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By MeLinda LaViene, Conference Managing Administrator Better Together: NCNC, UCC at the 2026 TFAM Leadership Conference "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" — Isaiah 43:19 Representing the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ, Rev. Dr. Davena Creer-Jones and I were honored to attend the 2026 Leadership Conference of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM) in Charlotte, North Carolina. Gathering clergy, seminarians, denominational leaders, nonprofit partners, and justice advocates from across the country, the conference was more than an educational event. It was a powerful witness to…

Are you a moderator or vice-moderator serving your church or your association? Do you need help carrying out and understanding the duties of your role? Let's build a stronger community together. Then, please join us for the 2026 NCNC, UCC Moderator Retreat on Saturday, August 1, 2026. This retreat is an opportunity for Moderators from across our Conference to gather in community for fellowship, spiritual renewal, shared learning, and leadership development as we continue to strengthen the ministries of our local churches. Together, we will reflect on our shared covenant, explore the opportunities and challenges facing our congregations, and deepen our commitment to…

By Rev. Lauren Jewett After nearly two years serving as NCNC's Associate Conference Minister for Youth, Young Adults, and Education, I'm writing to share that I will be leaving this position at the end of my (extended) designated term on July 31st. This was a newly created role when I stepped into it in December 2024, and together we got to re-build something from the ground up — I could not be prouder of what we've created, or more grateful for the chance to have done it alongside so many of you. When I think back over these twenty months,…

by Rev. Rhina Ramos The New York Times on Tuesday published a list of those shot by ICE so far in 2026. Almost two dozen dead and injured. These are their names: Joan Sebastian Guerrero • Lorenzo Salgado Araujo • Clemente Lara-Hevrnandez • Eduardo Cruz Garcia • Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez • Alex Jeffrey Pretti • William Eduardo Moran Carballo • Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis • Luis Nino-Moncada • Renee Good • Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins • Juan Carlos Rodriguez Romero • Justin Bryant Nelson • Carlos Jimenez • Jose Garcia-Sorto • Carlitos Ricardo Parias • Phillip M. Brown • Marimar Martinez…

By Rev. Dr. Toni Dunbar June 18, 2026 Long before I had ever heard of Rev. John Robinson, I knew that the Bible was not a good and ethical source of theology for all people. Anything that can be made monstrous enough to justify slavery, misogyny, state-sanctioned murder, war, ecological destruction and the long catalog of atrocities at theology’s feet does not apply to the peaceful culmination of life on this planet. It just seemed to me that God had more truth and light to shed. So I studied. I obtained the obligatory degree. I became enamored of the liberation…

By Rev. Dr. Davena L. Creer-Jones, Conference Minister Today as I sit on my porch in deep prayer and reflection on this 4th of July Independence Day, I can’t help but think of what life was like 250 years ago in real time. Sure, history books, movies, documentaries, loved ones tell the stories of past times. But to live in, through and to survive is an entirely different thing. One of the stories my great-grandmother Lille Mae (born 1889) shared with me about black folk in her day was that they didn’t have to be connected by blood to be…

By MeLinda LaViene Each June, communities across the nation celebrate Pride Month, honoring the history, resilience, and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other LGBTQIA+ people. For many, Pride is a celebration of identity, community, and liberation. For the church, it is also an opportunity to reflect on God's expansive love and our call to embody that love in the world. The Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ joins with congregations and communities in celebrating Pride Month as a reminder that every person is created in the image of God and beloved beyond measure.…

As we approach World Refugee Day on June 20, United Church of Christ congregations are invited to put faith into motion through Journey for Justice, a flexible, faith-centered fundraising challenge from Church World Service. Inspired by the 42.5 million refugees worldwide, participants commit to a “42.5 challenge”—walking, biking, or moving in ways that fit their lives—while raising funds to support refugees and displaced families both globally and here in the U.S.  Grounded in Jesus’ call to “welcome the stranger” (Matthew 25:35), Journey for Justice offers a tangible way to live out our faith beyond the pews. Funds raised provide critical support—from emergency shelter…