Central Congregational Church Receives Neighbors in Need Grant
Central Congregational Church in Topeka, Kansas, is a recent recipient of a Neighbors in Need grant from the United Church of Christ.
KO Books to Close: Support OCWM
KO books will close for 2021 OCWM gifts on January Tuesday January 18th. Please have your OCWM gifts postmarked and mailed in the to arrive by the closing date.
New Pastor Called to Wichita UCC
On Sunday December 12, Wichita United Church of Christ voted to call the Rev. Jacob Poindexter as their next settled pastor.
Support Needed in Aftermath of Tornado Devastation
We awoke on Saturday morning to the news of destructive storms that tore through at least five states the previous night, including Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. T
Updates from the Committee on Ministry (December 2021)
We’re fortunate for the work of the Committee on Ministry here in KO. Read updates from the subcommittees as they reflect on their work in 2021.
Reflecting on 2021
Throughout December, we’ll be sharing reflections from authorized ministers, lay members, and friends of the United Church of Christ here in Kansas and Oklahoma.
Incoming Conference Minister Arrives Home
I am now in Junction City and am excited to begin my work with you. I arrived Saturday, November 27, and am knee deep in boxes; empty, full, and in between, as I attempt to put everything away.
Leadership Transformation Grant Awarded for 2nd Year
On behalf of the Conference Council, the KLC Core Team is excited to report that the Kansas Leadership Center has awarded K-O a second Transformation Grant.
New Compensation Guidelines Published
If you visit the websites of many UCC Conferences, you’ll find compensation guidelines available that assist congregations and authorized ministers develop their budgets or provide recommendations to consider when hiring a new pastor or specialized minister.
The Long Goodbye
My friend and former colleague Rev John Thomas called it the long goodbye; the time between when a person serving in a pastoral role in the UCC announces they are leaving until they are finally gone. Eventually, the time comes to actually leave. That is the hard part.
Colonial UCC Calls Associate Minister
Congratulations to Rev. Michael Vollbrecht on accepting a call to serve as the Associate Pastor at Colonial UCC in Prairie Village, KS where Rev. Aaron Roberts is the Senior Pastor.
Annual Meeting Feedback Results
Following the week-long annual meeting October 5-8, the Conference asked for feedback on the virtual experience. The results are in!
Change? Breathe deeply.
The thing about community is that a personal change for a pastor doesn’t happen in isolation; it affects the entire congregation and everyone deals with change differently. So, lots of people may be taking deep breaths these days!
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness
While many folks associate this month with Halloween costumes and the real arrival of autumn, October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. It is more likely than not that you know someone who has experienced pregnancy and infant loss - it affects one in four women.
Rev. Dr. Lori Walke to be Installed as Senior Pastor at Mayflower UCC
Rev. Lori Walke will be installed as the Senior Pastor of Mayflower Congregational UCC on Sunday September 26th at 4:00PM.
Unafraid to Be Honest (about Annual Meeting)
With the exception of perhaps my first year as your Conference Minister, I have wondered about the registration numbers at Annual Meeting and what it said about our common life as “The Conference.”
To Proceed or Not to Proceed: Process Speaks Loudly
Should we proceed with in-person worship, or go (or continue to be) virtual? I was in a virtual meeting last week with the Council of Conference Ministers who were discussing this question as it relates to a retreat scheduled for December.