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Mission Bite: from across the Minnesota Conference
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Between now and the 2013 Annual Meeting each week's Mission Bites will highlight the work of volunteers as they report on the work of the Program Ministry Teams. The Conference Bylaws state that program ministry teams assist in fulfilling the strategic mission priorities of the Conference and carry out specific programmatic functions. As you will see in the weeks to come, these groups do amazing work and greatly increase our capacity.
2012 Open and Affirming Ministries Team
from Rex Wiederanders, chair
It is time again for us to celebrate our Open and Affirming churches and the effort and time we have put into becoming ONA. This year's Celebration will be held in Elk River, and you still have time to make your plans to be there. The address is: 1118 4th St NW, Elk River, MN.
Celebrating the United Church of Christ's extravagant welcome. Worship will include an acknowledgement of all Open and Affirming ministries within the MN Conference with special music provided by the choir of Saint Anthony Park UCC, and preacher Rev. Dr. J. Bennett Guess, Executive Minister for Local Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ national setting. Workshops options include "A New Way of Doing Church" by Rev. Lawrence T. Richardson along with members of Shift UCC, and "Sing Out" presented by Gigi Nauer, Music Director for Pilgrims UCC in Maple Grove.
This annual event serves as a way for us to witness to and celebrate the United Church of Christ's extravagant welcome to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community of Minnesota.
Join us on Sunday, April 14, 2013
2:30 PM - Workshops and 4:00 PM - Worship
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"IF NOT NOW, TELL ME WHEN" is the poignant theme for this year's ONA Gathering, which starts Thursday, June 6 before the Annual Meeting in St Joseph.
This is a time for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, along with allies, to build community and create valuable networks in our work. We will pray and play together, as we work strategically towards inclusion and justice in the church and the world. Keynote time will be lead by Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, Institute for Welcoming Resources and Faith Work Program Director for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Seth Ingersoll, Pastor of Community Connection and Outreach from SafeHouse Church in Minneapolis, will lead Community Building. Musical and choral direction provided by Diane Alveshere from First Congregational UCC in Alexandria. Worship will be coordinated by Marc Blakesley of Special Folk Worship Consulting.
Gathering Schedule:
Thursday, June 6
4:00 - 6:30 PM Registration
5:00 - 6:00 PM Choir Rehearsal
6:15 - 7:00 PM Dinner
7:00 - 8:15 PM Opening session & Community Building
8:30 - 9:00 PM Vespers with the Choir singing
9:30 -11:30PM Social Time (cash bar)
Friday, June 7
8:00-10:00 AM Registration
8:30 - 9:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 - 9:30 AM Group Sharing & Reports on ONA in the Minnesota Conference and UCC LGBT ministries
9:45-11:15 AM Keynote Time and Dialogue
11:30 - 12 Noon Closing Worship with the Choir singing
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Inevitably, things change. We are fortunate to have two trained ONA consultants in Minnesota, Leslie Amundson and Marc Blakesley, who serve on the Open and Affirming Ministry Team (ONAMT). This will be Leslie Amundson's last year as consultant, and the ONAMT and the entire ONA community will miss her tremendous talents and leadership. Although I cannot replace Leslie, I have begun the training to become the second ONA consultant in Minnesota, and should become qualified in the next month.
Last year I reported on the ONAMT's four objectives, which are:
- Increase the number of ONA congregations in the Conference
- Increase engagement of existing ONA congregations in ministry to and on behalf of LGBT people
- Increase education on issues faced specifically by our transgender brothers and sisters
- Increase education on behalf of and visibility of our bisexual brothers and sisters
In 2012, the ONAMT reached out to most of the non-ONA churches to establish a dialog in hopes of bringing an ONA study into their planning. Each church which becomes Open and Affirming makes it just a bit more difficult to find the next church willing to take that journey. In 2012, First Congregational United Church of Christ in Austin became the conference's fortieth ONA church, and we welcome Austin and the milestone of breaking the barrier into the forties. Pastor Shari Mason and the ONA Team deserve our thanks.
Objectives 2 through 4 were progressed through workshops at the ONA Celebration, the ONA Gathering and Annual Meeting.
