Grace and peace to those who may be interested in the work of the UCC Disability Ministries Board–Friends, UCC Members, UCC Clergy, UCC persons with disability and our ecumenical partners,

This is to provide you with an update of the work of the UCC Disability Ministry (UCCDM) Board of Directors since our last update published for March 2015.

This year the UCCDM Board of Directors is arranged into four subcommittees focused on Stewardship and Philanthropy, Special Events, Education, and Publishing, Identity, and Communication (PIC). There are a few other subcommittees focused on specific tasks for the UCCDM such as the Nominating Committee and the Virginia Kreyer Scholarship Committee. All these subcommittees have been very active this quarter. The highlight of our work this quarter includes:

Stewardship and Philanthropy
The UCCDM Board decided to put some of the gift from the estate of the Rev. Virginia Kreyer into the Kreyer Scholarship and to invest the remainder for the future work of the UCCDM.

Special Events
General Synod 30: Arrangements for the UCCDM and UCCMHN booth as well as the UCCDM sponsored lunch to be held at General Synod 30 have been made. A new UCCDM banner has been ordered for the occasion. A video presentation about the history and work of UCCDM has been created for a Synod presentation celebrating 25 years of the ADA.
Registration for Widening the Welcome 2015 is now open! Widening the Welcome will be held September 24-26th in Hartford, Connecticut. Widening the Welcome 2015 Flyer.
Additional financial support for the Widening the Welcome Conference is being sought. You are invited to contact the UCCDM if you have thoughts about how to do this.

Education
A new booklet explaining the A2A process and a brochure on disability etiquette have been approved!
Work on revisions of “Anybody, Everybody, Christ’s Body” the A2A study document have been put on hold due to the large nature of the task.

Publishing Identity, and Communication
Envelopes for special offering to benefit the Virginia Kreyer Scholarship was created and will appear for the first time at General Synod 30.
Volunteers presented UCCDM Booths, presented workshops, and/or shared information at the Annual Gatherings of the Northern California Nevada Conference, Penn Central Conference, Southern California Conference, Rocky Mountain Conference, and the Vermont Conference.
Those wishing to present UCCDM materials at their conference annual gathering in 2016 should notify the UCCDM Secretary, secretary@uccdm.org, of this no later than January 2016.
A new booklet about the A2A process and new brochure on welcoming people with disabilities have been printed. Both will be available at General Synod 30.
An accessible press release about Widening the Welcome 2015 was added to uccdm.org.
The domain name of uccdm.org was renewed.
The email secretary@uccdm.org was established to ease leadership transitions on the Board.

Virginia Kreyer Scholarship
Rev. David Denham traveled to the Garden City UCC in New York to preach and receive an offering for the Virginia Kreyer Scholarship. Garden City UCC was Rev. Virginia Kreyer’s church of membership for many years.

Nominating
A call for UCCDM Board of Directors nominations was sent out via uccdm.org and thorugh the Conference offices to fill a seat vacated on the Board. A new Board member will be announced when the nominating process is complete. UCCDM Officers for the 2015-2017 term will be announced when all have been elected.
Three congregations have been chosen to receive UCCDM Awards for outstanding achievement in providing opportunity for all. Two persons with disabilities who have made outstanding contributions to church and/or society and two persons without disabilities who have made notable contributions to the lives of persons who have disabilities will also receive UCCDM Awards. Award winners will be announced at the UCCDM Sponsored Lunch entitled “Come Celebrate With Us! 25 Years of ADA” on June 28, 2015 at General Synod 30..
Four delegates representing UCCDM will attend General Synod 30 as voting delegates, they are Rev. Kelli Parrish Lucas, Rev. Susan Burns, Dr. Kevin Pettit, and Ms. Danielle Rochford.

Ecumenical Work
Rev Jeanne Tyler represented the UCCDM at the National Council of Churches (NCC) recent gathering. Rev. Tyler reports that the NCC will focus on the issue of mass incarceration for its program work over the next two years. Rev Tyler notes mass incarceration is an important topic for people living with mental health issues.

The UCCDM has been busy spreading the word about disabilities ministries. We would like to hear how you too have been working for inclusion and accessibility in your UCC context. Won’t you share your story?

Peace of Christ,
Rev. Kelli Parrish Lucas
UCCDM Secretary