Virtual Annual Gathering

June 10-11, 2022

The SCNC 2022 Annual Gathering

Our Logo: The Sankofa, a mythical bird, is a cultural symbol of the Akan people of Ghana. The feet and body of the bird are stepping forward while its head is turned backwards, taking an egg off its back. It symbolizes taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present in order to make positive progress toward a strong future through wisdom and knowledge. 

Our Scripture: “The human mind plans the way, but God directs the steps” (Proverbs 16:9 NRSV), is a reminder that no matter what well-intentioned plans we make, we must diligently look to God for guidance as we step forward into new ways of being.

Our Theme: “Stepping Forward”

Our Conference has been through a lot in the past couple years with COVID, changes in leadership, events of racial injustice and more. Some refer to these experiences as trauma. As we move toward the search for our settled Conference Minister, the Conference Board of Directors has recognized the importance of and committed to, our Conference developing a strong foundation of antiracism, diversity and inclusion. And we are not alone. The National Leadership of the United Church of Christ has committed to a racial equity audit of our denomination, which some of you may be familiar with.

The Southern California Nevada Conference takes pride in our diversity. Let us step forward to work toward a just world for all.

Our Program: According to the Join the Movement website, “Every setting of the UCC, from local churches to global partners, has a role to play in expanding our practices of antiracism…” Our Conference is recognizing the importance of living into this role. This year, we are doing something different for our programming. We have invited The Rev. Dr. Velda Love from the National Setting, to lead our conference in taking steps toward transformational antiracism awareness, equity and inclusion for all people through education, resources, and breakout sessions for small group discussions.

Keynote Speaker

Rev. Dr. Velda Love

Rev. Dr. Velda Love black woman smiling on dark background.The Rev. Dr. Velda Love joined the United Church of Christ as Minister for Racial Justice in February of 2017. She is also the Lead for Join the Movement Toward Racial Justice Campaign

A native of Chicago, Dr. Love brings to the national setting of the UCC her knowledge and expertise of critical race theory, leadership development, community outreach, along with preaching, teaching, writing and even fund development.

Being a member of Trinity United Church of Christ for more than 20 years, developed her spirituality, theology, biblical understanding and racial justice from an African and African-American perspective. It also solidified her deep commitment to social justice, gender equality, issues of race and eliminating racism. She obtained her D.Min. from Chicago Theological Seminary.

According to Dr. Love, “Given this critical juncture in our nation, conversations on race are still a priority. Racial justice and racial equality need to be part of our national dialogue. As Christians in the United Church of Christ, we are responsible for changing the narrative of how we engage the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is inclusive, liberating and radical.”

Agenda & Schedule

Nomination Slate (Proposed)

(C) Central Association | (E) Eastern Association | (N) Northern Association | (S) Southern Association | (L) Laity | (P) Clergy

Ways to Give

Join the Movement

Can you imagine a church free of racism and a world where all people live without fear of violence or systems that harm God’s human creation? The United Church of Christ invites you to Join the Movement toward racial justice as we answer God’s call to be an anti-racist church.

Huston–Tillotson University 

Established in 1875, Huston–Tillotson University was the first institution of higher learning in Austin, Texas. The university is a coeducational college of liberal arts and sciences, operating jointly under the auspices of the American Missionary Association of the United Church of Christ, the Board of Education of the United Methodist Church, and the United Negro College Fund.

Pilgrim Pines Camp and Camperships

Pilgrim Pines Camp is in dire need of financial support at this time. We need your help to continue the incredible legacy of ministry at Pilgrim Pines for future generations. Our campaign symbol of the Rainbow reminds us of the hope and promise God gives to us that our inclusive community can continue to change the world, when we work together.

Documents & Reports

2021 Annual Gathing Minutes

Proposed Bylaw Change

Pilgrim Pines Report

Chair's
Greeting

2023 Budget Report

Budget Presentation

Bylaw Change Memo

PP Proposed Budget

Emergency Resolution

"A White Supremacy Free Zone"

Standing Rules (AG 2022)



Pilgrim Pines Video Report



Resources

Dr. Love has strongly recommended that everyone attending Annual Gathering take time to do some pre-work in advance of our virtual gathering. A partial list of suggested resources to be read or viewed is below. The SCNC Board of Directors took time to view and discuss the video “White Savior: Racism in the American Church”. We invite you to do so as well.

Articles

The 'Racial Cleansing' That Drove 1,100 Black Residents Out Of Forsyth County, GA
Long Divisions: The history of racism and exclusion in the United States is the history of whiteness

Videos

Racism - Public Health Crisis
Africa's Great Civilizations
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
RACE - The Power of an Illusion
White Savior: Racism in the American Church

Books

Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Kelly Brown Douglas
Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery by Mark Charles & Soong-Chan Rah
Reading the Bible From the Margins by Miguel A. De La Torre
Burying White Privilege: Resurrecting a Badass Christianity by Miguel De La Torre
Decolonizing Christianity Becoming Badass Believers by Miguel De La Torre
What Does It Mean to Be White?: Developing White Racial Literacy by Robin Diangelo
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
An African American and Latinx History of the United States by Paul Ortiz
Shades of Freedom: Racial Politics and Presumptions of the American Legal Process by A. Leon Higginbotham
The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone
The Origin of Others by Toni Morrison
The History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter
The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward E. Baptist
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
Mujerista Theology: A Theology for the Twenty-First Century by Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz
Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times by Soong-Chan Rah
Race and Theology (Horizons in Theology) by Elaine A. Robinson

Virtual Annual Gathering

Our entire Annual Gathering this year will be virtual, hosted on the Whova platform. To join and participate as a delegate with voting privileges, you must register on the Whova site. Everyone else who will not be a delegate should register on the same site, but in the category of General Admission.

Once you register on Whova, you will receive an email confirming your registration. Shortly before the Annual Gathering begins you will receive another email containing the link taking you to the main portal for Whova. In order to view and participate, you must click on the link in your email to view the live event through the Whova portal or you can simply log on to Whova the day of the event and select the AG event.

So, to recap:

  1. Register on Whova
  2. Use the link sent by email to navigate to the AG on Whova on 6/10 and on 6/11
  3. Look on the Whova portal for the link to the active session


Once the AG Event has begun LIVE on Whova, look on the main Whova portal page for the links to active sessions and events such as a Zoom Webinar or Zoom breakout group. Also, on the main Whova portal page for AG, you will find the Agenda and reports from conference leaders and the budget, among other things.

NOTE: For the best experience of streaming the live video and audio on Whova, your AG Planning Team STRONGLY recommends each of us uses Google Chrome (browser) and NOT Safari or Internet Explorer or other browsers.