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Transitions announced

Mark Travis was installed Sept. 27 as pastor of Eagle Harbor Congregational UCC at Bainbridge Island

August 23, Roselynne Selix was installed with dual standing at the Samoan Congregational Church #2 in Seattle.

On Sept 4, Micah Buff was ordained at United Churches of Olympia.

Retired pastor Andrea CastroLang was recognized as pastor emerita at Westminster UCC in Spokane.

OWL facilitators training set

In November, the PNC will offer three levels of the Our Whole Lives (OWL) training at Pilgrim Firs.

The curriculum helps inform people why the UCC faith connects to many of the actions of UCC churches, including rainbow doors, LGBTQ+ advocacy, reproductive justice, racial disparity and education.

Participants join with other people who value community, inclusion, and progressive faith beliefs.

The curriculum is part of a 25-year interfaith partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Association in this ministry.

Facilitator Amy Johnson said the program includes dismantling shame and stigma about bodies and relationships, which can save lives. She will co-lead the session with Melanie Davis of the Unitarian Universalist Church.

The OWL Facilitator Trainings are from 10 a.m., Friday, Nov. 20 to 12 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22 at Pilgrim Firs. Facilitators will bring comprehensive, faith-rooted sexuality education to their congregations and communities. Pilgrim Firs will host concurrent training sessions for all age-levels of OWL curriculum, although only one level can be attended. OWL facilitators must be a minimum age of 21 and be present for the full training.

For information, email johnsona@ucc.org. Registration is through Mark Boyd at mark@pilgrimfirs.org.

Communities in Practice starts

Communities of Practice registration is open. Communities of Practice are support and learning groups sponsored by the PNC-UCC Committee on Ministry, led by trained facilitators, for folks who are in a variety of ministries in the PNCUCC, the Central Pacific Conference and the Montana/Northern Wyoming Conference.

Amy Hitchens coordinates the program on behalf of the Committee on Ministry.

For information, email amy@npucc.org.

Men’s Retreat is Jan. 29-31

The 2027 Pacific Northwest Conference UCC Men’s Retreat will take place at Pilgrim Firs Camp and Conference Center in Port Orchard, Wash., from Friday, Jan. 29 to Sunday, Jan. 31, with the option of a silent evening on Thursday, Jan. 28 to Friday afternoon, Jan. 29. The planning team, coordinated by Rick Russell, is meeting to finalize the theme and leadership. Registration will be open in November of this year.

For information, email myrtos@comcast.net.

Educate US seeks youth

Educate US has developed by a program to help high school students run forums with the candidates running for school board in their districts, so those candidates have to answer questions from high school students themselves. OWL is providing a guide, coaching and a stipend to students who wants to do it.

For information, visit educateusaction.org/get-involved/host-a-student-led-candidate-town-hall.

Retired clergy need training

Boundary Training for Retired Clergy will be offered at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, by the national office of the UCC with the Revs. Tara Barber of the PNC-UCC and Melanie Oommen of the Central Pacific Conference. Retired clergy need to keep their boundary training current, said Tara.

National UCC invites stories

As the UCC nears its 70th anniversary, the church gathering stories of welcome from across the country.

UCC members are invited to share a story of how they showed up exactly as they were with no expectations, no judgments and felt welcomed. They are invited to share what made them feel part if the community

It could be the story of someone remembering your name after one visit, and how that small thing shifted everything. It could be the story that helped you realize the UCC is more than a church, it’s a community and a place where you belong.

Those sharing their stories can read a script or tell their story freely. Participants may apply and the story will be shared on social media, recorded right from their computer.

For information, visit https://app.memoryfox.io/mobile/app?theme=national-ministries-of-the-united-church-of-christ-national-ministries-of-the-united-church-of-christ&identifier=national-ministries-of-the-united-church-of-christ#/event-signup/yourwelcomestory

PNC offers guides for pulpit supply and pastoral care

The PNC-UCC has New Pulpit Supply Guidelines to use in compensating ministers who fill their pulpit. It is recommended to pay a retired pastor providing intermittent pastoral care $35 to $45 an hour.

The guidelines are at https://pncucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Pulpit-Supply-List-Guidelines-09-2026-2.pdf.

DEIB training opportunities listed

Cindy Bauleke of the Committee on Ministry (COM) West and Ann-Marie Illseley of the COM East remind pastors of the PNC-UCC that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Training (DEIB) is required by the end of 2026 and then once every three years (with the exception of exempt ministers). Pastors must send a certificate of completion to office@pncucc.org .

DEIB trainings approved by COM are:

• Enkei Resolutions offers Level 1 Racial Justice Trainings Oct. 27 and 28 at enkei-resolutions.com/racial-justice-training-level-1 and Level 2 Racial Justice Trainings are Oct. 6 and 13 at enkei-resolutions.com/2026-racial-justice-training-registration.

• The Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ lists their many educational opportunities at sneucc.org, including Racial Justice Renewal Oct. 14 to 15 and Racial Justice Foundations Nov. 18 to 19.

• Convergence: Anti Racism Training for Clergy is self-paced on Zoom at convergencecolab.org/p/anti-racism training.

• The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond: Undoing Racism Community Workshop is offered three days on Zoom or in person at pinwseattle.org/#.

For information, email cindybauleke@gmail.com or pastor@fccchurch.net.

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