NEW - Resources for your review.

 TAP - Recommended Reading on Peace Building and Reconciliation

>  Coward, Harold and Gordon S. Smith, eds.  (2004).  Religion and Peacebuilding.   State University of New York Press.

>  Lederach, John Paul.  (2005).  The Moral Imagination:  The Art and Soul of
Building Peace.  Oxford University Press.

>  Lederbach, John Paul.  (1999).  The Journey Toward Reconciliation.  Herald Press.
 
>  Lederbach, John Paul.  (2003).  The Little Book of Conflict Transformation.   (Little Books of Justice and Peacebuilding.)  Good Books. 

>  Schirch, Lisa.  (2005).  Strategic Peacebuilding.   (Little Books of Justice and Peacebuilding.)  Good Books. 

>  Sivaraksa, Sulak.  (1992).  Seeds of Peace: A Buddhist Vision for Renewing Society.  Paralax Press.

>  Zehr, Howard.  (2002).  The Little Book of Restorative Justice.  Good Books.

Additional - SEC Resources

Education Resource
"Day 1" National Radio Program
As a way to commemorate its 65th anniversary of weekly broadcasts, the "Day 1" national radio program hosted by Peter Wallace will air a special series focusing on "Faith & Global Hunger" in support of the Millennium Development Goals. A wide range of audio, video, and text resources for individuals and church groups will be available on their special website.

On September 12th, former President of the United States Jimmy Carter, will deliver a special message on Hunger in the Twenty-First Century.  Please mark your calendars and plan to join this exploration of world hunger. Click here to find a Day1 radio broadcast in your area or click here to listen on-line.

Resources for Strengthening the Financial Life of Your Church
> Our Church’s Wider Mission links to online resources and ideas for the promotion of Special Mission Offerings including Strengthen the Church, One Great Hour of Sharing, Neighbors in Need and The Christmas Fund. 

> Annual Stewardship Theme Materials including worship resources, posters, bulletin covers, theme related bulletin inserts, stationary including letterhead, envelopes and note cards, pledge cards for a single commitment, double commitment, faith-promise pledge, and a time and talent pledge card.

> Capital Campaigns are much more fun with a team of experts. Priscilla Bizer and Susan Mitchell, UCC Capital Campaign consultants, can be reached by email or by calling 866.822.8224 or 866.822.8224 / Ext. 3834.

> Changing Lives testimonials and the Plain Talk video about Our Church’s Wider Mission are on the UCC channel on YouTube.

> Electronic Giving makes it easy to receive offerings consistently, even when church members vacation or spend winters away.

> Cornerstone Fund - Investing from the Heart, Building for the Future
Established in 1995, the Cornerstone Fund was created to offer loans to local churches and other organizations related to the United Church of Christ for virtually any property-related project – from repairing or remodeling an existing structure to acquiring additional land or building a new sanctuary.
> Click here to read more about this organization
> Current rates

Financial Wellness Resources for Your Church Members:
> Financial Literacy as recommended by the UCC Pension Boards offers helpful guidance through articles, tools and frequently asked questions for all financial stages of life.

> Financial Fitness through America Saves, a nationwide campaign with a broad coalition of nonprofit, corporate, and government groups helps individuals and families save and build wealth. Another program congregations are using to help low-income seniors is a Benefits Check-Up offered by the National Council on Aging which directs you to over 1,550 public and private benefits programs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Resources for Reviewing Ministerial Compensation
> Contact Tim Downs for a conference booklet on ministerial compensation and benefits, a worksheet to calculate conference minimum guidelines for compensation, or a ministers’ salary survey from the Pension Boards of the UCC. These are helpful resources for search committees and committees reviewing and setting pastoral salaries.

 

Resources for Seminarians
> Chautauqua United Church of Christ Society is offering a stipend, housing and parking for a seven-week opportunity for a student in care of the United Church of Christ to assist the Chaplain Administrator. For information about the CUCCS and the Chautauqua Institution, visit www.chautauquaucc.org. For an application form for this internship, contact Tim Downs.

