Words of encouragement and support for those ministering "in the fields."

The mission of the Northern California Nevada Conference is to “be a community of diverse congregations which nurtures, supports and unites local churches in faithful covenant in Christ to carry out ministry and mission in the world.” The first part of the statement tells us who we are: a community of diverse congregations.

The second phrase describes what we do as that community of congregations: we nurture, support, and unite local churches in faithful covenant in Christ. The third phrase states why we do what we do: so that local churches can best carry out the ministry and mission to which they are called.

It’s the “what” part that occasionally needs re-assessing, re-tooling, re-conceptualizing. Fifteen years have passed since
a period of Conference-wide reflection and envisioning has been conducted. The Conference has changed. New congregations, new leadership,
new needs and new possibilities call for a new look at how we can best carry out our mission.

The Conference Board of Directors and your Conference Staff thus invite you to take part in Forums for the Future.

My dictionary defi nes “forum” as “a place of assembly for the people,” and advises me that the word is related to the Latin root for “door.” No, we’re not going to meet outdoors, like an ancient Roman forum. But we look to these assemblies of the people to provide a door into our future.

The UCC’s distinctive union of autonomous congregations in covenantal relationship makes a series of forums an apt means of approach to our shared concerns.

Each forum will focus on a particular area of mission for local churches.

National UCC staff and board members will provide inspiration and a wider perspective, but the focus will be upon the challenges faced by local churches.

Each forum will be designed by a specifi c Conference-based planning team, and the “results” of the conversations which ensue will be taken back to the Board of Directors so that they can shape the future “what” of the mission of the Conference.

We want every church to go Five for Five with the Forums for the Future. That is, to send at least two people (probably not the same people) to each forum. The forums will take place in fi ve different locations on 5 Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Arrangements are in progress to offer overnight housing for those who “come from afar” to a forum. Yes, Five for Five certificates will be awarded — maybe even prizes.

But the greatest reward will be the enlivening of your church’s Go ‘Five for Five’ with ‘Forums for the Future’ ministry and mission and a strengthening of the support which the Conference can offer you.

These are the Forum topics and proposed dates:

• Forum 1: UCC Identity—how do we build on who we are, June 17.
• Forum 2: Youth and Young Adult Ministry — addressing the realities and calling forth the gifts of young people, Sept. 9.
• Forum 3: Forming and Transforming Churches — church vitality, Nov. 4.
• Forum 4: Justice and Peace— our churches’ faithful witness, Feb. 10, 2007.
• Forum 5: Making the Dreams Real — developing a sense of stewardship, promoting financial support for the ministries of our churches, April 28, 2007.

Fuller descriptions will be posted on the NCNC website as the details are put into place. Meanwhile, mark your calendars. Talk it up. Look around for the people you will send to each forum. (Online info here.)

And remember, it’s really God’s mission — not ours — that we're talking about.

                                                                                                          ~ Mary Susan

Your comments are welcome
Send to msgast@ncncucc.org