This week, thousands from across the country (and abroad) will gather for General Synod 30 in Cleveland, Ohio - the birthplace of the United Church of Christ. Together, they will discern resolutions of witness, church structure, and function. They will stand up for issues that demand a faithful witness. And they will join together in worship each day to lift up the Stillspeaking God. At General Synod 30, they will explore some of the "Unexpected Places" where we hear God's voice, encounter the Spirit, and find the United Church of Christ lifting up its witness in the world.

 

Shari Prestemon, Conference Minister, Rick Wagner, Associate Conference Minister, and Steve Boorsma, Associate Conference Minister from the MN Conference office and 18 delegates will be traveling to Cleveland to participate in the General Synod activities.  Those serving as delegates for the MN Conference are:
Cindy Mueller from First Congregational UCC in Hutchinson
Lawrence Richardson from Living Table UCC in Minneapolis
Shuji Moriichi from St. Mark's UCC in Bloomington
Mark Scott from St. Anthony Park UCC in St. Paul
Nick Johnson from Peace UCC in Rochester
Kathy Nelson from Peace UCC in Duluth
Nancy Swanson from Cherokee Park United Church in St. Paul
Shirley Hoff from Peace UCC in St. Cloud
Becky Kruse from Lynnhurst UCC in Minneapolis
Sapphire McKnight from Peace UCC in Rochester
Zoe Kuester from Cherokee Park United Church in St. Paul
Kathy Gibson-Christensen from Lynnhurst UCC in Minneapolis
Bridget Haefner from St. Paul's UCC in Delano
Aaron Lauer from First Congregational Church of MN UCC in Minneapolis
Mark Young from Congregational UCC in Rochester
Peter Wagner from Union Contregational UCC in St. Louis Park
Mark Kuether from Congregational Church in Detroit Lakes
Allen Hilton from Wayzata Community Church in Wayzata

You can be there via social media! 
If you want to be a part of the activities you can!  Social media makes it easy to participate - live gavel to gavel coverage of every event in the main plenary hall can be accessed through live streaming.  Our Minnesota delegates will be blogging about their experiences.  There will also be posts to our Face Book page throughout the week so be sure and follow us on Face Book.

• UCC Presence at Twin Cities Pride Event
  The Minnesota Conference Open and Affirming Ministry Team is coordinating UCC presence at the Twin Cities Pride Event, June 27-28, and invites you and your community to attend. View the ONA Pride Flier for more information.
• James Maki, a member of Zion UCC in LeSuer, has been nominated as a member at large on the UCC Board of Directors and voting will take place at General Synod 30 this weekend.  James previously served a six-year term as the MN Representative on the Executive Council of the former governance structure.

• Pilgrim Point Camps & Retreat Events
• Summer Youth Camp, Pilgrim Point Camp, Alexandria MN
• Youth Camp I (July 19-24, 2015) 
• Youth Camp II (July 26-31, 2015) 
• Wayzata Children & Youth Camps | June 6 - July 8
• July Family Camp hosted by Union UCC in St Louis Park | July 12-17, 2015
• August Family Camp hosted by St Anthony Park UCC | August 2-7, 2015
• Save the Date: Women's Retreat | September 25-27, 2015
   
• National UCC Events
• Unexpected Places! General Synod 30, Cleveland, OH, June 26-30, 2015.  Stay in touch with the Conference Delegation on social media.  Watch for updates from our delegates on Facebook, on our website, and right here in COMMAntary
• National ONA Gathering,Cleveland, OH, June 24-25, 2015
• Widen the Welcome Conference hosted by UCC Mental Health Ministry + UCC Disabilities Ministry, Hartford, CT, Sept 24-26, 2015
   
• Regional Opportunities
• Messy Church helps brand churches as welcoming places for children and families who are unchurched or unable to attend regularly on a Sunday morning. This Inspiring Models of Ministry Event will be held at McFarland United Church of Christ in McFarland, WI on November 8, 2015. 

• Local Church Events