual Meeting on October 2, 2026

A Lay Leader is a congregational participant who has been chosen as a leader either by their peers or the leadership of the congregation. A lay leader is not ordained clergy, and lay leader responsibilities vary according to the particular congregation. The Michigan Conference values lay leaders and is providing this unique opportunity to care for these special leaders in our local churches.

The changing seasons offer us opportunities to ground ourselves in natural cycles and return our mindful attention to what matters in our lives. Join us at the beautiful Friends Center for a one-day Circle of Trust® retreat, a time of reflection and renewal as we transition from summer’s abundance to autumn’s brilliant and uninhibited letting go.

Upcoming Fall Meetings:

Southwest Association:  Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 2pm at Portage UCC (2731 W. Milham Ave Portage, MI 49024). Register no later than September 18th to receive an electronic copy of reports and materials. 

Grand West Association: Sunday, October 18th at 3pm at Park Church (10 E Park Pl NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503)



United Northen Association - Saturday, September 26th at 2pm at FCC Alpena (201 S 2nd Ave, Alpena, MI 49707)

Bertha Dayton STAR Grant Applications due September 15th

Congregations within the Michigan Conference that serve rural and small-town communities (typically with populations of 15,000 or fewer) are invited and encouraged to apply for the Bertha Dayton Grant. This grant offers up to $2,000 per congregation to support a wide range of ministries, programs, and support.

Planned Giving: A FREE Resource To Create A Will

Preparing your will is a sacred act of care that allows you to protect your loved ones today and share your blessings with future generations.

To support you in this step, we're excited to share a new resource available to everyone in our

minsitry where you can make or update your will to secure your assets, name guardians for children or pets, and document future decisions in case of emergency.

This resource is sponsored for us by Michigan Conference UCC and is completely free to use.

Through our partner FreeWill, you can create or update your will in about 20 minutes, completely free and fully secure.

Neurodiversity and ministry with people who are neurodiverse

You are invited to attend the 2026 Faith Formation Leaders Fall Retreat hosted by the Great Lakes Association of United Church Educators (GLAUCE) October 6, 2026 4:00pm - October 8, 2026 11:30am

We will gather for three days of fellowship and learning at Waycross Camp and Retreat Center, 4879 Richards Rd, Morgantown, IN 46160

Lodging option are Double occupancy for $300 OR Single occupancy for $400

All rooms have a private bath. 

Meals from dinner on Tuesday - breakfast on Thursday are included.  

Register by September 15

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equipping pastors and congregational leaders

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