Welcome to Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ
Greetings!
Grace, mercy and peace to you all in the spirit of Christ.
I returned at the end of August from our family's usual trip to the mountains of Wyoming. Since Ann and I met in the Grand Tetons in 1970, we have vacationed there most years and now also have family that draws us "out west." One of our favorite places has always been Yellowstone Park. It's many unique thermal features, the canyon and falls, and its spectacularly abundant wildlife have always drawn us, but what we always enjoyed was just driving the loop roads through the towering Lodgepole Pines. The 60-80 foot trees grew right up to the road and shaded the drive, even on the hottest days.
In 1988 Yellowstone suffered a hot summer with many storms that triggered massive fires that burned a large percentage of the forests in the park. Driving through the charred remains the following year was disheartening. Vast open areas of blackened trees and ash were all we could see for hundreds of square miles. I still remember saying to one another, "We'll never see it like we remember it again. Not in our lifetimes." What we had loved and relied on for renewal was simply gone.
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2012 Clergy Compensation Guidelines
The 2012 Clergy Compensation Guidelines are now available on our website. Guidelines booklets will be mailed to the churches in October.
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Wisconsin Council of Churches Advice on the new Concealed Carry Law
Senate Bill 93, signed by Governor Walker in June, 2011 will make a number of changes in Wisconsin law related to the licensing for, and limitations on, the carrying of concealed weapons in this state, effective November 1, 2011. The Wisconsin Conference, as a member of the Wisconsin Council of Churces, commends the resources that the Council has developed on behalf of its member churches.
The Wisconsin Council of Churches continues to receive inquiries from pastors and other church leaders about how this legislation impacts local congregations. The memo below briefly summarizes provisions of the new law and questions congregations will need to address.
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Welcome Rev. Dr. Kent Ulery
Associate Conference Minister
| Rev. Dr. Kent Ulery |
The Conference is happy to welcome the Rev. Dr. Kent J. Ulery to our staff as the Interim Associate Conference Minister with primary responsibility for the Southwest and Southeast Associations. Kent's role will be to work with Church and Ministry committees in both Associations; coordinate pastoral response to both clergy and congregations; and to be the lead staff for Search and Call work when there are pastoral vacancies. As a member of the Conference staff, Dr. Ulery will also share in a variety of duties and will be available to preach and work with churches in response to requests and as his schedule allows.
Kent Ulery comes to us from his role as President and Professor of Pastoral Leadership at Bangor Theological Seminary, one of the 7 closely-related seminaries of the UCC. Prior to becoming Bangor President, Kent was the Conference Minister of the Micnigan Conference (1996-2008) and served local church pastorates in Midland, MI, East Peoria, IL, and Vera Cruz/Decatur, IN. He is a graduate of DePauw University (B.A.), Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and McCormick Theological Seminary (D.Min.).
In recent years, Kent has worked on the biblical Book of Revelation and the Seven Churches that play an important role in the themes of that portion of scripture. In 2011 he completed a book entitled No Longer at East: Revelation's Seven Churches and the Empire (available from Amazon.com). Kent is married to Meg, and they recently moved to Arlington Heights, IL to be close to grandchildren.
The search committee that worked to fill our interim Associate Conference Minister position was delighted to get to know Kent and to experience his patient and pastoral style. He has significant experience in Church and Minister work, and his theological scholarship and love of teaching also impressed the committee. The committee was unanimous that Kent Ulery will provide the kind of transitional leadership that we need in the two southern Associations and throughout our Conference staff work. Kent will begin work October 1 and may be reached at [email protected] as well as through the Conference phone number. Please join in welcoming him.
(Members of the search committee were Rev. Rebecca Johnston, chair; Rev. Andrew Warner; Mr. Dick Betts; Rev. Steven Welch, Rev. Mark Yurs; Rev. Kerri Parker; Rev. David Moyer)
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Honduras - A Reverse Mission Trip
Housing continues to be a huge concern for the people of Honduras after the devastation left by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Come spend a rewarding, eye-opening, unforgettable 11 days giving your time and energy to Honduran families in need. Included in our Forward in Faith commitment was affirming our neighbors in Latin America. Here is your opportunity to join our Wisconsin Conference UCC Work Team to Honduras January 4-14 2012, in our efforts to accomplish this goal. Dave Piper has led many mission trips to Honduras and will continue as the main leader on this trip.
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Our Whole Lives (OWL) Training
This training is for adults who want to teach the Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality curriculum in their congregations. This training will offer the workshop for the Middle School / High School (Grades 7-9 and 10-12) Curriculum.
Our Whole Lives helps
participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society/culture. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality,
Our Whole Lives provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values, building interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality.
October 7-9, 2011
Level: 7-9/10-12
Event Website
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Sponsor: Prairie Star District UUA
UCC Trainer: T. Michael Rock
Contact: Philip Lund,
mailto:[email protected]
(612) 230-3274
Sexuality and Our Faith, a series of companion resources for Our Whole Lives, provides a framework for incorporating specific faith-based teaching and practice into each session of the curriculum. For more information, visit
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Wisconsin UCC Minister Organizing
Mission 1 Food Drive
Rev. Schowalter recently shared his objective with the Wisconsin Conference:
- Use a food drive as an opportunity to connect UCC congregations with Lakeland College and its Centers around the state/Conference.
