MA and RI Conferences Sharing Search & Call Support

The Massachusetts and Rhode Island conferences are now sharing administrative help for search and call, the process that helps to match clergy and churches.

Martha Goodman has been the search and call administrator for the Massachusetts Conference since January, 2013 and will now be carrying out the same function for the Rhode Island Conference. Her work includes posting listings of open churches to the national UCC Employment Opportunities website; working with Conference staff and search committees in local churches as they develop their position listing as part of their Local Church Profile; being the point of contact to get Ministerial Profiles from interested candidates into the hands of the local church search team; and keeping the necessary records to maintain a history of candidates’ search activities within the Conference, as well as the search and call activities the local churches and Conference have done together.

Rhode Island's Transitional Conference Minister, The Rev. Marilyn Kendrix, will work with search committees and candidates, and will now take part in monthly meetings with the Massachusetts Conference search and call team to review church openings and new Ministerial Profiles.

“This change is part of our transition from a standalone Rhode Island Conference to one Conference with Connecticut and Massachusetts, and will provide Rhode Island with a robust search and call process that was not possible as a standalone conference,” Kendrix said

The Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut Conference Annual Meetings voted in June to unite to form a single, new Conference which will come into being on Jan. 1, 2020, pending approval by the national General Synod in 2019.

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Free Fun Day at Irons Homestead

Sunday, August 19
12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Irons Homestead Waterfront
688 Snake Hill Road
Glocester, RI

All United Church of Christ members and friends are invited to a free day at the Irons Homestead waterfront. Grills available - bring your own food. Life guards on duty for swimming & boating. Time to hangout, play with and get to know your fellow UCCers. All ages encouraged to attend.

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Farewell Party in Honor of Sandy Tremblay

Thursday, August 30, 2018
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
394 New Meadow Road, Barrington, RI

Please join us for a Farewell Party in honor of Sandy Tremblay, who is leaving the Rhode Island Conference staff. Special thanks to Kathy Henry, who is opening up her home for this event.

Please RSVP to Kathy Henry at ksmhenry1@verizon.net.

Many Voices, One Mission: Forming the Faith of 21st Century Congregations

By Debbie Gline Allen, Christian Education & Youth Ministry Consultant for the MA Conference, UCC.

Have you noticed that it has become increasingly difficult to recruit volunteers to teach Sunday School and lead youth ministry programs? Have you noticed that the number of children and youth in your congregation is not the same as you had even just a few years ago? ...

So how can we continue to bring up our children and youth in the Christian faith when it’s beginning to feel as if there are few left to support this ministry? ...

While our goals for forming the faith of children and youth must remain the same, I believe that we need to shift our objectives away from Sunday School and youth group models toward methods and strategies that rely on the resources currently available in our congregations.

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Many Voices, One Mission is a regular series highlighting the ministries of the Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island conferences of the United Church of Christ.

Southwest Conference Calls for Week of Faithful Witness at the Border

The Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ has published information for churches wishing to help with the border crisis, either by joining a Week of Witness at the Mexican border in August, or by helping from home.

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Innovation is a Perennial Call to the Church

By The Rev. Susan Townsley, Associate for Innovation, Leadership and Change, Connecticut Conference

Innovation is a perennial call to the church. Put another way,

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Taking bread and wine and calling for the remembering of his Body, Jesus was an innovator. Creating a leadership council for the church, Peter was an innovator. Taking the message to the gentiles, Paul was an innovator.

The need to do the new thing has never been greater. This will be the focus at the Connecticut Conference's upcoming "Innovation Association" Sept. 24 and 25 in Southbury, CT. Read more.

The Offices Have Moved!

The Rhode Island Conference has moved to the Edgewood Congregational Church, 1788 Broad St., Cranston, RI 02905

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Upcoming Conference Events

Installation of Rev. Betsy Aldrich Garland
Sept. 9, 3:00 PM
Moosup Valley Congregational Church, Foster, RI

A Service of Welcomes
Sept. 30, 4:30 PM
Edgewood Congregational Church
Come welcome new Transitional Conference Minister, the Rev. Marilyn B. Kendrix, and let the Conference welcome you to the new Conference offices at the Edgewood Church.

Boundary Training
Oct. 11, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Seekonk Congregational UCC, Seekonk, RI

Retired Ministers Luncheon and the Ministerial Assistance Fund Trustees meeting
Oct. 17, 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Newman Congregational Church, Rumford, RI

Super Saturday
Oct. 20, 8:00 AM - 3:45 PM
Keefe Regional Technical High School, Framingham, MA
Join us for a full day of worship, workshops and networking. Keynote address by Dr. David M. Csinos, who writes widely about faith formation, children's ministry, youth ministry, and culture.

Other Events Of Interest

Q & A: Innovation in Church Stewardship
Aug. 28, 7:00 to 8:00 PM
Online
Free online webinar offered by the UCC’s Office of Philanthropy, Technology, Information and Communications (OPTIC). Featuring pastors who share how they are leading their churches toward meeting financial and membership goals.

General Association 2018: Innovation Association
Sept. 24 - 25
Heritage Hotel & Conference Center, Southbury, CT
An Innovation Hub experience including networking, collaboration and connection, open to anyone from the CT, MA and RI Conferences interested in innovative leadership.

UCC W.I.S.E. Conference for Mental Health
Sept. 29
South Congregational Church, UCC, Andover, MA
Learn about action steps for individuals and congregations to become WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged) about mental health.

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