Congratulations to Shala Hillman, who was approved as a candidate for ordination pending call in the United Church of Christ at an Ecclesiastical Council on October 18th. Shala’s home church is Bountiful UCC. Many of you came to know her gifts for creative worship leading at the Annual Celebration in Provo in June.

As we look forward to an Ecclesiastical Council for Amanda Newsome on November 8th, I encourage you to pause for a moment and consider what an opportunity it is for us to be able now to participate in these occasions together from across the geographic vastness of our conference.

Clergy and lay delegates from Sterling to Kanab, from Casper to Creede, can come together on a Sunday afternoon to hear from one of our Members in Discernment as they share their sense of call to ministry and their decision to seek authorization for that call from the United Church of Christ. Yes, we miss the days when we were able to attend those ECs in person, yet we have gained so much in being able to expand this gift of our polity — being empowered to choose those who will be authorized to ministry in our denomination.

This gift of our polity is not one to be taken lightly. It is OUR call as ministers and representatives of our churches to show up and exercise this right. This is one of our opportunities to vote in the UCC.

Some of you have requested more clarification about who can attend an EC and who can vote. Anyone can attend an EC. This document will give you more details about ECs and who can vote. I encourage you to promote attendance at ECs by your lay people. Each church is entitled to at least 2 voting lay representatives to an EC. Some churches officially elect Lay Delegates. Others make those decisions in their governing board, or even in more informal ways. However your church designates Lay Delegates to each meeting is up to your church.

But “Just Do It.”

Attending an EC is an excellent way to learn about how ministry is developed, nurtured and finally authorized in the UCC. It is your church members’ opportunity to see the wider church at work without the cost of time and travel.

My church in Grand Junction has developed a culture over the years of always having our lay delegates at every voting meeting of our conference or association. This act of showing up has become part of who we are.

And over the years, this attitude of participation in the wider church has strengthened both our understanding of our denomination and contributed to our participation in conference leadership. I believe a sense of connection to the wider church has made us better leaders in our own congregation.

I hope to see you online on November 8th.