Day Zero: 2030 Clergy Network

(Elizabeth Dilley) Today I attended the 2030 Clergy Network's pre-Synod event in Grand Rapids.  It was held at First (Park) Congregational Church, and we can't say enough good things about the hospitality of those folk!  There was no a/c, but we managed.  Discussion centered around fellowship and strategic planning as a network - which is loosely organized and non-hierarchical in nature.  The panel I sat on with Matt Mardis-LeCroy and Elena Larssen went quite well, and we forged a number of new relationships in this short time.

By the way, if you are clergy in your 20s and 30s, you're a part of the network!  There's no registration or dues required.  (If you're in this category and don't hear about the goings-on of the 2030 Clergy Network, email me at firstconguccredoak@yahoo.com and I'll get you connected.)  Also, if you are clergy in your 40s+, you are an alum of our network and we support and love you, too.  If you are a layperson of any age, know that there are some amazing, competent and passionate clergy in the UCC!!!

I'm posting a picture of the Rev. Geoffrey Black speaking to our group during lunch.  He's the incoming General Minister and President of the UCC.  He spoke to us ... because we asked him to.  Let this be a lesson to you congregations: ask for what you want, including visits from conference and national staff - and see what happens.  

It is now quite late, and unfortunately the only quote of the many memorable things he said was about the "soft hierarchy" of the UCC.  Even acknowledging that this exists - even if we don't like to admit that it exists - is a huge act of trust and transparency for someone in Rev. Black's position.  I think we are lucky to have him preparing to lead us in the time ahead.  Perhaps sometime tomorrow I will remember a few of the other wonderful and thoughtful things he shared.

Tomorrow, the festivities really begin!  Please pray for us, and for the UCC as a whole.  There is much important work to do, and some of it is bound to be controversial.  I would ask personal prayers as we learn what committees to which we are assigned, and that God would lead us to faithful discernment in all the business before the Synod, but especially about the restructuring conversation/possible decision/certain controversy.  We are praying for you, too!

Traveling ...

Well, it's Elizabeth Dilley from Red Oak writing.  I'm one of the delegates and I serve a church in Red Oak, Iowa.  This will be my 3rd Synod, but my first as a delegate, and I am thrilled!  

Many of us are traveling to Grand Rapids today and tomorrow.  Please keep us in your prayers as we fly, drive, and otherwise get ourselves to Synod.  Some pre-events have already begun, and more continue tomorrow.  I will be attending the 2030 Clergy Network pre-event.  This is an event designed for UCC clergy in their 20s and 30s.  At that event, I will be sitting on a panel in the afternoon about how younger people have gotten involved in association and conference committees; one of the other panelists is the Rev. Matt Mardis-LeCroy of Plymouth UCC in Des Moines (and another is my dear childhood friend, the Rev. Elena Larssen, who is an associate conference minister in Minnesota).  To complete the circle, this panel was arranged by the Rev.  Mary Nelson Abbott, a child of our conference.

Hopefully in the next few days, you will be hearing from many other delegates and staff members on this blog.  Be sure to leave a comment and tell us you stopped by.  We'd also love your own thoughts/reflections on the process and what's going on!