Many of our smaller congregations support a pastor or a shared vision for ministry by partnering with one or more other congregations in their area. Sometimes this entails a partnership with a church of a different denomination. An example of what is called Ecumenical Shared Ministry is Sandstone UCC, which is yoked with Finlayson United Methodist Church. Their new pastor is the Rev. Rebecca Ellenson (at left), formerly an ELCA pastor. Some years ago, when Rev. Ellenson became the Executive Director of Duluth based SOAR Career Solutions - an organization that provides career planning to help people get meaningful, sustainable jobs - she was de-rostered as an ELCA pastor. She then joined Pilgrim UCC in Duluth, and when she felt a call to return to local church ministry, she spoke with her Pastor, Rev. Charlotte Frantz. To make a long story short, Rebecca was ordained by the Lutherans but appointed for this ministry by the United Methodists with authorization conferred by the UCC as a licensed minister. That's ecumenical!

The ecumenical shared ministry of Sandstone UCC and Finlayson UMC is one of many in the Minnesota Conference. Other multi-site examples include:

• Appleton, First Congregational UCC, which is yoked with Dawson Presbyterian Church and served by UCC pastor, Rev. Herb Rotunda.
• Glyndon, Congregational UCC, which is yoked with Hawley United Methodist, and served by UCC pastor, Rev. Jane Millikan.
• Marietta, First UCC, which is yoked with United Methodist churches in Bellingham and Appleton, and served by Pastor Barb McKewin, a certified lay pastor of the UMC.
• Sauk Centre, First UCC, which is yoked with Osakis Presbyterian Church, and served by the Rev. Tim Sutton, PCUSA.
• Zumbrota, First Congregational, which is yoked with the Presbyterian Church of Oronoco, and served by the Rev. Lisa Johnson, PCUSA.

There are also churches in the Minnesota Conference that have two or more denominational affiliations that are the result of mergers, federations, associations, or that were "born" that way:

• Ada, Faith United Church (UCC/UMC)
• Edina, Colonial Church (UCC, NACCC, CCCC)
• Fergus Falls, Federated Church (UCC/PCUSA)
• Glenwood, Glenwood United Parish (UCC/UMC)
• Lewiston, St. Paul's UCC/ELCA
• Little Falls, First United Church (UCC/UMC)
• Long Prairie, Peace United Church (UCC/UMC)
• Mapleton, The United Church (UCC/ABC)
• Minneapolis, Plymouth Congregational (NACCC and Minnesota Conference UCC)
• Morris, The Federated Church (UCC/UMC)
• Owatonna, The Associated Church (UCC/PCUSA)
• St. Paul, Macalester Plymouth United Church (UCC/PCUSA)
• Silver Bay, United Protestant Church (UCC, ABC, DOC, PCUSA, UMC)
• Winthrop, Faith United Church (UCC/NACCC)

And of course there are yoking arrangements that involve UCC churches exclusively. Currently the Minnesota Conference has 9 of these involving 19 UCC congregations, some of which are served by pastors from other denominations.

In small towns and rural parts of the state, ecumenical shared ministry often emerges out of a sense of need: declining membership, inadequate financial resources for pastoral leadership, inability to attract well-qualified leaders for part-time positions. There are challenges associated with this kind of shared ministry, but working together can also lead to more effective ministry. Be in touch with Conference staff if you would like to know more.

Rev. Dr. Karen Smith Sellers and Rev. Dr. Murdale Leysath at the 50th General Synod in Hartford

1. On Monday afternoon we received a call telling us of the death of the Rev. Dr. Murdale Leysath on Sunday, January 13 at her home in Brandon, VT. Rev. Dr. Leysath was the first female UCC Conference Minister and she took that pioneering step right here in the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ.  

Current Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. Karen Smith Sellers says, "She led the Conference with authority and skill, advocating for justice and using the power of her position to 'make a way where there was no way' for historically under-represented groups. She presided over many significant endeavors in our common life, including, importantly, the beginning of our global partnership with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and the start of two new churches - All Nations Indian Church UCC, the first urban American Indian church in the denomination, and Pilgrims UCC in one of the fastest-growing suburbs of the Twin Cities. There are lasting testimonies to her living legacy among us."  

A funeral service will be held tomorrow, January 17 at Grace Church UCC in Rutland, VT. A full obituary is available here. Notes and cards can be sent to Elwin Leyseth and family at 19 Carver St, Brandon, VT 05733.