- Build stronger relationships with alumni, students, faculty, and UCC churches in areas of centers.
- Provide an opportunity for fellowship and a short presentation about Lakeland including information about the area Centers and possible college Admissions.
What we are seeking are congregations who would be able to...
- Be interested in participating and hosting in this event;
- Identify a "food pantry" in their community to receive donations;
- Would be interested in hosting a "potluck" meal for fellowship and celebration of event.
Please email Rev. Mark P. Schowalter [email protected] if you are interested or call him at (262) 903-6455 or Ms Lisa Vihos at (920) 565-1295.
Retired Wisconsin UCC Minister, Rev. Mark Schowalter together with Lakeland College is assisting in the organizing of food drives for the Mission: 1 UCC Food Drive of the United Church of Christ. The Food drive component of Mission:1 has set a goal of collecting more than 1 million items of healthy food and other household items for local food banks and outreach services.
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Knock Knock! A Retreat for Middle School Children
Start your 6-8th graders on an adventure called CHURCH. Open the DOOR to energized Youth Ministry.
At Knock Knock, your group will:
- Discover love and acceptance as the true experience of the church
- Connect faith to THEIR most pressing concerns:
- Dealing with peers ("Friends")
- Family Relationships ("Family")
- Violence/Bullying ("Hurt")
- Media Temptation ("Influence")
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Do hands-on workshops and Bible study...not just sitting around and talking -
Be inspired by our High School Drama Team -
Learn how they can keep opening doors back at home -
Bryan Sirchio will provide Musical Leadership at Knock Knock 2011!
It's a Group Thing! Come to Knock Knock together. Start a new group or fire up the one you've got, like your youth group or confirmation group. Don't come alone! Bring a least half the interested Middle Schoolers in your church, plus one adult leader for every five kids. The leaders go through the workshops with the youth. Your group will feel the impact for a long time!
| Calling all Youth Groups to Knock Knock!! |
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The Church Renewal Program
Five Practices The Church Renewal Program offers a practical process to strengthen the quality of your church's essential ministries and reconnect with God's purpose for your congregation. Vital, growing congregations know how their purpose is connected to God's purpose for the church. They believe that what they do brings hope and help to people's lives in the name of Christ. How does this work? Each church recruits a leadership team made up of the pastor and at least three lay members. Everyone attends the Kick-Off Event on Saturday, October 15, 2011 for orientation to the basic concepts of church renewal. Our text is Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, which focuses on the five essential activities of church life. Your team will assess your church in these areas and create an action plan for strengthening your ministries: � Radical hospitality � Passionate worship � Intentional faith development � Risk-taking mission and service � Extravagant generosity Each leadership team will meet back home once a month for five months. The group works on one of the Five Practices themes each month guided by a trained leader. Program Flyer and Registration Form |
Rev. Moyer (cont.)
Moving forward 23 years to 2011, we suddenly see the power of renewal in the cycles of nature. Granted, there are still no tall trees along the roadsides yet, but if you look out from vistas to the distant ridges and if you look back into the forests, you see a wall of the most beautiful green. Green pine trees everywhere. Some are now 12-15 or even 20 feet high. The view certainly isn't the same as the mature forests of 30 years ago, but there is something new and remarkable going on.
As we drove along, we kept talking about the trees, millions upon millions of them, all now some 20 years old and growing and renewing the forest. Ann and I both recalled our fears from years ago that we would never again see the Yellowstone we remembered. That may still be true, but two things struck us. First, the bright green of the new trees is a beautiful sight in its own right, and secondly, with a bit of grace and a few more years to travel these favorite roads, we have a chance of seeing the towering pines once again.
Fire, we keep learning, is an essential part of the renewal of a forest. An entirely mature forest is subject to disease, and fire can eliminate some pests, and it also takes heat to open the cones of the Lodgepole and release the seeds that hold the power of new life. The change is, without a doubt, hard, but the seeds of renewal and, ultimately, of long term health, lie within, waiting for the struggle to release them.
I thought of a text from Isaiah 43 as I drove those familiar Yellowstone roads, now with a growing hope that things I needed from that environment were coming back. It probably would never be quite the same for me in my lifetime, but the essential quality of beauty was well on its way to an incredible renewal. I heard the prophet's words: "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"
We could perceive it, clearly and joyfully! And if it can happen in a forest, why not have a hope for that kind of renewal in the church. As some familiar and much-beloved patterns of church life change, God is already at work doing a "new thing." Look for it, welcome its springing forth, and give thanks, always thanks.
David S. Moyer
Conference Minister |
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Association Media Contacts
Northeast: Bill Clyma [email protected]
Southwest: Lois Rosko [email protected]
Northwest: Mary Jo Laabs (Newsletter) [email protected]
Wendy Dittman (website)
[email protected]
Southeast: Tammy Wallsch [email protected]
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Conference Events Calendar GLAUCE Fall Event October 11-13
Church Renewal Program/Five Practices October 15
Women Gathered at The Well October 21-23
Discernment Day November 4
Knock Knock - God's at the Door November 18-20 Jesus Core January 6-8, 2012
German Gospel Tour August 7-22, 2012 For a complete listing of our events and committee meetings, please see our calendar.
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National Youth Event 2012
Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN July 10-13, 2012 Isaiah 43:19
Registration opens fall 2011 - Save the Date!
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