South Central Conference Calls KO Pastor as Conference Minister

Congratulations to Rev. Phil Hodson,
Newly Called Conference Minister
South Central Conference

“‘For everything, there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven,’ the Scripture says. And as this new season approaches in the life of the Wichita United Church of Christ, I have come to see that my time among you must draw to a close.”

These are the words that Rev. Phil Hodson shared with the Church Board and congregation of Wichita UCC when he announced that he has accepted the call to become the Conference Minister of the South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ. The South Central Conference is our neighbor to the south and is comprised of about 60 UCC churches in Texas and Louisiana 

Phil came to KO almost four years ago from the United Methodist Church as a Member in Discernment and was granted a license to serve Fairmount and Pilgrim while he completed the MID process in the UCC. While serving Fairmount and Pilgrim Phil was ordained and called as the settled pastor of both congregations.  With the courageous leadership of the congregation, Phil led Fairmount and Pilgrim through the process of sharing space and then merging the two congregations to form a new congregation Wichita UCC in late 2019.  Wichita UCC has now sold both properties, (the sale of Fairmount is complete, the sale of Pilgrim is set to close soon) and has purchased a new property where they are scheduled to reopen for in-person worship on Christmas Eve, now with new leadership on a completely new journey that Phil has led to. At the meeting of the Church Board, someone noted while surprised about the timing, this is who Phil is, he’s a church planter. Wichita UCC is in many ways, a new church; we are grateful for the vision that has been planted here in KO with Phil and the members of Fairmount and Pilgrim that formed Wichita UCC.  And in July, we will send Phil from KO to Texas; with our prayers and thanks.