Join us on December 7th for the Wisconsin Council of Churches Annual Meeting. Registration costs $49 and includes access to the keynote speaker and the business session held on the morning of Tuesday, December 7th, and access to workshops and conversation circles held throughout the week. Most sessions will be recorded and registration will include access to these recordings.

Tuesday Morning Schedule
• Gathering Worship – 9 am
• Keynote with Jessica Kantrowitz – 9:30 am
• Business Meeting – 11 am
 

Keynote Presentation at 9:30am by Jessica Kantrowitz

Jessica Kantrowitz is the author of three books, The Long Night: Readings and Stories to Help You through Depression365 Days of Peace, and Blessings for the Long Night: Poems and Meditations to Help You through Depression. Her writing has appeared in places like Sojourners Magazine, The Good Men Project, and the Madeleine L’Engle blog, and she has worked as a storyteller for Together Rising. She has a BA from Tufts University and an MDiv from Gordon-Cornwell Seminary, and has served as a youth minister and worship leader, among other ministry roles.

We invite you to set aside time the morning of Tuesday, December 7th, to hear what Jessica has to share with us for these days of crisis and change. Her voice speaks grace into those living with weariness and anxiety. She offers gentle, welcoming community spaces for those who have been actively excluded, or who feel left out. 

Jessica’s talk, entitled Naming Our Sorrows: How We Must Be Seen Before We Can Be Comforted, will include some time for question and response. We pray it will be a gift to those who have been leading the church through a challenging season!

Business Session

The Business Meeting of the WCC will also take place on Tuesday morning at 11:00am. Based on previous experience, we anticipate this lasting approximately an hour. This year’s agenda should include program reports, review of financials, and elections. Business booklets should be sent out to delegates approximately a week before the meeting. All delegates should plan to attend this session. Visitors are welcome to attend.

Workshops and Conversation Circles Throughout the Week 
(recorded events will be available on a private youtube channel for viewing later)

Tuesday, December 7th sessions:
• 1 pm – Delegate Session on Governance. Facilitated by Rev. Dr. Jonathan Grieser, WCC Board Vice President. 
• 2pm –  Leading Out of COVID: A Free Resource from The Missional Network. Facilitated by Johnna Georgia, Awaken Dane Program Director
• 3 pm – Afghan Refugee Update & How to Help. Facilitated by Rev. Breanna Illéné (will be recorded)

Wednesday, December 8th sessions 
• 9 am-noon Judicatory Leaders retreat for preregistered senior leaders only. Contact Executive Director Rev. Kerri Parker to confirm. 
• 1 pm – Conversation Circle: Restorative Actions: introduction to a racial equity initiative at the intersection of theology, justice, and economics. Facilitated by Sarah Moore-Nokes and Milissa Carter. (will be recorded)
• 2 pm – Conversation Circle: Land Acknowledgments. Facilitated by Rev. Kerri Parker. (will be recorded)

Thursday, December 9th
• 12 pm – Resetting the Table – Using the short film PURPLE in Congregations. Facilitated by Peter Bakken and Rabbi Bonni Margulis. (will be recorded)
• 2 pm – Conversation Circle: Justice aspects of COVID work. Facilitated by WCC Community Health Program Staff and Partners. (will be recorded)

All of these are included in your Annual Meeting registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens at WCC’s Annual Meeting?
The Annual Meeting includes our business meeting (hear updates on the Council’s operations, vote for new members, etc), our plenary speaker, and workshops. This year, material typically covered in workshops will be spread throughout the week to allow for more participation – and so nobody has to spend an entire day with their eyes glued to the screen! Most events will be recorded so if you aren’t able to attend them live, you can still listen and learn at a time better suited to you.

Where will the Annual Meeting be held this year?
We will once again hold our Annual Meeting on Zoom, so you can access it from your home or office. A unique link will be sent for each session.

Who is invited to WCC’s Annual Meeting? 
Everyone is invited and there are two ways to attend.

Each WCC member organization has official delegates who are able to vote and participate in the business meeting and all the events. If you are interested in serving as a delegate, reach out to your judicatory/organizational leaders about joining your delegation.

If you are not serving as a delegation member, you are still welcome and encouraged to join us! Anyone can attend. You will have access to all the events, but for the business meeting, you will only be able to observe. Only delegates have voice and vote for the business session.