David Schoen is Minister for Church Legacy & Closure, UCC Church Building & Loan Fund, dschoen@ucc.org. The UCC Closed Church Legacy Survey has been compiled by Taylor Russell, Senior Data Analysist and Rev. David Schoen, Minister for Church Legacy & Closure in the UCC Church Building & Loan Fund. The old hymn verse “New occasions teach new…
The following is the most recent of a series of special reports by Rev. Jeff Nelson for the Statistical Profile dealing with Search and Call. Rev. Nelson is Minister for Ministerial Calls and Transitions with the Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization (MESA) Ministry Team. The 2021 UCC (United Church of Christ) Statistical Report included a…
We don’t talk very often about clergy pain. Somehow, we don’t connect those two words in our conversations. Why would clergy have any pain? Generally speaking, Clergy “do God’s work in the world” which they describe as satisfying and rewarding. If a person feels called into ministry, it is because God has become “real” to them in their lives which has enabled them to make a powerful commitment to the
vocation of ministry.
Rachel McDonald is the part-time pastor of South Haven UCC in Bedford, OH. She also teaches piano and acts as the communication director for the Center for Parish Development. She writes a weekly newsletter about living joyfully with multiple vocations at http://www.myotherjob.org. As a bivocational pastor, I’m introduced in a variety of ways. To my…
This week we’re highlighting a Special Report from the 2023 Statistical Profile contributed by CARDD Director Erica Dollhopf. Overview CARDD has continued to find ways to measure the vibrant church communities of the UCC beyond membership and worship numbers. In the 2022 Statistical Profile, the results of asking churches what metrics best described their church…
Rev. Jeremiah Rood lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Amanda, daughter Evie and a small black cat. He has experience working in local congregations in Massachusetts. See more about him at www.revjeremiahrood.com Jeremiah here — This entry is focused on a post I recently read that deals with teens and cell phone use. I would encourage…
If you have been following discussions in the church world (or are a longtime reader of this blog), the “rise of the Nones” probably isn’t a new topic. For more than a decade, the growing number of Americans who do not affiliate or identify with a religious tradition has been the topic of national conversation.…
This week we’re highlighting a Special Report from the 2023 Statistical Profile contributed by the United Church Funds (UCF). The report provides an overview of policy updates and overall performance for its fossil fuel divested funds. You can find more information about the UCT on their website, ucfunds.org. In 2013, when the 24th General Synod…
This week we’re highlighting a Special Report from the 2023 Statistical Profile, written by the Rev. Dr. Katrina Roseboro-Marsh, Executive Director of the Open and Affirming Coalition. The report reviews the growth in ONA Covenant churches in recent years, topics covered in the ongoing ONA webinar series, and key statistics on the geographic distances between…
Rev. Chris Xenakis is a UCC pastor currently serving Groton Community Church (UCC) in Central New York. In addition, he is an adjunct lecturer at SUNY-Cortland, teaching courses this year on world politics, democracy, U.S. foreign policy and multiculturalism. Chris has written numerous books and articles, which can be found on his blog. “Support for political…
Rev. Larssen holds a Doctor of Ministry from the Pacific School of Religion and serves as Generosity Officer on the Philanthropy Team of the United Church of Christ National Ministries. A noted preacher and executive leader, she is the current Chair of the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance and co-chaired the establishment of the 2030…
This week we hear from Rev. Bobbie McKay, Ph.D., a UCC minister, author, and licensed psychologist. Rev. McKay co-created The Spiritual Health Center, NFP, and conducted a research study on Spiritual Life in the United Church of Christ. Based on the findings of this study, “Spiritual Life Teams” were born and the study has been extended into the Episcopal Church,…
Rachel McDonald is the part-time pastor of South Haven UCC in Bedford, OH. She also teaches piano and acts as the communication director for the Center for Parish Development. She writes a weekly newsletter about living joyfully with multiple vocations at http://www.myotherjob.org. The following is an expanded version of a post originally published in the…
This week we hear from Rev. Bobbie McKay, Ph.D., a UCC minister, author, and licensed psychologist. Rev. McKay co-created The Spiritual Health Center, NFP, and conducted a research study on Spiritual Life in the United Church of Christ. Based on the findings of this study, “Spiritual Life Teams” were born and the study has been extended into the Episcopal Church,…
David Kaden is the Senior Minister of First Congregational Church of Ithaca, NY, and holds a PhD in the academic study of religion from the University of Toronto. He has taught at Cornell University, University of Toronto, St. Olaf College, and the New York School of Ministry. His first book was Matthew, Paul, and the Anthropology of…
Vital Signs and Statistics 