Black Forest, Colo. — On Saturday, August 20 at 2 p.m., the Rev. Sue Artt was installed as Conference Minister of the Rocky Mountain Conference in a ceremony held at La Foret Conference and Retreat Center.
The Installation, which follows Rev. Artt’s unanimous election as Conference Minister in June 2016 during our Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, drew nearly 200 guests including National UCC officers, Conference leaders, and family and friends of Rev. Artt.
One special guest, General Minister and President of the UCC Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer, gave an inspiring message about inclusion and the slow and steady nature of social change. “Whether you call Jesus your guide or Buddha your guide doesn’t matter… we’re all in this together. That’s the kind of world I want to live in,” Dorhauer said.
Others gave powerful messages as well during the warm afternoon ceremony. Rev. Sheldon Culver of the Illinois South Conference gave a personal and heartwarming charge to Rev. Sue Artt in her new settled role, and Rev. Dr. Gayle Engel from the National Setting charged the Conference to do work toward our mission by using a “so/that” framework.
Rev. Artt received gifts from individual Association Leaders before sharing Communion alongside Rev. Dorhauer, and the service ended with joyful singing and a large-group photo taken on the steps of Ponderosa Lodge.
Rev. Artt was officially called as Acting Conference Minister in fall of 2013. Previously, she served St. Paul’s UCC in Nashville, Illinois after attending Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. Before seminary, she served for several years as an executive with Mobil Oil Corporation.
In the coming months and years, Rev. Artt is dedicated to increasing the vitality and mission of our local churches, boosting Conference funding to better support our communities, and discerning how the RMC’s mission propels forward the prophetic and revolutionary teachings of Jesus.
Photos by Rick Danielson