2. Rev. Bryan Olson will be installed Sunday, January 27 at 3:00pm at Cottage Grove UCC (7008 Lamar Ave., Cottage Grove, MN). A celebratory reception and fellowship will follow the service of installation. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. 

Rev. Bryan Olson welcomed the Board of Directors to Cottage Grove UCC for its January 12 meeting. He shared reflections on the ministry of the congregation and led a time of Bible study and prayer.  

The Board received a report from the Executive Committee, including a request that came from the Immigration Team to endorse the Statement from the Reform Enforcement Caucus. This decision is rooted in the 2011 Annual Meeting Resolution in support of the Interfaith Platform on Immigration. 

The Board discussed the Women's Ministry Team of the Conference: whether or not this group should continue, and how to ensure the continued planning of Women's Retreat at Pilgrim Point Camp and administration of the Women's Events and Scholarship Fund. The Board will gather more information and make a decision about these matters at its March meeting.

The Board appointed a subgroup of its members and the Pilgrim Point Camp committee to clarify the criteria we will use to evaluate the success of our new model for the Outdoor Ministries of the Conference, and determine how we envision this ministry responding to the strategic priorities of the Conference. The group will bring its recommendations to the Board in March for discussion and approval.

The Board received reports from the Transition Team and the Search Committee. The work of the Transition Team over these last months has centered around planning celebrations of Rev. Dr. Karen Smith Sellers's ministry. The Search Committee has been hard at work, and will be producing an update soon about where they are in the process. To follow their progress, please visit the Conference website: www.uccmn.org/transition

The Board discussed proposed changes to the bylaws of the Conference and planned for them to be shared with members of the Conference for discussion and feedback. The Board will consider this input at its March meeting and bring revised bylaws to a vote at the Annual Meeting of the Conference.

Rev. Oby Ballinger brought a report to the Board regarding UCC efforts to defeat the marriage amendment. Using funds from the Conference "Vote No" Fund, Oby was hired as a half time UCC organizer through MN United for All Families. The MN Conference made a tremendous impact in this campaign and in the larger effort to gain equality for all families. As a faith community, we learned a lot about building coalitions for social change that can apply more broadly to our work on various issues of justice. Members of the Board expressed their thanks to Oby for his efforts, and to Community UCC, St. Paul Park for their support of his work.

The Board is beginning to investigate the creation of a comprehensive strategy for communications for the Conference, which would include a new website. The Board affirmed the work of the Nominating Work Group in replacing members of committees and teams who have resigned from their positions and received reports from the staff and committees. The Board discussed their 2014 budget and the larger budgeting process for the Conference.

On the day of an ordination, the people of God gather together to celebrate the call of an individual into ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ. In that ceremony, the people pledge to uphold and support the new Reverend's ministry in and with the church. As such, you are encouraged to celebrate the following ordination anniversaries this month with and in honor of these individuals:

Rev. Lloyd Beebe - January 1951

Rev. Eugene Jaberg - January 1959

Rev. Paula Bidle - January 1985

Rev. Rebecca Lemenager - January 2002

Rev. Loren McGrail - January 2005

Rev. Hank Campbell - 08 January 1984

Rev. Trish Greeves - 08 January 1989

Rev. Michael Small - 13 January 1985

Rev. David Marcham - 16 January 2000

Rev. Shirley Koepsell - 19 January 2008

Rev. Obadiah Ballinger - 23 January 2010

Rev. Jennifer Stoos - 28 January 1996

Our best wishes for continued and flourishing ministry to all celebrating their ordination anniversaries in January! 

Congregations are invited to sponsor a week or weekend of their own at Pilgrim Point! We provide twice daily all-camp, cross-generational programs, worship support for the Vespers leadership (once a day as an all-camp event), amazing meals and hospitality. You will still have plenty of time for relaxing, playing at the beach or ball field and creating your own experiences!

As it happens, dates and spaces are filling up VERY fast, but there is still room to get your church to the Point! If you want to pair up with another church, we can help you - contact Gigi Nauer (ggmarie58@gmail.com) to assist with those connections. If you have other questions related to making a reservation, please contact the Pilgrim Point Registrar, Zac Norenberg (zacn@uccmn.org) to get assistance. 

Download the reservation form here, and GET TO THE POINT! 

On the reverse of the form, please find procedures on how to make a successful reservation. Please read through this carefully before submitting your application. Contact Zac Norenberg (zacn@uccmn.org) if you have any questions.   

