New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ

06/14/2026

06/06/2026

Happy Pride Month Siblings,

🌈 BIG NEWS! 🌈

We are overjoyed to officially announce that Rev. Derek Terry has been appointed Executive Director of the Open and Affirming Coalition of the UCC! 🎉

Rev. Terry has faithfully served our Coalition as Program Director and most recently as Acting Executive Director for over a year while leading with compassion, vision, and an unwavering commitment to extravagant affirmation.

Under his leadership, we have:
✨ Continued certifying congregations as Open and Affirming
✨ Expanded partnerships across faith communities & conferences
✨ Grown deeper connections throughout the UCC and beyond

Rev. Terry is a servant leader, a fierce advocate for LGBTQIA+ people and communities, and a living example of faith and justice in action. We are so honored to have him leading the organization and the movement officially!

As we celebrate this exciting news during Pride Month, we invite you to celebrate with us by supporting the work of the Open and Affirming Coalition through Give OUT Day, the nation's largest day of giving for LGBTQ+ organizations.

Your gift helps sustain LGBTQ+ affirmation, advocacy, leadership development, educational resources, and communities where people can find belonging, hope, and courage.

Make your Give OUT Day gift:
https://www.giveoutday.org/story/39a45g

Please join us in congratulating Rev. Derek Terry and helping us continue building a world where LGBTQ+ people are fully welcomed, affirmed, and celebrated.

Congratulations, Rev. Terry! The movement is stronger because of you.

Please join us in celebrating and welcoming Rev. Derek Terry as our Executive Director!

05/20/2026

Today, we gathered with church administrators from across the Conference. We were blessed to be able celebrate the ministries of our church administrators and talk about ways in which we can support one another.

05/19/2026

Public Statement on “Rededicate 250” event

The New Hampshire Council of Churches is deeply saddened as well as disconcerted by the May 17, 2026 Rededicate 250: National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving held in Washington DC. The measure of Christian discipleship is rooted in Jesus’s commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves, to welcome the stranger, to care for those who are vulnerable, and to recognize the humanity of every person. Being a Christian is not about amassing political power or dominance. Jesus lifted up the Good Samaritan to exemplify moral courage and compassion across lines of difference.

In alignment with these beliefs and in stark contrast to the Rededicate event, yesterday the Council attended a vigil for Juniper Blessing, a 19 year old trans woman who was brutally stabbed to death last week. Contrary to the deliberate federal policy assaults aiming to deny their and the LGBTQ+ community’s humanity, our faith teaches us that every person is beloved, deserving of safety, belonging, and love.

The Council is particularly concerned by Secretary Pete Hegseth’s misrepresentation of George Washington, along with the event’s narrow interpretation of sacred scripture. Faith traditions are strongest when grounded in humility, compassion, justice, and reverence for human dignity, not when scripture is selectively used to advance exclusionary political narratives.

Our 7 denominations (Episcopal, Unitarian Universalist, Presbyterian, United Methodist, United Church of Christ, the Friends, and the Lutherans) hold the steadfast belief that God's love is inclusive. No exceptions. We affirm the wisdom of maintaining clear boundaries between the responsibilities of the church and the responsibilities of the state. Faith must never be used as a tool of government power, nor should government claim authority over the sacred work of belief. The 300 member churches across our beautiful Granite State respect the separation of church and state as an essential protection for both religious freedom and democratic pluralism.

Our sacred texts inspire our vision for a just world in God’s name. We understand that our liberation is deeply bound up with one another. The prophet Amos declared, “let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like an overflowing stream” (Amos 5:24). We envision a Granite State where Churches are full of diverse and empowered members, and exist in communities where all people are supported to grow into their full potential and live free from oppression and for one another.

Lisa Beaudoin, Executive Director, on behalf of the Board of Directors

For a PDF copy of this statement, please visit: https://www.nhchurches.org/post/a-public-statement

Episcopal Church of New Hampshire
New England UMC
New England Synod
New Hampshire Conference, United Church of Christ
New England Yearly Meeting of Friends
New England Region UUA
Synod of the Northeast

05/16/2026

05/14/2026

05/14/2026

🧠 May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

🪻 The UCC recognizes the third Sunday in May as "Mental Health Sunday" (May 17th, 2026) and our United Church of Christ Mental Health Network ministries provides robust resources for churches to use on Mental Health Sunday.

👉🏾 Check them out: https://ow.ly/FnAu50YXHBJ
📺 AND, ICYMI, watch the recording of the Mental Health Network Team discuss the importance and impact of Mental Health Sunday: https://ow.ly/UeVW50YXHBG

05/12/2026

🙌🏾 "Justice means seeing beyond the 24/7 news cycle, the rhetoric that is loud and makes no sense, and well beyond the social media generated content, leaning toward disinformation. A commitment to justice is rooted in loving our neighbors as ourselves and overcoming the fear that would render us silent and unable to act on behalf of 'the least of these.'

"The opposite of love is indifference. Indifference is a root cause of the unseeing. Our indifference kills."

-Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson
General Minister & President/CEO, UCC

👉🏾 Read her full blog, "Unseen Indifference": https://ow.ly/819g50YYqPZ

05/12/2026

30 Years of Faith in Action 🌍🕊️

Join us THIS WEDNESDAY for our kickoff webinar featuring Rev. Dr. LaMarco A. Cable, Rev. Shari Prestemon, and special guest Rev. Dr. Mery Kolimon. Hear powerful stories and be part of what’s next.

For three decades, Global Ministries has partnered with communities around the world to live out faith through justice, reconciliation, and shared mission. Rooted in unity and guided by hope, we celebrate the impact of this global witness—together.

Register today and celebrate 30 years of global partnership.
https://ow.ly/qHGF50YRQYb