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As we all recall, perhaps painfully, a constitutional amendment was placed before the voters which would define marriage as between one man and one woman. I remember meeting with the ONAMT after that decision was made. The mood was grim and we knew what we faced, but we also knew that we had the determination to fight. That day, every member of the ONAMT resolved to put in the time to get trained, make the uncomfortable phone calls, hold conversations using personal stories, and attend rallies whithersoever dispersed across Minnesota. Some members of the team drove themselves to exhaustion fighting this amendment, but everyone joined the fight. The ONA Celebration and Gathering became two more rallying events in opposition to the amendment.
November 6th, 2012... It was a halcyon evening for people who care about social justice. We defeated the Marriage Amendment by a strong margin, and the ONAMT celebrated with you. Long overdue, we then slept.
I close with these thoughts... In November, we were faced with what most people saw as certain defeat. No state had defeated a popular vote to restrict marriage rights. Yet we faced the effort with determination and we stopped the amendment. This is a very exciting time, as we are witnessing an avalanche of change; a change that we can feel come up from the ground, powerful and mighty. We are succeeding in teaching people who fear and act in fear, to love and act in love. We need to stop, just for a moment, and be amazed by this, and then go back to the hard work.
Yours in service on behalf of the Minnesota Conference UCC,
Rex Wiederanders, Chair, Open and Affirming Ministry Team
Members of the Open and Affirming Ministry Team
Naomi Peterson - First Congregational UCC, Anoka
Luann Suilmann - Union Congregational UCC, Elk River
Leslie Amundson - St. Anthony Park UCC, St. Paul
Rex Wiederanders, chair - First Congregational UCC, Zumbrota
Rev. Lawrence T. Richardson - Living Table UCC, Minneapolis
Gretchen Roessler - Living Table UCC, Minneapolis
Judith Rose - First Congregational UCC, Alexandria
Marc Blakesley, consultant - Living Table UCC, Minneapolis
Rev. Tom George, member Emeritus - Lyndale UCC, Minneapolis
Rev. Elena Larssen, Associate Conference Minister
 | | Minnesota's Open and Affirming Presence |
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Joys and Concerns
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 1. The inauguration of Barbara A. Holmes (pictured at right) as president of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton will occur on April 12, 6:30pm at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis. There is no charge, but you can find more information and online registration on United's website.
2. Rev. Brooke Wickliffe Fisher will be installed as Pastor of St. Paul's UCC and Peace UCC, both in Minnesota Lake, on Sunday, April 21st. A 1:00pm appetizer reception at St. Paul's (54577 230th Street) will be followed by a 2:30 installation at St. Paul's. Installation at Peace UCC (16 Park Street South) will be at 4:00pm, followed by a light dinner reception. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles.
3. United Church of Christ in New Brighton will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ordination of their pastor, Rev. Beth Donaldson, at the 9:20am worship service on April 21st. Rev. Donaldson has served UCC New Brighton since May of 2004.
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News from the Search Team
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Greetings and Happy Easter from the Search Team! Perhaps some of you have noticed that the Conference Minister Opportunity Profile is posted under the Transition Tab on the Conference Website. We invite you to take a look! As mentioned previously, we are also working with Rick Heltne of SIMA International and the national office of the UCC to develop a strong pool of potential candidates. We have received great interest in the position and are in the early stages of finding a new conference minister. The process is proceeding steadily and efficiently toward identifying the most promising candidates. We are optimistic that we will be able to identify a suitable and outstanding individual to put forth as our next conference minister.
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April Ordination Anniversaries
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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. George Hartz - April 1955
Rev. Herb Rotunda - April 2002
Rev. Bridget Haefner - April 2005
Rev. Sheryl Stowman - 01 April 1984
Rev. Jennifer Amy-Dressler - 01 April 1994
Rev. Michael Wasylik - 09 April 2005
Rev. JoClare Hartsig - 11 April 1983
Rev. Richard Mark - 13 April 1975
Rev. Beth Donaldson - 18 April 1993
Rev. Joel Greenfield - 19 April 2004
Rev. John Guttermann - 22 April 1990
Rev. Sandra Dodson - 22 April 1995
Rev. Kitty Burbo - 23 April 1989
Rev. Sue Hamly - 28 April 1991
Rev. Jane McBride - 28 April 2002
Rev. Kathy Gibson Christensen - 29 April 1984
Our best wishes for continued and flourishing ministry to all celebrating their ordination anniversaries in April!
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Retirement Celebration - Deadline extended!
