Barb Powell

CHHSM/JLCM Reproductive Justice Toolkits Offer Tangible Ways to Advocate for Women’s Rights

By Barb Powell | July 13, 2022

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the UCC’s Reproductive Justice Working Group has released a Reproductive Justice Messaging Toolkit, which includes five state-specific toolkits for areas with extreme or trigger laws that have been enacted following the Supreme Court decision. Key in the production of the toolkits has…

CHHSM, Heartland Conference One-Day Leadership Retreat to Focus on Collaboration in Ministry

By Barb Powell | July 13, 2022

The UCC’s Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM) and Heartland Conference are teaming up again to bring a one-day leadership retreat to all conference staff, church members, and Designated Ministries employees. “Collaborating to Flourish” takes place Aug. 31, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and promises to be a day filled with worship,…

CHHSM Board Builds on Strategic Vision, RDEI-J Goals for Future at June Meeting

By Barb Powell | July 13, 2022

In sessions that laid the foundation for further strategic planning, the CHHSM Board of Directors met June 21-23 at Aloft Cleveland in Beachwood, Ohio. The board meeting marked the first for CHHSM’s president and CEO, Jamar Doyle. The meeting was split into generative sessions, discussion, and educational presentations. During the visioning session June 21, staff…

First Retreat Fills 2022-2023 Nollau Leadership Institute Class with Personal Leadership Discoveries

By Barb Powell | July 13, 2022

The newest class of CHHSM’s Nollau Leadership Institute began its year in retreat, held June 27-July 1 at the Cedar Valley Retreat Center in West Bend, Wis. The first of three retreats held during the year-long Institute, the June gathering focused on personal leadership growth and experiences. “During the retreat, we discussed not only what…

‘I Will Remember Being Held’: Essence Ellis Reflects on Her Year as UCC Fellow

By Barb Powell | June 13, 2022

As her year-long experience of being the inaugural UCC Fellow with the UCC’s Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM) and Justice and Local Church Ministries (JLCM) comes to an end, Essence Ellis is in a unique position to reflect. Not only has her year as UCC Fellow taken her in unexpected, rewarding directions,…

UCAN Panel Highlights Difficulties Encountered at Intersectionality of Race in the LGBTQ+ Community

By Barb Powell | June 13, 2022

An important webinar sponsored by CHHSM member UCAN took place June 4 and delved into overcoming the obstacles persons of color in the LGBTQ+ community face daily. The event was introduced and closed by members of UCAN’s Pride Alliance Employee Resource Group. Pride Alliance works to educate, support, and advocate so UCAN employees are respected,…

CHHSM’s ‘Together We Learn’ Book Groups Create Safe Space to Discuss Race, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

By Barb Powell | June 13, 2022

On June 4, 2020, following its spring board meeting, the CHHSM board of directors released its Statement on the Pandemic of Systemic Racism. Among the many commitments the board made to help CHHSM become antiracist was the creation of a Zoom book study group. From that inauspicious beginning has grown a series of book groups…

‘Messages of Hope’ Brings Harvey’s Pandemic Sermons to Wider Audience

By Barb Powell | June 13, 2022

During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the midst of the Black Lives Matter Movement gaining prominence, the Rev. Dr. Sheila Harvey — pastor of Union Congregational UCC in West Palm Beach, Fla., and a CHHSM board member — found that many of her Sunday messages were having a profound effect on church…

UCC Fellow Essence Ellis Plays Key Role in New Reproductive Justice Toolkits to be Released Next Month

By Barb Powell | May 12, 2022

Part of UCC Fellow Essence Ellis’ work includes participation in the UCC Justice and Local Church Ministries (JLCM) Washington office’s Reproductive Justice Working Group. And her main focus in that group has been helping to develop a set of state-specific toolkits, which are slated to be released next month on the heels of the Supreme…

CHHSM’s Rev. Jerry Paul Scholar Program for Seminarians is Accepting Applications for 2022-2023 School Year

By Barb Powell | May 12, 2022

The UCC Council for Health and Human Service Ministries has opened applications for the 2022-2023 Rev. Jerry Paul Scholar. The CHHSM Scholar program is open to seminary students interested in learning more about ministry in faith-based health and human service nonprofit organizations. The program is tailored to the individual seminarian, and runs during each school…

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