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Mission Bite: from across the Minnesota Conference
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from Rev. Sandy Johnson, chair, PDS
Professional Development Subcommittee Annual Report
The whole church thrives when its leaders are supported, nurtured, and challenged in their roles. It is the mission of the Professional Development Subcommittee (PDS) to support and assist authorized ministers (ordained, licensed, and commissioned) in pursing excellence in their ministries, and to encourage congregations and other institutions to be partners in those efforts.
The most visible work of the PDS is the yearly presentation of the "Minimum Compensation Guidelines" for authorized ministers in the Conference. Our hope is to provide congregations (and other institutions where authorized ministers serve) with the information they need to fashion appropriate and just compensation packages for clergy. These Guidelines are reviewed by the Board of Directors and approved by the annual meeting each year.
Authorized ministers are expected to be competent in many realms - theology, preaching, pastoral care, leadership, administration, and community involvement, to name a few. Continuing education and spiritual formation events are important ways for these skills to be developed and renewed. The PDS serves as an advocate for authorized ministers by encouraging local churches and other employers to provide time and financial support for these activities.
The PDS shares responsibility with the Conference Committee on Ministry to assure that all authorized ministers participate in "Power and Boundaries in Ministry" training every three years. This year the PDS has been exploring ways that this training can be tailored to the needs of those who serve in specialized ministries, and those who have already taken the basic course.
Also shared with the Conference Committee on Ministry is the privilege of administering grant and scholarship programs for persons who are preparing for ministry.
The PDS is also charged with welcoming new authorized ministers to the Minnesota Conference. Plans are underway for PDS members to contact these newcomers more systematically, along with possibly recruiting Mentors (or buddies!) to offer continuing support.
In a larger sense, every function of the PDS is also a responsibility of local congregations, church members, and employers. We show our appreciation and support of authorized ministers when we make sure they have the time and resources to grow in faith, strengthen their skills, and explore new directions!
On a personal note, as I end my time on this subcommittee, I want to thank the members who have made the work of PDS possible:
-Rev. Victoria Wilgocki
-Diane Gardner
-Rev. Kent Meyer
-Greg Meland
-Rev. Mark Mallinger (representing the Committee on Ministry)
-Rev. Glen Herrington Hall (representing United Theological Sem.)
-Rev. Rick Wagner (Conference staff liaison)
-Rev. Sandy Johnson, chair
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| Joys and Concerns |
1. A Service of Farewell for Rev. Jennifer Amy-Dressler will be held Sunday, June 1 at 9:30 am at The Federated Church in Morris (220 S Columbia Ave). Rev. Amy-Dressler has served as interim minister at The Federated Church since 2010.
2. A Service of Farewell will be conducted for Rev. David Lindsey Sunday, June 1 at 10:00 am at Lynnhurst Congregational UCC (4501 Colfax Ave S, Minneapolis). Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles. Rev. Lindsey has been pastor of Lynnhurst Congregational since 2007.
3. Olivet Congregational UCC, as part of its 4-way covenant with member Rev. Grace Anderson, will conduct an installation-in-covenant ceremony as part of the service on June 1 at 10:00 am. Rev. Anderson serves as a chaplain for HealthEast in St. Paul.
4. Rev. Jean Boese will be installed as Pastor of St. Paul's UCC in Eyota on Tuesday, June 3 at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to dress casually and clergy may wear red stoles. Rev Boese has served the church since the fall of 2013.The church is located at 12941 County Road 9.
5. Robbinsdale UCC (4200 Lake Ave, Robbinsdale) will celebrate its 125th anniversary on Sunday, June 8th at 10:00 a.m. A picnic potluck will follow. Local dignitaries and other honored guests are expected to attend.
6. On Sunday, June 8th Chapel Hills UCC (6512 Vernon Ave S, Edina) will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Doug Allen. Doug will lead worship at 10:15 a.m. A reception in Doug's honor will follow the service.
