Conference Minister's Corner - 07-15-2025

I write this week while taking a brief pause from the activities of the 35th General Synod of the United Church of Christ.  We are only halfway through Synod and there are already many things I'd like to write about.  

What I what I want to mention today is something the Reverend Shari Prestemon, candidate for the position of Associate General Minister for Love of Neighbor and Co-Executive of Global Ministries, said in her candidating speech. This was echoed the next morning in the State of the Church speech by General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson. What they said was "small can still be vital". 

In the New Hampshire Conference, and the United Church of Christ as a whole, we have many small churches. But the vitality of these churches is not equivalent to their size. When I visit churches, I certainly hear about some of their challenges, but even more often I hear about the amazing ministries they are carrying out. Churches of all sizes in our Conference carry out "Got Lunch" programs throughout the summer. Here at General Synod I have been talking with staff from Church World Service about all the CROP walks that are carried out by our churches of all sizes. A couple weeks ago I visited with the Bartlett, Jackson, and North Conway churches at their tables at the North Conway Pride Celebration. This can go on and on.

I hope one of the cornerstones of faith that we all continue to hold onto is that small can still be vital. In my experience, that is absolutely true.