Iowa Conference UCC 2007

CENTER/LEARN/SEARCH

CENTER/LEARN/SEARCH is a lay ministry study program of the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ. Started in 1991, the program offers biblical, theological, and historical study opportunities, along with practical courses covering many aspects of local church life and ministry. CENTER/LEARN/SEARCH also welcomes participation by members of the Presbytery of Des Moines (PCUSA) and the Mid-American Baptist Churches, ABC/USA.

CENTER (Christian Educators, Nurtured, Taught, Enriched, Resourced) is a two-year track for those who wish to be better prepared as church educators. CENTER was developed for persons who desire to be involved in the education program of a local church, either as an employed lay educator or as an informed volunteer. Successful completion of the CENTER program also fulfills the educational requirement for those who choose to apply for certification as a church educator in the United Church of Christ, a denominational credential for those whose employment is in church education.

LEARN (Lay Education for Adults in Religion Now and the future), a three-year track for non-ordained persons, was designed in response to laity who were interested in opportunities for spiritual growth and theological study. In addition, there is a recognition that some persons might become "license-able" upon completion of the LEARN program. The associations of the Iowa Conference have determined that the LEARN program meets appropriate educational criteria for persons who might apply for licensing to serve in a setting where ordained leadership is not available and/or affordable.

SEARCH (Seekers Exploring, Acting, Reconciling, Conversing, Hoping) is a new program that supplements the CENTER and LEARN programs offered by the conference. If you are looking for a course or two on the Bible, Christian history, or worship, then this program is for you. You can explore without making a commitment to a longer program such as CENTER or LEARN.

Instructors for all courses are theologians with advanced degrees who are passionate about their faith and teaching. Lay people can take a coures and see where the Spirit might lead them. Pastors can take a course to get a new perspective on a topic of interest.

For more information, contact Lee Hood in the conference office or call her at 515-277-6369. A brochure is also available.

Missionaries

Several people from Iowa are commissioned to work as missionaries through Common Global Ministries, a common witness of the Division of Overseas Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Wider Church Ministries, United Church of Christ.

Bruce and Linda Hanson serve the church in Honduras as health and pastoral workers. Bruce works in health ministries. Linda works both in pastoral ministries and as a physical therapist. Bruce and Linda Hanson both grew up in Iowa. They met while attending Ames High School and married 28 years ago. They have five children. Their home church is the United Church of Christ in Belmond, Iowa.

Doug and Liz Searles serve with the Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland. They can be reached at this address. Their home church is the United Church of Christ in Schleswig, Iowa.

Stewardship Ministry in the Iowa Conference

Ten persons from the Iowa Conference attended the Great Rivers Stewardship Development Network event in Sioux City in April, 2007. Eight UCC Conferences were invited. The ten participants are listed below. Keynoter the Rev. Lauren Wright, from the Lake Family Institute on Faith and Giving, proclaimed that Christian giving "is not for sissies!" She presented the results of studies, perspectives and practices, as well as reflections on the faith, that encourage lifestyles of generosity. The Rev. Wright has written a book, soon to be available, entitled The Sacred Art of Giving: Creating a Lifestyle of Generosity. Participants in the event received a copy of the book and continue to use it as a resource in stewardship ministry.

Iowa Conference's ten participants covenanted with one another to do the following:

1. become the cadre of volunteers promoting and conducting stewardship ministry in the Iowa Conference;

2. advocate for members of their own local congregations to adopt lifestyles of generosity;

3. promote an intentional focus on creating lifestyles of generosity with their associations, to the end that such a focus may be part of association programs;

4. to meet again for their own continuing support and growth, and to further prepare themselves to be advocates for lifestyles of generosity.

If you want to know more about creating a lifestyle of generosity, you are encouraged to call one or more of these persons, who now comprise the

Iowa Conference Stewardship Ministry

Name and address	Phones	E-mail	Association
Ron Eslinger 600 42nd St Des Moines IA 50312	515-277-6369 (office) 515-669-5243 (cell)	ron@ucciaconf.org	Conference staff
Ed Gaffney 111 N. Walnut St. Glenwood IA 51534	712-527-9424	susyg@earthlink.net	SW
Susy Gaffney 111 N Walnut St. Glenwood IA 51534	712-527-9424	susyg@earthlink.net	SW
Marlis Gilbert 715 NW Rockcrest Circle Ankeny IA 50023	515-270-6444 (O) 515-360-7595 (cell)	mgilbert@gilbertcook.com	C
Sandy Hecht 10224 130th St. Sloan IA 51055	712-274-6729 (H) 712-251-4805 (O)	sehecht@longlines.com	NW
Laird Keever PO Box 176 Wheatland IA 52777	563-374-1011 (O) 563-374-1511 (H)	stpaulsucc@fbcom.net	EI
David Lorenzen 600 Mulberry St. Tipton IA 52772-1835	563-886-6361 (O) 563-886-2774 (H)	firstucc@iowatelecom.net	C
Robert Mann 616 Broad St. Grinnell IA 50112	641-236-6151 (O)	bmann@mayflowerhomes.com	C
Gail Muckey PO BOx 387 Walnut IA 51577	712-784-3546 (O) 712-784-3277 (H)	gailmuckey@hotmail.com	SW
David Sheridan 4108 75th St. Urbandale IA 50322	515-276-7530 (H)	limnolaw@aol.com	C