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 Conference-wide celebration
of the retirement
of Conference Minister,
Rev. Dr. Karen Smith Sellers
May 5, 2013, 5:00-9:00pm
Silverwood Park Great Hall
2500 Cty. Rd. E, St. Anthony, MN
Cost: $35/person
Includes appetizers, dinner and a program in Karen's honor
Register: www.uccmn.org/transition
Deadline extended! Get your registration in by Wednesday, April 17!
Need hotel accommodations? Blocks of rooms are available at two local hotels. Mention "United Church of Christ" when you call in your reservation. To ensure our rates, please call no later than April 14.
Comfort Inn, Brooklyn Center, $79/room: 763-560-7464
Crowne Plaza, Minneapolis North, $92/room: 1-800-481-3556
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In addition, our final goodbye for Karen is during the June 7-9 Minnesota Conference UCC Annual Meeting. A brief program will be part of the Friday evening plenary, followed by worship, then a reception beginning around 9pm. Our liturgical release of Karen from the Minnesota Conference happens during worship, Sunday, June 9. The Annual Meeting takes place at the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, MN. Check www.uccmn.org/annualmeeting to register for the Annual Meeting.
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2013 Annual Meeting:
Behold, I am doing a new thing!
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Arriving in churches now! a mailing containing the following items:
- Amended and Restated Bylaws for the Minnesota Conference: To facilitate a constructive process at the Annual Meeting, we welcome your questions and concerns in advance of the meeting. Send them to the Conference Minister at Karenss@uccmn.org.
- Resolution Urging Divestment from Fossil Fuel Companies: The Board has asked the Justice and Witness Team to help in educating about this resolution prior to the Annual Meeting. Watch for updates in COMMAntary.
- 2014 Compensation Guidelines for Authorized Ministers:
Take a look at these documents today by following the links above. Also, don't forget to register today to attend this year's Annual Meeting! There's only one month left to nab the early registration fee - don't delay!
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Deadline coming up on Monday!
Send them in now!
Behold, I am doing a new thing!
We know that Bold New Things are taking place across the Minnesota Conference UCC and Bold New Things are happening in our congregations.
Accordingly, we invite you to share the Bold New Things going on in your congregation, particularly as they relate to our Conference's Bold Inspirational Goals:
- Equip clergy and laity to lead
- Create and sustain healthy, vital congregations
- Strengthen faith formation across the generations
- Increase our capacity for compassionate service and prophetic witness
Bold New Things may be big or small. Bold New Things help us all!
Send us your stories of the Bold New Things being realized in your church family. Some of them will be reported during plenary sessions at the Annual Meeting. Others will be compiled for wider sharing. The Bold New Things your church is now doing may well inspire not only the churches in our Conference but also churches throughout the United Church of Christ!
Please send your stories (250 words), photos, and videos to Alison Bents, Administrative Assistant to the Conference Minister by April 15: alisonb@uccmn.org or 122 W Franklin Ave #323, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Your contribution to our Minnesota Conference UCC is greatly appreciated!
Rev. Dick Fylling, Annual Meeting Planning Work Group
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Reserve your spot at Pilgrim Point for 2013!
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 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!
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, Campground)
- July 26-28 (Available: Annex, North Shore, POEM Cabins)
- August 9-11 (Available: Annex, North Shore, Campground)
- August 23-25 (Available: North Shore, Campground)
- August 30-Sept 1: (Available: North Shore, POEM Cabins)
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Working to prevent gun violence
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Gun Violence: Challenge to the Congregation
from Rev. Todd Smith Lippert, Senior Minister, First UCC, Northfield
First UCC in Northfield responded to recent gun tragedies by challenging its congregation to get at least 100 members to commit to calling 10-15 people - in another state or Minnesota - who will promise to call their Congresspeople and, if state firearms legislation is pending, their state legislators. Each caller is asked to urge support for reforming weak gun laws, and for universal background checks as a bare minimum as well as a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
The goal? 1,000 new calls to lawmakers.
On April 9, Interfaith Call-In Day to Prevent Gun Violence, our church hosted a two-hour phone bank with volunteers using their cell phones to call lawmakers, and to call friends far and near to urge them to call lawmakers.
