We’re very grateful to Shepherd of the Hills UCC and their pastor Rev. Rock Fremont who so graciously agreed to host the 2024 Annual Meeting.

We were excited to try out the Whova platform/app for the first time to enable us to bring this event to everyone that wants to attend whether in-person or virtually.

We are thrilled that Rev. Dr. Yvonne Delk agreed to be our keynote speaker for our 2024 Annual Meeting!

Our theme, "Expanding the Table: Creating a Tapestry of Voices and Experiences," resonates deeply with her pioneering role as the first African American woman ordained in the UCC, cofounder of the UCC African American Women in Ministry Network, and the extraordinary ways she has served in ministry over 40 years.

Her extraordinary contributions, including editor of the book, The Afro Christian Convention: The Fifth Stream of the United Church of Christ, makes her the perfect ambassador for our theme.

Our agenda included back-to-back workshops and panels and forums, all available online and in-person, except that Thursday was our all-virtual education day.

The offering taken during Annual Meeting was entirely virtual and you can access the link here. The funds collected will go toward saving Oak Flat. We’re grateful to Dr. Wendsler Nosie of the of the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation for his insight about efforts to protect Oak Flat.

Huge thanks and unending appreciation and gratitude to our amazing team who helped to plan and coordinate this event:

Ernie Gregg, Rock Fremont Jr., Rev A.O Ferguson, Allen Curtis, Christopher Schouten, John Maddaus, Karyn Mercado, and Laura Minnick. Plus the team of FANTASTIC volunteers at Shepherd of the Hills UCC who went above and beyond!

In our business session on Saturday, we enthusiastically voted in Rev. Dr. Toni Hawkins as our settled Conference Minister!

Here she is with Rev. Dr. Yvonne Delk, our keynote speaker —->

Congratulations, Dr. Toni!

We also voted to accept New Hope UCC as a church with full standing in the Southwest Conference!

<—— Here’s their pastor, Rev. Dr. Myra Taylor.

Congratulations to New Hope!

All other items on the business agenda passed as well, including our FYE2025 budget and our slate of nominees, along with some floor nominations for COCAM A, COCAM B, and the Finance Committee.

Pictured below are the incoming leaders who attended in-person! (photo by Rev. Dr. Tom Martinez) View the entire list of the current SWC leadership here.