Southwest Association

Southwest Association website

Southwest Association Facebook Page

Moderator: Rev. Susan Greenwood

Vice Moderator: Rev. Mary Beth Moran-Cross

Treasurer: Kristi Blythe

Secretary: Rev. Caroline Meyers

Registrar: Rev. Ken Arthur

Church & Ministry co chairs: Rev. Nathaniel Craddock and Rev. Catherine Balk

Liaison to Conference Board of Directors: Rev. Susan Greenwood

Congregations in Southwest Association

The Southwest Association voted unanimously at their 2024 Association Fall Meeting to become an Open and Affirming Association. Read the Open and Affirming Statement HERE. Open and Affirming (ONA) is the United Church of Christ’s (UCC) designation for congregations, campus ministries, and other bodies in the UCC which make a public covenant of welcome and affirmation to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions into their full life and ministry. Beyond just a welcome of attendance, affirmation means that we advocate for basic human rights of the LGBTQ+ community, support all expressions of loving relationships, and invite LGBTQ+ persons to share in the leadership of the Association as well as partake in the sacraments when offered at Association gatherings.

While the Association is Open and Affirming, not all of our member congregations have adopted this designation. Our congregational listing shows which individual churches are also Open and Affirming.

Athens, First Congregational
Baroda, Zion UCC
Battle Creek, First Congregational (ONA)
Coloma, First Congregational UCC (ONA)
Constantine, First Congregational
Galesburg, Congregational
Kalamazoo, First Congregational (ONA)
Kalamazoo, Phoenix Community (ONA)
New Buffalo, St. John UCC
Niles, St. John’s UCC
Portage, Portage UCC (ONA)
St. Joseph, First Congregational (ONA)
St. Joseph, Pilgrim Congregational Church (ONA)
St. Joseph, Zion Evangelical
South Haven, First Congregational UCC (ONA)
Tekonsha, Union UCC
Union City, First Congregational
Watervliet, St. Paul’s UCC

Schedule I Churches:
East Leroy, Congregational Church

New Church Starts:
Battle Creek, Koinonia UCC

ONA = Open and Affirming, the designation for congregations, campus ministries, and other bodies in the United Church of Christ which make public statements of welcome into their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Note: In the listing of congregations, “Schedule 1” churches either have not voted or have abstained from voting on becoming part of the United Church of Christ. “Schedule 2” churches have voted not to be part of the UCC, but remain in fellowship with the Association in their geographical area.