Our Interim Associate Minister, Rev. Bob Griggs, and I work with a member of our congregation who is a board member and co-founder of the state group, Protect Minnesota, who, in turn, is working with other faith groups and allies around the state. Pastor Griggs and I have reached out to other ministers and denominations to add our church's activities to the responses that all churches can make to the devastation caused by U.S. gun violence. Our message is urgent - key votes on the issue are imminent! Only five weeks left in Minnesota's legislative session.
Challenge your congregation to make calls. You can find your legislator here and information about Gun Violence Prevention action from Justice and Witness Team Co-Chair, Rev. John Guttermann (intpasj@mac.com).
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A Resolution to Divest from Fossil Fuel Companies
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Why the Church? Why Us? Just as profit based on slavery came to be understood as immoral and illegal, profit based on wrecking the earth must come to be understood as immoral and illegal. Our denomination's story includes one courageous stand after another - the original Tea Party, abolition of slavery, first ordained blacks, women, and gays, civil rights, etc. We have shown courage and leadership-leadership by people of faith is essential on the great moral issues. We bring hope, belief that we can change the course of history, because we have done it before. We bring love, love and appreciation of all of creation. People of hope, love, courage and leadership can preserve God's creation. Divesting is a prophetic action. Public awareness will gather momentum and raise people's sense of urgency and consciousness of the high stakes. When divestment succeeds some people's employment may be changed, but a world that becomes uninhabitable will hit all people, all in creation. We are called to stand with those who will lose their jobs, even as we pursue this action. The goal of the resolution is not moral purity. It is a prophetic action, with a strategic purpose of accelerating the speed at which the fossil fuel industry begins to change. Vote for the resolution to put us in sync with the long term interests of the industry's investors, employees, and the rest of us. You may read the resolution and an accompanying FAQ document here. If you have other questions, would like additional resources or a speaker, contact the Justice & Witness Team at mnconfjusticewitnessteam@gmail.com.
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Getting Ready for General Synod!
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Head over to www.ucc.org/synod for all the information that you need to learn more about the big event, to study up on pre-synod details, and to get yourself registered!
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Mission 4/1 Earth!
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ONE UNITED CHURCH on a shared resurrection witness for Planet Earth during 50 great days of greening up, powering down, and shouting out.
- 50 days, 1 million hours of earth care
- 50 days, 100,000 trees planted
- 50 days, 100,000 letters to leaders
Join the journey: 50 days - Easter to Pentecost
www.ucc.org/earth
Click here to report your participation!
Click here for all of your Mission 4/1 Earth resources! Worship resources are available here too! Excellent.
Let's get planting! The UCC, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, offers special ways to plant trees in your community and across the US. Order your gift trees today for planting locally.
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Clergy Clusters in the Coming Week
| No clergy clusters in the coming week.
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Spring Middle School Youth Event
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Spring Middle School Youth Event:
God is Still Speaking, Part II
May 3-5, 2013 @ Pilgrim Point Camp
Join conference middle school youth (grades 6-8) with our awesome musician, Hans Peterson, for a weekend retreat on beautiful Pilgrim Point in Alexandria, MN.
Register Now - 10 days left for early registration!
Early Registration by April 15: $75 youth, $50 adult
Registration after April 15: $85 youth, $60 adult
Deadline for ALL Registrations is April 29
Download the Authorization Form: YOUTH - ADULT
Note: The Authorization Forms are interactive.
This event is for middle school youth (grades 6-8) and their adult leaders. All attendees are expected to be active participants in the entire event. Check-in: 6:30pm, Friday, May 3rd (dinner will not be provided Friday evening, so eat before you arrive). The retreat will conclude at noon, Sun, May 5th.
Questions? Email Zac at zacn@uccmn.org or 612-871-0359.
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Save the Date: Annual ONA Worship Celebration
|  Annual Open and Affirming Worship Celebration
April 14, 2013
hosted by Union UCC of Elk River
Workshops at 2:30pm
Worship at 4:00pm
Rev. Ben Guess of the UCC's Local Church Ministries is preaching, and a choir from St. Anthony Park UCC will provide music.
Minnesota Open and Affirming Celebration:
celebrating the United Church of Christ's
extravagant welcome
Worship will include an acknowledgement of all the "Open and Affirming"ministries within the Minnesota Conference, with special music provided by the choir of Saint Anthony Park United Church of Christ in Saint Paul and preacher Rev. Dr. J. Bennett Guess, Executive Minister for Local Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ national setting.
