Hello Dear Colleagues,

Do you feel it? Do you feel the seismic shifts happening around our world? As Abby Maxman, President and CEO of Oxfam America says in her television ads, “I know it feels like the world is on fire.” Are you feeling the shocks and shifts right under your feet? How prepared do you feel to respond? Is your church seeing a way forward? Or maybe just surviving one day at a time? How will we ever get through this?

The 2025 Annual Meeting will be addressing key themes around thriving and not just surviving as we look at how to do justice, how to stand for our values, and how our churches can respond in new and creative ways to manage these turbulent times. The Annual Meeting of the Michigan Conference United Church of Christ will be held on Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4, 2025 with a theme of “A Justice Seeking Conference.” It will be held at the Westin in Southfield.

The Annual Meeting will kick off on Friday morning by offering an optional visit to the Detroit Historical Museum. After lunch, workshops will be available with some interesting topics in the works. Financial options the Conference offers, how to develop older adult ministries, justice topics, and more. Saturday will include hearings for resolutions, worship with conference minister Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, and a session with keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony.

Like last year, our days together will be full and will include vendor tables, childcare, and time for relaxation and fun. Registration is open NOW. Be sure to note the early bird rate.

Rooms will be available for those staying overnight with a discounted rate for reservations made before September 5, 2025.

We hope you’ll join us. Learning opportunities await, as well as times of connecting and inspiring one another, and multiple venues to acknowledge our covenant that makes us stronger together. Ultimately, the information and energy shared will help us grasp the power of God within our communities to drive change, even in the face of uncertainty, injustice, and conflict.

We are sure you will be encouraged, enlivened, and strengthened for the challenging journey of ministry that lies ahead.

“Some trust in chariots, some trust in horses, but we trust in the Lord our God.”
(Psalm 20:7)

See you in October!

Blessings,

Rev. Dr. Diane Baker                                                                                                       Antionette McGarvin
Moderator                                                                                                                            Secretary, Board of Directors
Michigan Conference UCC                                                                                         Michigan Conference UCC