Ecclesiastical Councils Three

Three Councils over 8 days; two churches; a couple hundred miles in between - but the same result each time.


Christ Hinkle

Alan Joplin

Beth Frigard


All successfully completed their Ecclesiastical Council. The first two were held at First Congregational UCC in Tempe, and the last one at Rincon UCC in Tucson.

We lift them each up in prayer as their new vocational careers in ministry begin. May it please God to bless them along the way.

It Is Official:

W. Mark Clark has been elected as the Associate General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ.

Let me share our deep and profound joy for and pride in this child of the Southwest Conference.

More from Synod

I love Synod!

Immokalee farm workers (who led a successful boycott of Taco Bell for using tomatoes picked by underpaid and abused farm workers) were present and led a March to protest Publix Supermarkets. We marched with them and led our protest for their own use of underpaid farm workers. We came out in large numbers on this 4th of July - I am so proud of the United Church of Christ!

More from Synod...

Though there have been many, and I mean MANY, incredible moments at Synod, I can't imagine there will be a better one than this.

W. Mark Clark delivers his Nomination Speech to Synod, and the floor planners put the Southwest Conference delegation table directly in front of the podium from which he spoke.

By the time he finished, we were all in tears. We were moved. The Spirit is in this, and we lift Mark up in prayer as he begins his ministry as an officer of the United Church of Christ.

A side-note: Mark came and spoke to our delegation during our morning caucus yesterday morning. Before he left (he had three breakfast meetings that day), we formed a circle around him, laid hands upon him, and lifted him up in prayer.

I took this picture while he was speaking, and the background seemed appropriate: the sun is rising on W. Mark Clark, and under his leadership on the United Church of Christ.

Music come alive as we 'imagine what's possible'!

The remarkable musical duo Nuttin' but Strings' enlived Synod this morning as two young men from Jamaica Queens escaped the violence of their streets by making music. These Juliard trained musicians combine Hip-Hop and Classical music to communicate in very powerful ways what it means to be multi-cultural.



This is an unexpected surprise!

Postings from Synod....

Throughout the week, I will be posting pics and stories from Synod.

Synod is, in one way, about meeting and greeting friends with whom you renew acquaintances.

Here are two dear friends, one from another time and place, and one from a Pastor in the Southwest attending his first Synod.

This is the Rev. Diane Hampton, chaplain in the US Navy and a dear friend of mine from when I knew her as the pastor of our Church in Joplin, MO.

This is the Rev. Dr. Vernon Meyer, pastor at Sun Lakes UCC south of Phoenix and, like me, an alum of both Prep North High School and Cardinal Glennon College.

So far, Synod is a blast!!!!

Wish you were here. Stay tuned for more.