2023 Annual Meeting of the Southwest Conference United Church of Christ
Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29, 2023 in El Paso, Texas
The Southwest Conference staff is excited to gather again with you face-to-face! We can’t wait to see you in El Paso.
As a border city in Texas, El Paso gives us the opportunity to highlight the uniqueness of the geographical region, our local churches and their work and outreach, and the intersectionality of advocacy for social justice, humane immigration, and reproductive liberty.
Thursday, April 27 will be a travel day with a banquet dinner.
Friday, April 28 will be a day full of worship, workshops, reconnecting, and other meaningful experiences.
Saturday, April 29 will be the business day, closing worship, and the day for departure. New this year, we’ll be hosting virtual meetings in advance of the in-person dates to work on hearings and resolutions.
The business session on Saturday will be the only portion of the event that will be hybrid (available online to delegates who are not able to travel).
CLICK HERE FOR THE DETAILED SCHEDULE.
All meals are included except for Friday dinner (includes Thursday dinner, Friday breakfast & lunch, Saturday breakfast & lunch).
Meals will be friendly to we who are gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan.
Check out this list of El Paso restaurants recommended to us by Peace UCC.
All worship, meetings, and workshops will be held at the Radisson-El Paso Airport, where we have a room rate of $129 per night. You are responsible for booking your own room. To get our special room rate of $129 per night, you can book your room by phone or online:
Phone: Call the sales department 915-298-5127 or the front desk 915-772-3333. Provide our group name (United Church of Christ), stay date range, and guest name.
Online: Go to their website, choose your check-in/out dates, occupancy, then click the Special Rates box, select "promotional code" and enter SWC.
Travel reimbursement is available for $225 for airfare or driving. Other scholarships may become available.
If your church would be interested in carpooling with another church or two, please let us know if we can help coordinate that with you.
DELEGATES: Churches with 500 members or fewer may have FIVE delegates. Ministers with standing in the SWC, members of the SWC Executive Board, and General Synod Delegates are Delegates in their own right.
STANDING RULES: Click here to read and/or download.
RESOLUTIONS: In accordance with Annual Meeting Standing Rule; resolutions may be submitted to the Conference at Annual Meeting. Resolutions must be in the hands of the Executive Board, in writing, no later than Tuesday, March 14, the day before the meeting of the Executive Board preceding the Annual Meeting for approval for submission at the Annual Meeting.
We’re so grateful that our 2020, 2021, and 2022 Annual Meeting Coordinator, Karen Richter, said YES to returning again for 2023. Her organization skills, attention to details, communication, and smiling presence are all invaluable as we put together this year’s event. We appreciate you, Karen!
OFFERING: This year’s offering during worship will go to Annunciation House in El Paso. "Accompanying the migrant, refugee, and economically vulnerable people of the border."
DELEGATES:
VIRTUAL ATTENDEES: We’ll conduct ONLY the business session of the Annual Gathering via the Zoom platform. This is scheduled for Saturday, April 29 at 8:30 am AZ / 9:30 am NM/El Paso time. Watch your email for the Zoom link.
Make sure you’re using the most recent up-to-date version of Zoom! Here’s how to do that.
Printed materials will NOT be available at the event! All of your need-to-know reports will appear below as they become available. Click to download them, print them, whatever works for you to prepare for Annual Gathering. Please review them before the event and bring them with you either in paper or digital format.
Click here for the schedule. Click the titles of the reports below to read them.
Minutes from 2022 Annual Meeting
Commissioned Minister Gordon Street III report
Personnel Committee Report
Friday Workshops
Attendees will choose one morning workshop and one afternoon workshop.
MORNING
Workshop 1: Churches in Transition
This time together will be facilitated by church leaders who are in the midst of big changes. Whether it’s navigating the post-COVID world, living into community without a building, or acting on mission priorities, all faith communities are riding the wave of change. Let’s talk about it—this applies to any of us.
Workshop 2: Insurance Board - Loss Prevention and Mission
Guests from the UCC Insurance Board are leading this discussion centered on loss prevention connected to refugee ministry and cybersecurity. How do we balance mission and vision with good stewardship? How do we manage both welcome and pastoral care? Come hear from some experts in both finance and compassion.
Workshop 3: UnWorkshop: a discussion generated by participants
Beloveds, what topics did we miss? This “UnWorkshop” is your opportunity to gather with other delegates to explore the topic or topics of your choice.
AFTERNOON
Workshop 1: Supporting Clergy and Preventing Burnout
It seems like every day there’s a new article about post-pandemic stress and anxiety. Humans in ministry in our churches are in no way exempt. This panel discussion will focus on practical tips and experiences for supporting those in ministry in your context.
Workshop 2: De-Centering Whiteness: a "fishbowl" style panel discussion
In 2020, the Southwest Conference passed an anti-racism resolution. In this workshop, we’ll share together ways to keep this centered in the work of our conference and our congregations. This workshop will include updates on the Conference’s work with ASDIC, Join the Movement, and Sacred Conversations to End Racism.
Workshop 3: UnWorkshop: a discussion generated by participants
Beloveds, what topics did we miss? This “UnWorkshop” is your opportunity to gather with other delegates to explore the topic or topics of your choice.