I acknowledge Jesus Christ as the sole Head of the Church
To say “Jesus Christ” is to affirm a paradox: Jesus was both a common person and a unique manifestation of God. The divinity and humanity are difficult to hold together but it means that nothing we experience is distant from God. Jesus knows what it is like to be us as He has shared our lives, and his relationship with God helps us approach God. Jesus knew God and through Jesus we are invited to have a relationship with God as well. The realm of God started out small, but now the church, which apostle Paul called “the body of Christ,” is charged with being Christ’s hands and feet.
Communicating a passion for the oneness of the Body of Christ
I created a Desert Palm UCC church Instagram page and became social media coordinator for our other social media sites, growing followers and interest in our community. Church members find the posts informative and entertaining, but primarily the tone set in the posts accurately reflect what and who Desert Palm cares about.
Holding active membership in a Local Church of the United Church of Christ.
I have been an active member at Desert Palm UCC in Tempe since 2016. Membership in the UCC congregation has taught me what it means to be part of community and how to demonstrate hospitality. Membership also served to guide me in pastoral care and to recognize I have gifts in this area.
Participating in various settings of the United Church of Christ
On a national level, I attended the 2023 General Synod in Indianapolis. I’m aware the synod only happens every three years and I wanted to get a feel for the diversity of the UCC, and I wanted to meet clergy leaders.
I served as coordinator for the Southwest Conference UCC WYRE 2024, which took place this summer in Southern California. This position stretched my leadership and communication skills. I had a large number of people to keep up with, which at times proved challenging. I also learned that when it comes to event planning, it’s helpful to tell people what to expect and then to explore and discuss how people’s expectations were met or unmet.
I attended annual Southwest Conference clergy retreats. and
Knowing and appreciating UCC History, Polity, and Theology
I have completed the UCC History, Polity, and Theology course. A guiding concept that impressed me was the UCC’s courage to be a church body of “firsts.” When I completed the course, I recall being enchanted with the Moss adaptation of the version of the UCC Statement of Faith. But now I find the traditional version so poetic. “…calls the worlds into being” and “God calls us into the church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be servants in the service of the whole human family. I’m happy to say that I can stand behind, in front of, or beside this statement of faith – in all its forms.
Exhibiting a commitment to the core values of the United Church of Christ: continuing testament, extravagant welcome, and changing lives.
I have attended the following events representing UCC:
o Doing Grief in Real Life with Rev. Shea Darian. I am now doing a special study on grief and am working with Rev. Darian to present programs to Desert Palm UCC.
o The Native American Fatherhood & Families Association, where a longtime member was being honored.
o The Phoenix Pride Parade for the last several years. Having a UCC presence at the parade first reaffirms that Desert Palm supports and embraces the LGBTQ community. Secondly, our intergenerational representation shows the greater community that this progressive church is willing and able to journey alongside this marginalized group in everyday life.
o A workshop on “Why Pronouns are Important” training at Desert Palm.
I co-led a UCC confirmation class with Pastor Tom at Desert Palm UCC (2021) This reinforced for me that youth do have an interest in spirituality and God and that it’s important to allow space to express that. Plus, the class was also a tidy history lesson in the five streams of the UCC.
I worked with the Desert Palm UCC Communication team on branding, image and publication of the church’s ongoing story that impacted our social media and communication presence within and outside the church.
I have written a paper on the application of the concept of covenant in the UCC context. Excerpt: Becoming part of a covenant helped to expand my thinking. In my United Theological Seminary class, Intercultural Approaches to Chaplaincy, another student and I were required to create a peer covenant. During the length of the class, we were to meet 12 times and discuss our individual social location, faith formation and approach to spiritual care. The professor partnered people she believed were culturally different. My class partner and I were tasked with creating a peer covenant before proceeding with a joint assignment. This included “agreed upon boundaries, learning goals, and expectations.” We found in doing the assignment we were more culturally alike than different. It was like “coming spiritually home,” my partner said.
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