A Call to Gather
While our business together is vital, in the Rocky Mountain Conference our Annual Celebration is also an opportunity to build relationships, laugh, worship, and experience Spirit with one another.  We are striving to provide these same moments electronically, with optional contemplative spaces, casual get-togethers, and some educational moments sprinkled throughout the two weeks of gatherings.  And, of course, we don’t expect either you or your delegates to attend everything – but rather, partake of the banquet of opportunities the staff, the Board, and the Southeastern Association has prepared for you.

Keynote Speaker
We are excited to announce Susan Thistlethwaite, Professor of Theology Emerita and President Emerita of Chicago Theological Seminary as our keynoter for our 2020 gathering.  Susan will pre-record her keynote which focuses on the intersection of evolving church in the era of COVID and evolving culture in the era of civil injustice and unrest;  it will be available for your viewing beginning Monday, July 20.  We’re excited that her work will become a permanent asset in the RMC archives and will be available for your viewing both before her “talk back” session with us on Saturday, July 25 at <11:00AM or was it 10:00AM?> and afterwards, for you to share her important message with your entire congregation.

Special Guest
As if all this weren’t already enough, we are also thrilled to host the United Church of Christ’s General Minister and President, the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, for a talk back session on Thursday, July 30, from 5:00PM – 6:30PM.  Questions will be welcomed via email in advance at admin@rmcucc.org, or come with your own, but remember, you must be registered in advance for this session.

All-Conference Worship
For the Sunday of our Annual Celebration – Sunday, July 26 – the Southeastern Association will provide a pre-recorded worship service with communion for use throughout the Conference, of course, at the discretion of each church’s leadership team.  This should be posted by Monday, July 20, as well.

Business Meeting and Pre-Meetings
Our Annual Meeting to conduct Conference business will open for pre-registered delegate check in at 8:30AM on Saturday, August 1, with the meeting to convene at 9:00AM.  There are three pieces of business on the agenda for this year:

1. Consent Agenda with 2019 Annual Celebration minutes
2. 2021 Proposed Budget
3. Nominating Slate for Board and Committees

The documents for each of these pieces of business have been posted below.  In addition, because we anticipate more than 100 people on Zoom during the Saturday morning business meeting, we will hold one-hour pre-meeting sessions to answer your questions about these business items prior to our Saturday meeting:

• • Monday, July 27, 5:30-6:30PM – Consent Agenda and Personnel Review with Kay Grice, RMC Board Moderator, and Mark Dutell, RMC Personnel Chair
  • Tuesday, July 28, 5:30-6:30PM – 2021 Proposed Budget Review with Larry Ricketts, RMC Treasurer
  • Wednesday, July 29, 5:30-6:30PM – Nominating Slate Review with Judy Baillie, RMC Board Vice Moderator & Chair of the Nominating Committee, and Karen Caton, Nominating Committee Member

Immediately following the Business Meeting, we will close Annual Celebration 2020 with worship to include the installation of newly-elected officers and committee members.

Registration
There is NO cost for delegates, clergy or visitors to register for any of this year’s events.  Yes, you read that correctly – this year’s event is free.  You will find, however, options to contribute to five different offerings when you register:  a COVID relief in each of our three states of Wyoming, Utah and Colorado, La Foret (who was to host our meeting until COVID), and the Racial Justice initiative currently being built in the Rocky Mountain Conference.  We ask you to think deeply about how you can help support others in need, and to give until you feel at least a small pinch (perhaps even a big one!).

Leader Burnout and Self Care
The Healthy Ministry Relationships Team, HMR, (formerly Boundary Training) is offering a 90 minute workshop during the Annual Celebration entitled “Leadership Burnout and Self Care.”

This class is tailor-made for those persons serving as church officers, staff persons, Care Team leaders, Pastor Parish Relations Teams, volunteer team leaders and all clergy. In these stressful times, church leaders both lay and clergy need to look out for one another and for themselves that personal and spiritual energies don’t get depleted. Join us for this important and timely conversation and workshop.

Here are the details:

• Monday, July 27, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Zoom (please use a computer or smart phone with a camera if you can)
• For Church and Conference Lay Leaders, Care Teams, Pastor Parish Relations Teams, Clergy in all settings, seminary students and MIDs, and Ministry Staff persons (local church and wider church)
• HMR Training Credit for clergy (yearly renewal credit only–this class does NOT satisfy the requirement for MIDs, transferees or new clergy for basic HMR training)
• No cost, zoom class, our compliments! (certificates will be presented via email once we receive your feedback form)
• Registration: Select this workshop (“Leader Burnout and Self Care”) when registering for Annual Celebration. Advance Registration is required for this class.