The Rocky Mountain Conference encourages interested UCC lay leaders to pursue theological education and formal training. Below, we’ve listed a handful of providers and programs that offer these kinds of opportunities, and we encourage lay persons to take advantage of these offerings.

• The Center for Ministry and Lay Training at Phillips Theological Seminary: Phillips offers a variety of affordable courses for lay leaders, ranging from Biblical Studies and pastoral care to spiritual development and stewardship. To learn more, please visit the Phillips website.

• The Damascus Project: Founded by the Minnesota and Wisconsin Conferences of the UCC, the Damascus Project offers a Faith Foundations course for lay leaders, as well as a virtual collective for churches with less than 50 members. To learn more, please visit the Damascus Project website.

• Pathways Theological Education: Pathways offers affordable continuing education and certificate programs that are open to both clergy and lay leaders. Their comprehensive offerings include UCC History & Polity, environmental justice, foundational theological education, and more. To find the courses and curricula that are right for you, please visit the Pathways website.

• The Southern New England Conference: The Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ offers a Faith Formation Leadership Training and Certification program, as well as an Animating Antiracism program designed for lay leaders and clergy. Later in 2025, SNEC will also offer courses on church polity and family systems for lay leaders. Please visit the SNEC website for information and updates. You can also learn more by reading up on the SNEC’s Center for Transformational Leadership, signing up for the CTL newsletter, and checking out the CTL newsletter archives.

• Fitness Review Response Team Training on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025: When an unexpected fitness review comes our way, the CWCOM (Conference Wide Committee on Ministry) wants to be as prepared as possible. Part of this preparedness is having a trained Response Team that is ready to be activated as part of the Interview Team or as a Process Guide. The next training for BOTH clergy and lay will be held via Zoom with Rev. Tara Barber from the National Setting on April 2, 5-6:30 MT. Please note that this is not boundary training. This training is for those people wishing to help our Conference when the Committee on Ministry is tasked with conducting a Fitness review which is a serious proceeding that involves a reassessment of an individual’s overall fitness for ministry in and on behalf of the United Church of Christ. If you have questions about this training, you can contact Ronda Connaway at: connaway302dsw@gmail.com. Please click this link to learn more and register.