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Transitions announced

The following transitions were approved by the Committee on Ministry at recent meetings:

• They conferred “Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing” on Stephen Gentle.

• Kaye Hult in Post Falls and Melinda Townsend were granted leaves of absence.

• Elyse Jauregui’s call to ordination was affirmed.

• Former Conference Minister Mike Denton’s transfer of standing was completed to serve in Massachusetts/Connecticut.

• Janet Matthews concluded her ministerial service at Fox Island UCC.

• Roberta Rominger concluded her ministerial service at Congregational Church on Mercer Island UCC.

• Kelsey Beebe was supported in her request to transfer her standing to the Wisconsin Conference. Her “Dancing Pastor Ministry” will continue to be supported by the PNC conference and Wayside UCC.

• Sally Balmer has recently retired from serving at Guemes Island UCC.

• The Committee affirmed Marcia McLaughlin’s status with the designation of retired.

• Alice Ling completed her service with the United Church of Christ Congregational in Wallace, Idaho.

Communities of Practice program is under way

Communities of Practice groups began in September 2022 and will run through May 2023.

The structure will be online only at the onset, but should the ever-changing COVID situation allow, each group can collaborate to decide how to proceed.

Like last year, participation is open to the Montana Northern Wyoming and the Central Pacific conferences.

Active, retired, specialized ministers and members in discernment are invited to participate.

Those interested in participating in a group may contact coordinators Brigitta Remole and Amy Hitchens, who took over in September.

For information, email brigitta.ucc@gmail.com or amy@npucc.org.

Boundary Training begins Oct. 17

Boundary Training will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., Monday, Oct. 17 ET. It is Retired Clergy Boundary Training with Tara Barber, Stephen Boyd and Melanie Oommen

Maintaining healthy boundaries is challenging at any stage in ministry but it can be particularly tender and difficult attending to boundaries for those transitioning from a last call and in retirement.

Using “A Sure Foundation,” “The Ministerial Code” and Bruce Epperley’s new book, “The Jubilee Years,” Stephen, Tara and Melanie are offering a focused Boundary Awareness Training for those entering and living in retirement. This training completes individual requirements for boundary training only when authorized by a local Committee on Ministry.

Bellingham hosts seminar and sermon on climate change

First Congregational UCC in Bellingham is hosting a hybrid seminar and Sunday sermon on churches meeting “the moral challenge of climate change” with Jim Antal, UCC activist and public theologian on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5 and 6..

Jim serves as special advisor on climate justice to the General Minister and President of the UCC. His 2018 book, Climate Church, Climate World, is being read by many churches. He has preached in more than 300 locations since 1988 on climate change and engaged in nonviolent civil disobedience on many occasions.

For information, visit www.fccb.net.

UCC women hold retreat

The Regional Women’s Retreat will be held in November at Salishan Resort.

The keynote speaker Jennifer Garrison has made a two-minute video, including music from worship leader Christina Kukuk.

For information, visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tlgcFrFxOp8DWRfybrMJnWvX5huar7us/view?us p=sharing.

General Synod 2023 planned

“Making All Things New” is the theme for the General Synod which will be held June 30 to July 4 in Indianapolis, Ind. For voting delegates it will be in person, but the organizing team is exploring ways to add virtual elements.

For information, visit ucc.org/next-synod-now-a-year-away-will-be-in-person-hybrid-aspects-being-explored/?inf_contact_key=58d474aa756bbfab8cbea5f8b71c165209c74070ac2bf3cfa786 9e3cfd4ff832.

Justice Jubilee underway

The Justice Leadership Program, building on the success of the online spring Jubilee cohort, will run the fall Jubilee cohort from October 2022 to May 2023.

All participants from the spring cohort, who are from five PNC congregations, agreed that the program was instrumental in their growth as justice leaders, said Rich Gamble, executive director.

“Jubilee is an introductory justice course for adults of any age who want to deepen their understanding of justice and learn practical organizing skills. Program participants meet weekly for skill and knowledge on building workshops, spiritual reflection, and group discussion and support,” he said.

Jubilee is a booster grant recipient of Volunteer Ministries of the National UCC, supported by GLOBAL H.O.P.E.

For information, email info@justiceleadership.com or visit www.justiceleadership.org.

Sacred Conversations on Racism set

Following two days of Sacred Conversations on Racism, at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 30, Velda Love, minister for racial justice on the national staff of the United Church of Christ, will preach at the United Churches of Olympia on “A Dangerous Sermon: The Cross and the Lynching Tree,” based on Luke 4:14-31.

The weekend workshop is for the United Churches congregation. The worship is open to anyone interested in attending in person or on zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89506082613 - Meeting ID: 895 0608 2613

“Why are we having this Sacred Conversation?” asked Marcia McLaughlin.

In Velda’s words, “Racial justice and racial equality need to be part of our national dialogue. As Christians in the United Church of Christ, we are responsible for changing the narrative of how we engage the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is inclusive, liberating and radical.”

For information, call the church at 360-943-1210 or contact Marcia 206-228-4354 or at marcia_mclaughlin@comcast.net.

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