United Church of Christ
United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.
The Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ (UCC) equips a courageous Church alive with Christ’s transforming love.
MN CONFERENCE
Covid-19 Guidelines (Nov 5, 2022)
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Resources from March 16, 2021, conversation
- Recording of webinar
- MDH presentation
- Vaccination eligibility
- Venue capacity
- March 12 high-level message
- Clergy questions
Other resources
- Discerning Next Steps for Our Churches in this New Season of COVID-19
- Community & Faith-Based Organizations COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Toolkit
- Covid-19 vaccination information for clergy/faith leaders (1.26.21)
CONGREGATIONAL COVID PLANS
- Associated Church Owatonna (5.21)
- Zwingli Covid Plan (4.21)
- Federation Church (4.21)
RECORDED SERMONS & WORSHIP RESOURCES
- All We Really Need is Love? (Rev. Sheresa Simpson-Rice: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13) YouTube video or manuscript
- The Little Apocalypse (Rev. Abigail Henderson: Mark 13:1-8, 24-33): YouTube video or manuscript
- Great Divides (Rev. Sheresa Simpson-Rice: Matthew 28): YouTube video or manuscript
- Faith that Floats (Rev. Abigail Henderson; Matthew 14:22-33): YouTube video or manuscript
- Murmuring Stories (Rev. Sheresa Simpson-Rice; Numbers 11:1-6): YouTube video or manuscript
- Worship service with Council of Conference Ministers (recording in full, recording in segments, written bulletin, written segments
- The Ministry Lab: Visual Word (recorded sermon spoken over a video, posted weekly)
WORSHIP
- Singing in church webinar with vocologist Dr. Heather Nelson
- UCC churches offer insights and tips for worship online: watch video
- Recorded Music we have Permission to Use Online 5.11: United Church of Christ
- MN Department of Health: Guidance for Faith-based Communities, Places of Worship and Ceremonies
- MN Department of Health: Guidance for Safely Reopening Faith-Based Communities, Places of Worship, Weddings, and Funerals
- Henningson & Snoxell: Re-Opening Church: Balancing Rewards & Risks
- Christianity Today: When Your Church Reopens, Here’s How to Meet Safely
- World Council of Churches: How to be church when buildings are closed
- Important information about use of copyrighted works
- Music copyright information from Chalice Press
- One License: permission for reprinting, projecting, and/or streaming individual hymns
SAMPLE POLICIES
- Third party agreement, baptisms/weddings/funerals, self-checklist, pandemic covenant, steward guidelines & key points, UCC New Brighton sample policies
- Phase Two Reopening, First UCC Northfield
- Policy on Reopening, First Congregational UCC Alex
- Phased Reopening Alexandria, MN
- Logistics ERUCC
- New Ulm COVID 19 Checklist
- ERUCC Reopening Communication
- Covid19 Guidelines for UCC New Ulm
- Alexandria, MN Funeral Policy
CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
- Praxis – How & When to Return to In-Person Worship: Zoom recording; download Violations Reporting pdf
- Minnesota Department of Health: Guidance for visiting people at home
- Faith & Leadership: How should Christian leaders respond to a pandemic?
- Council for Health & Human Service Ministries, United Church of Christ, resources for all aspects of congregational life
- 10 Guidelines for Pastoral Care During Coronavirus
- AA Phone Meetings
FAITH FORMATION: CHILDREN & YOUTH
- Tips for maintaining healthy boundaries online
- Sample online/communication permission form
- Building development relationships during COVID-19: Search Institute (plus more resources on building relationships here)
- Association of United Church Educators: Questions to Address Before Resuming On-Site Faith Formation Programming
- Faith formation practices @ home: Association of United Church Educators
- Tips to help you navigate coronavirus conversations with children
- Talking to children about coronavirus
STEWARDSHIP & FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP
- “Addressing Challenges of Pandemic on Church Finances,” April 7 webinar on stewardship presented by the Minnesota and Wisconsin Conferences
- “The New World of Church Stewardship: From Offering Plates to Online Giving,” a discussion about the (quickly) changing face of church stewardship and overall giving.
- 10 Ideas for Church Financial Leadership Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
- Experts Urge Charities to Communicate Their Needs Clearly to Their Donors (Chronicle of Philanthropy)
- Extravagant Generosity–Considerations for Congregations During the Pandemic (UCC national setting): watch the webinar; read the materials
MESSAGES FROM THE MN CONFERENCE MINISTER
- August 2, 2021: Delta variant
- January 27, 2021: COVID update & clergy vaccinations
- January 14, 2021: Three important things
- January 8, 2021: Our tumultuous times
- November 13, 2020: Thanksgiving worship service resources from the Conference
- November 10, 2020: New executive order from Gov. Walz on COVID-19 restrictions
- October 27, 2020: Deepening call for concern about COVID-19; election & post-election vigilance
- September 14, 2020: Important things happening in the Conference
- September 1, 2020: COVID-19 Resources, Updates & New Guidance
- July 28, 2020: A new phase in our COVID-19 experience
- June 19, 2020: Letter of further guidance on COVID-19
- May 20, 2020: Guidance for churches for reopening
- May 5, 2020: We are here for you!
- April 20, 2020: The reality of the COVID-19 timeline
- March 25, 2020: New guidance to churches during the pandemic
- March 13, 2020: COVID-19: Important message for Minnesota Conference UCC members
CLERGY & CHAPLAIN OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUPPORT
- Parish pastors are invited to gather every Tuesday at 11 am. The Zoom link is available on the MN Conference Authorized Ministers Facebook group page. If you are not a part of this group, contact Sandy for the link.
- Chaplains are invited to gather on the third Tuesday of each month via Zoom at 5:30 pm.
- Tele-health counseling for clergy, provided by LeaderWise, credentialed by Blue Cross Blue Shield and many other primary insurance carriers. Visit the website or call 651-428-1534.