7. A memorial service for Rev. Dr. Wayne B Robinson will be held Sunday, June 8th at 2 p.m. at Robbinsdale UCC. Rev. Robinson, who served as Pastor of Robbinsdale UCC from 1974 until 1990, died in California in April.
8. CUE (Chicago, United, Eden) Seminaries has a new video that helps to share the story of the importance of theological education. The video can be shown in worship, at Stewardship team meetings, or at Association or Conference gatherings. It can be viewed directly on the CUE website: http://www.cueseminaries.org/Main/Video.
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| Faith in Minnesota's Future: An Invitation from the Conference Minister |
 On June 28 you have an opportunity to join with many others in the faith community to seek greater justice in the state of Minnesota. On that day ISAIAH (http://isaiahmn.org) will host Binding the Covenant: Faith in Minnesota's Future at the Minneapolis Convention Center, convening a statewide, ecumenical gathering of more than 1500 people and prominent elected officials in Minnesota. This is a moment when you can join your voice and your efforts with others to seek economic and racial justice for all God's children, working to build a Minnesota where the dignity of each person is respected, where healthy communities and residents are the norm, and where everyone has a pathway to greater opportunity.
1,500 people of faith working together to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God?" That sounds like a pretty phenomenal opportunity to me. I'll be there; I hope you will be too!*
Shari Prestemon, Conference Minister
*Find out more and register at:
http://isaiahmn.org/2014/04/faith-in-minnesotas-future-2/
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Catch the Bus for Justice: Binding the Covenant. On Saturday, June 28th, more than 1,500 church people from across the state will come together in an interracial gathering at the Minneapolis Convention Center to showcase our faith and our values. The first section of the afternoon is a worship service in which participants will commit to vote for prophetic, justice-driven values. In the following portion of the afternoon we will present Governor Dayton, hopefully the Republican gubernatorial candidate, and legislators from both parties with a "Faith Equity Agenda"-a challenge to stand with us for racial equality and economic fairness. This event will launch a campaign that will deliver 15,000 low-propensity voters who share our vision to the polls in November.
A bus will leave at 12:15PM from Mayflower UCC on June 28th to transport people to the Convention Center and you are invited to join some 70 people from Mayflower in this ISAIAH-organized event. Mayflower is inviting folks from other congregations to join them and has reserved a seat on their bus for you! Contact Dan Quillin (danquillin@comcast.net or 651.357.4538). Mayflower is located at 106 East Diamond Lake Rd., Minneapolis.
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Staff Leave
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Alison Bents is out on leave and will return immediately following the Annual Meeting on June 16, 2014. Her tasks are being covered in-house, so we thank you for your patience as we cover the gaps. Generally, questions should be directed to Marita Karlisch at maritak@uccmn.org. Questions specific to the COMMAntary should be directed to Zac Norenberg at zacn@uccmn.org. |
2014 Annual Meeting - Strangers No More
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The 2014 Annual Meeting is coming up!
You won't want to miss it - June 13-15, 2014
LAST DAY TO REGISTER! REGISTER NOW! 
Important information:
- Take a look at the Call to the Meeting materials that were sent out at the beginning of March - just click here.
- The Annual Meeting summary agenda and workshop schedule are now available.
- Does your church have 100 members or fewer? If so, the first registrant from your church qualifies for a Small Membership Church discount! Just use this form to register the first person from your church.
Three items that will be up for vote at the Annual Meeting have been sent out and are now posted. Click here for the 2014 packet materials. As items are ready, they will be added to the gallery:
- 2014 Resolution in support of an end to the DHS/ICE daily detention level mandate
- 2014 Resolution to support dismantling racism and creating diversity in the MN Conference
- Proposed change for the 2015 compensation guidelines
Questions? Contact Marita Karlisch in the Conference Office at maritak@uccmn.org or 612-871-0359.