Workshop options will include: "A New Way of Doing Church" presented by Rev. Lawrence T. Richardson along with members of Shift UCC in Mendota Heights and "Sing Out " presented by Gigi Nauer, Music Director for Pilgrims UCC in Maple Grove.
You can download a poster for this event here!
Marc Blakesley has created a beautiful video celebrating the 40 ONA congregations of the Minnesota Conference UCC.
| | Minnesota's Open and Affirming Presence |
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PPC&R Summer Camps
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We are pleased to announce that we have opened registration for youth camps at Pilgrim Point for summer 2013. Register now to join other Minnesota Conference youth for a fun-filled week while enjoying this magical place of ministry. Both youth camps are directed by David Becker, Youth Program Director.
Radical Hospitality
at Pilgrim Point Camp
Middle School Camp
July 21-26, 2013 (Sunday through Friday)
Cost is $315/person until May 1, then $340/person
Register here or online at pilgrimpoint.org
Senior High Camp
July 28-August 3, 2013 (Sunday through Saturday)
Cost is $340/person until May 1, then $365/person
Register here or online at pilgrimpoint.org
Eco-Justice Training
August 11-14, 2013
Women's Retreat
September 20-22, 2013
Note: Middle School Camp is for youth currently in 5th-8th grade. Senior High Camp is for youth currently in 9th-12th grade.
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Save the Dates
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Boundary Training has been scheduled for 2013. Dates are:
Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at First Congregational UCC in Alexandria.
Tuesday, September 24 at Normandale Hylands UMC, Bloomington.
To register, go to events.minnesotaumc.org where it is listed as "Living the Sacred Trust." Choose "other" for district and church.
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2013 Certification School - Scholarships Available
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May 19-24, 2013 | closing retreat Nov. 8-10, 2013
This course includes 50+ hours of instruction, all textbooks, six webinars, coaching and ministry plan projects. May classes take place at Pilgrim Point Camp in Alexandria, MN and the November retreat in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Registration Cost: $2,000
Register Now! | Click here for more info.
Scholarships of up to $800 are available thanks to the Ashley Endowment of the Minnesota Conference UCC. You can download the scholarship application here. For more information, contact Zac (zacn@uccmn.org) in the Conference Office.
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VRV Annual Meeting Pre-event!
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The Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ announces a special
Vitality*Renewal*Vision Pre-Event with
Tony Robinson, UCC author, consultant and voice for vitality asks...
"What's God got to do with it?"
Connecting Theology and Congregational Vitality
Friday, June 7th, 9:00 am to noon
(Annual Meeting begins after lunch)
College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph MN
$30 per person; register online:
www.uccmn.org/annualmeeting
Come Thursday to enjoy an evening of dinner and worship with the Minnesota Open and Affirming Gathering, hosted by the Open and Affirming Ministry Team. Meals and housing are available through the ONA Gathering registration.
Questions? Contact maritak@uccmn.org
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United Theological Seminary Spring Convocation
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Spring Convocation | April 24-25, 2013
"The Church's Public Witness"
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, in collaboration with the Center for Public Ministry*, presents this year's Spring Convocation, exploring the role of faith communities and their calling to do justice - from theological, prophetic and practical perspectives.
Check the website (www.unitedseminary.edu) for program details and information about presenters and panelists:
- Sarah Bellamy, Penumbra Theatre, presenter ("Theatre as Public Witness")
- Jennifer Butler, Faith in Public Life, keynote presenter and panelist ("The Path to Irrelevance" & "Finding Our Way Back")
- Eleazar S. Fernandez, United, presenter and panelist, ("Letting Justice Roll: God in Public")
- Steven Newcom, Center for Public Ministry, panel facilitator (panel topic: "The Place of Public Ministry")
- Paul Slack, ISAIAH, panelist
Whether you are active in ministry or exploring your own spiritual path, join us for this invigorating topic.
Costs: $45-$120. Space is limited; register now!
*The Center for Public Ministry at United Theological Seminary is dedicated to equipping the church to be a powerful and sustained force for social justice.
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Local Church Events
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Check out all the events happening at our local churches across Minnesota on our Local Church Events Calendar! You can surf around the calendar to see what's coming up across the Conference. Just click on the title of the event in the calendar to get more details.
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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Employment Opportunities
| Check out the Employment Opportunities portion of the Minnesota Conference website. Click here to see the listings.
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