More Financial Wellness Resources
> Making Sound Strategic Choices in Anxious Times
Alban Institute consultants Susan Beaumont and Alice Mann offer UCC pastors some suggestions for guiding the budget making process during tough financial times.
 
> Narrative Budgets including examples from nine UCC congregations.
 
> Planned Giving resources are outlined online and can be mailed to you so please email or call 800 846-6822 or 800 846-6822. Here are some examples of what other UCC churches are doing (online) in the area of financial development through donor education and estate planning.

> Stewardship Messages offer inspiring, biblically based reflections for use in your newsletter, on your bulletin board, website, as an insert in your giving statement or Sunday Bulletin. 

Our Churches Wider Mission  
> Interested in a brochure on Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) and how to understand it? Click here to download a OCWM brochure that you can print out yourselves, or order multiple copies from the Conference by contacting Gerri Hudson.

Resources for UCC Identity
A new StillSpeaking Magazine is about to be published twice a year to tell the UCC story. Detailed information and online ordering is available at www.ucc.org/magazine. Here are details:
Premiering in late April, the StillSpeaking Magazine will be an 88-page, twice-annual publication filled with compelling stories and engaging photography about people in the United Church of Christ.  Every issue will be chock full of features and images celebrating how the UCC is changing lives. The magazine’s full-color, high-end design will make it a perfect fit for any coffee table or office lounge.  Information on subscriptions and bulk orders is available at www.ucc.org/magazine or by calling 800/537-3394

Resources for Mission Interpretation and Support
Interested in the present state and future of CUIC (Churches Uniting in Christ)?  Click here to read more about CUIC

Resources for Connecting to our Global Ministries
> Click here to read more on Global Ministries
> Click here to read Jeff Mensendiek’s Report from Japan - "Love Casts Out Fear” 
> The annual report from the Mungeli Christian Hospital will be online soon.
> Global Ministries Update - March 17, 2010 - Disciples and UCC... together in God's Global Mission

Monthly Mission Story
> March 2010 - Text only or pdfclick here  in Español click here

> April 2010 - Text only click here (1) + Text only click here (2)  in Español click here

Mission

>  Weekly Prayer  - Click here for South Africa

>  Forums - Share With Us!

>  Special Giving Opportunities - Click here

> Mission Live Webinars - Click here for Calendar

> Video - Global Mission Moments - Click here 

>  Haiti Latest Info - Click here   

Upcoming Ministries and Mission Interpreters (MMI) Training Events:

> TBA

Resources for Youth and Education
>  Summer Camp 2010 - The Southeast Conference is proud to work with our ecumenical partners in the Alabama-Northwest Florida Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to offer both traditional camping and a fine arts camp for youth from grades 6 to 12.  Click here to read more information about camp 2010.

>  Youth and Education Resource
All-Levels OWL Training  - Hampton, GA
August 20-22, 2010  (Registration deadline fast approaching - Early Bird | July 15th)
Our Whole Lives (OWL) is based on a philosophy of comprehensive sexuality education that helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. This training is for Training for adults who wish to lead classes for the following groups: Elementary Grade levels, Youth (Middle School age), Young Adult and Adult.  Click here to link to registration form.
For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , OWL Training Coordinator  --  or visit the website. 

> Resources for Young Adult Leadership Development for Ministry:
The Pensions Boards of the United Church of Christ have developed a program to cultivate young ministers for the UCC entitled Target 2030.  Program participants will be awarded a financial incentive of $10,000 to see their Annuity Plan, and will be offered a range of leadership skill development opportunities. For further information connect through any or all of the following - via Twitter @Traget2030, visit the website, download an application, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

> "Child of the Civil Rights Movement." A unique book, from a child's perspective, that shares experiences growing up in the 60's in the midst of the struggle for civil rights. This recently published children's book by Paula Young Shelton, daughter of UCC minister Ambassador Andrew Young, is a wonderful resource. Book available online and in stores. For more information click here.