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| DON'T MISS OUT ON OUTSTANDING WORKSHOPS! | |
from Rev Howard Bell, Annual Meeting Planning Work Group
27 Outstanding Workshops at the Annual Meeting
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Equip yourselves and your churches for an exciting and vital future by attending a selection (two per attendee) of outstanding workshops being offered at the Annual Meeting this year. Learn from: World Leaders, National UCC staff members, published authors, our Conference Minister and two of our Associate Conference Ministers; our Prophetic Witness Ministry Teams; authorized ministers in our conference and beyond, lay leaders in our conference and beyond, and more! We are publishing the list of workshops today at the conference website so you can plan ahead for your choices.
See the full list of workshops with descriptions
There is a rich diversity of offerings and all of them will offer development of our Annual Meeting theme: Strangers No More. This annual meeting is offering an opportunity to broaden our understanding of, to expand our appreciation for, and to deepen our engagement with the Wider Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ. It will also add to our Faith Formation resources to become better global citizens and will serve as a catalyst for us, as justice-seeking communities of faith, to respond faithfully to a world in need of our care, services and ministries. Hear the "Sill Speaking" voice of God calling us, and our communities, into vital mission in the world!
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| The Great Vitality Rally (Pre-Annual Meeting) |
Catch Fire: The Great Vitality Rally
June 13, 2014 - 9am to 11:45am
College of St Benedict, Alumnae Hall, St Joseph, MN
An annual gathering on vitality before the Annual Meeting, Catch Fire will be an interactive, energetic morning of a panel of experts from within our own Conference speaking on what they have learned about revitalizing congregations and you sharing what you have learned. The morning will feature idea exchanges, networking, making new friends, and creating sustainable vitality for your congregation.
Register Now!
Registration is $25 per team member and includes the workshop, a continental breakfast, materials, and a vitality goodie bag. For every four team members that attend from your church, the fifth team member can join for free!
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| ONA Annual Gathering CANCELLED |
Unfortunately, the Annual Gathering of the Coalition and the ONA movement in Minnesota prior to the Annual Meeting has been cancelled.
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Volunteer at Pilgrim Point in 2014!
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 How do you plan to spend your summer? Does being of service, doing vital volunteer ministry in community with others in a gorgeous outdoor setting sound appealing to you? Our volunteer hospitality ministry makes all the difference to these events at Pilgrim Point and we invite you to fill out the 2014 volunteer application and background check form to become engaged in hands-on work with this vital ministry. You are a blessing to PPC&R, your ministry of hospitality for those who come to camp helps strengthen our community as a camp and as a Conference. Thank you in advance for your work, your time and your heart!
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| UCC Young Adult Service Internships! |
Two positions have just opened up in the UCC Young Adult Service Communities! YASC is a national network with host churches located throughout the United States. YOU could be the right person for one of the them.
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Oak Meadows at your church!
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 Are you or your congregation interested in having someone come to your church to speak about senior housing? Kim Prayfrock of Oak Meadows, our UCC-affiliated senior living facility located in Oakdale, Minnesota, would love to hear from you! Drop her an email or give her a call at kim@oak-meadows.org or 651-578-0676.
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| Webinars: Grant Writing and Appreciative Inquiry |
1. Appreciative Inquiry - June 3 - Noon CDST
Learn about the process of Appreciative Inquiry and its value in congregations, especially in making changes. Mark Lau Branson is a Professor at Fuller Seminary and the author of Memories, Hopes, and Conversations: Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change.
2. Grant Writing - June 24 - Noon CDST
Learn strategies for finding and obtaining grant funding for various projects your congregation wants to engage in to provide stronger ministry. Cameron Trimble is the Executive Director of the Center for Progressive Renewal.
Register Here!
Each webinar is $9.99
If you are unable to participate on the day and time listed, not to worry. Each webinar will be archived and you can listen to it at your convenience. The advantage to being on the live webinar is you can ask questions, but you can still get the information, whether you are on live or not.