Here is what is currently available:

• July 12-14 (Available: Lodge, Annex, North Shore, Campground)
• July 26-28 (Available: Annex, North Shore, POEM Cabins)
• August 9-11 (Available: Annex, North Shore, Campground) 
• August 23-25 (Available: Annex, North Shore, Campground)
• August 30-Sept 1: (Available: Annex, North Shore, POEM Cabins)

Peace Fund Offering is Martin Luther King Sunday, January 20!

New promotional materials are now posted to the Justice and Witness Team page of uccmn.org.

Your support of the Peace Offering empowers the "Prophetic Voice" of the Minnesota Conference. Your "UCC people power" made history in November with the defeat of the marriage and voter ID amendments to our state constitution.

Your contributions to the Peace Fund special offering on Martin Luther King Sunday, January 20, 2013, will help deepen the support base for advocacy. It adds to your own congregation's financial base (25% supports local congregational based advocacy) as well as creating advocacy resources for use throughout the Minnesota Conference through the Peace Fund Grant program (75% of the offering). The Justice and Witness Team administers the Peace Fund Grant program.

For more information, contact Rev. John Guttermann, intpasj@mac.com or 651-485-3104. Updated resources are available! 

Update on our Global Ministries missionaries,

Maryjane and Don Westra 

First Congregational UCC in Cannon Falls was delighted to host a morning with Don & Maryjane Westra in June of this year. We learned about their experience as missionaries in Zimbabwe during the previous three years. They returned to Africa this fall for another three years, but are starting out in Mozambique instead. I have been in contact with Maryjane via email and here's what she shares with us:

"We had to leave Zimbabwe because of some mix-up with our work permits. They insisted that we leave the country while we await word. We have no idea how long that will take, maybe weeks, maybe months. The UCC-Zimbabwe folks are working on it, making daily trips to the immigration office. They don't have computers at immigration, just big books they write in. So, files notoriously get lost. The last time this happened it took four months to straighten out. But we were allowed to live and work in Zimbabwe then. Not now. So that's the long story...  here we sit. I walked five miles today along the beach of the Indian Ocean searching for a lighthouse. I found it ..  And it's HOT here."

We pray that the Westra's time with friends in Mozambique will offer some refreshment. May they have a speedy return to their beloved Mt. Selinda where their work will continue to benefit many. 

Respectfully,

Rev. Barbara Martin 

Clergy Clusters in the Coming Week  

Northwest Cluster: Tuesday, January 22, 10:00am

First Congregational UCC, Moorhead

South Central Cluster: Tuesday, January 22, 2:00pm

Federated Church, Morris 

Mark your calendars now for one of three upcoming webinars going over and discussing amendments to the Minnesota Conference Bylaws that will be coming up for vote at this year's 51st Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Conference UCC.

Tuesday, February 5, 1:00pm

Wednesday, February 6, 7:00pm

Tuesday, February 19, 7:00pm

More details about how to join in and sign up will be available in next week's edition of the COMMAntary. 

The first celebration is on Friday, June 7, at the evening session of the conference Annual Meeting, held in its traditional setting of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Speakers will bring tributes and, of course, a reception will follow. Even if you are not an Annual Meeting delegate or visitor, we urge you to attend this celebration.

The second celebration, a conference-wide event, will take place on Saturday, June 22, in the late afternoon or evening, with a reception, a program honoring Karen's accomplishments and those of the Minnesota Conference with her leadership, as well as her distinguished service in the wider United Church of Christ and the ecumenical church. This event will be in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, at a site yet to be determined.

Winter High School CYE 2013  

2013 Certification School! 

4th Thursdays 

Register Now! 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 6 pm - 8:30 pm

the day before the 2013 JRLC Day on the Hill event on Feb. 21

Mayflower UCC, 106 E Diamond Lake Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55419 

Learn more about being a justice advocate!

Prepare with other UCCers for the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition's Day on the Hill event, organize for faith based social justice advocacy, come together as Minnesota Conference UCC Prophetic Voices for Justice, celebrate our Conference Prophetic Voice!

Come to live into the Conference Vision: The Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ is a bold, widely-known, proactive and respected public voice of Christianity.

Register Now!

Free event, and dinner is provided

• Wednesday, January 16: ONE - A Theological Exploration of Faithful Unity, Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata
• Sunday, January 20: Harlem Street Singer: Local Premier Showing! Union Congregational UCC, Elk River   
• Sunday, February 3: Evensong Service, St. Paul's UCC, St. Paul 

Would you like your events to appear on this calendar? Just email Alison Bents at alisonb@uccmn.org. Simple as that!

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