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Clergy Clusters in the Coming Week
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Southeast Clergy Cluster: Tuesday, June 3, 11:10am, Peace UCC, Rochester
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| Register now for Boundary Training |
Living the Sacred Trust:
Boundary and Ethics Training
Who: Clergy and Lay Leaders
When: Tuesday, September 30
Where: UCC New Brighton (1000 Long Lake Rd, New Brighton)
Register: Registration is open! Space is limited. To register, click on link and event listed as "Living the Sacred Trust." Choose "other" for district and church.
Download the flyer for more information.
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Youth Camps at Pilgrim Point
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Strengthen Your Youth Ministry -
Go to Camp Together!
Whether you have one youth in your church or many, attend camp together for an unforgettable ministry and life-changing week! You won't want to miss out on the adventure course, our Lake Ida water slide, (NEW) day of mission experiences, vespers and excellent food. Adult church leaders attend camp with their youth and serve as the camp staff/counselors for the week. This program shift is designed to help get your church youth ministry going into high gear!
Youth Camp Week 1 | July 20-25, 2014
Youth Camp Week 2 | July 27-Aug 1, 2014
Youth cost: $350
Adult Church Leader cost: $100
Find answers to common questions: FAQ for 2014.
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Carol Howard Merritt coming to Minnesota
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Rev. Carol Howard Merritt
coming to the Minnesota Conference!
We are delighted to bring Carol Howard Merritt back to the Minnesota Conference on Thursday, June 26, 2014. Carol is the author of Tribal Church and Reframing Hope, as well as a regular columnist to in the Christian Century. She has pastored churches in Louisiana, Rhode Island and Washington, DC. Developing Vision--When a picture is developed, we employ reactions of light and chemicals, so that a personal vision can become a shared vision. As church leaders in a rapidly changing cultural landscape, we also have personal visions of what the church ought to be. How do we discern and articulate that vision? How to do we share it? During Vitality Day, Carol Howard Merritt will talk about some of the generational shifts, cultural evolutions, and innovative ministries that are taking place. Then, we will work together to envision what might be on the horizon for your church. Rev. Howard Merritt comes to us as part of our work with the Center for Progressive Renewal. Registration details will be available in late May.
Registration is now OPEN!
Time: Registration at 8:30AM; Workshop from 9AM-3PM
Place: Wayzata Community Church, UCC (directions)
Registration: $35/person (includes workshop, materials, lunch)
Feel free to contact Anita Bradshaw, Interim Associate Conference Minister, or call 612.871.0359 for more information.
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| Financial Management Training for Clergy |
Financial Management Training for Twin Cities Clergy
June 2-4, 2014 (8:30AM - 12:00 Noon)
United is holding a financial training workshop this summer covering the fundamentals of nonprofit finance, budgeting, and cash flow/reporting. This is the first of several such workshops United is offering over the next couple of years. As the recent recipient of a Lilly Grant intended to help prepare and educate students and clergy in financial management, part of our work includes offering free training for local churches and clergy.
Dates: Monday-Wednesday, June 2-4, 2014
Time: 8:30AM - 12:00 Noon
Location: United Theological Seminary, Strobel Room ( directions)
Cost: FREE
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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. Just click on the title of the event in the calendar to get more details. - Wednesday, June 4: Exploring Spiritual Practices - Chant, Lectio Divina and Examen, St Paul's UCC in St Paul
- Wednesday, June 11: Labyrinths - Peaceful Paths of Prayer, St Paul's UCC in St Paul
- 2nd Sundays, ongoing: Evensong Services with Folk Harp & Dulcimer, St Paul's UCC in St Paul
- 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, ongoing: Transgender Support Group, Peace UCC, Rochester
Want to see your event listed on this calendar? It's simple! Just email Alison at alisonb@uccmn.org. Thank you!
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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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