MMSC Justice Witness Ministry

01/10/2022

Follow this link to read local coverage of the MMSC press conference on Medical Debt Relief. An enormous amount of gratitude for the work of our co-chair, Rev. Cindy Bumb.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The United Church of Christ has paid off nearly $4 million of medical debt for thousands of families across Tennessee and Arkansas. Over 300 of the recipients live in our viewing a…

10/23/2021

From RevMary Nelson: "Hey, All -- just want to make sure you've seen the page for the Fall Meeting on November 6. You can register for the meeting there, and connect (no registration--just a direct Zoom link) to the three town halls, plus download the agenda and business items under consideration. It's all in one place! See you on November 6!!"

https://www.missourimidsouth.org/fall-business-meeting-2021?fbclid=IwAR2Z7uooE_kljMllXIVP3QtC3-udTfiNsFPGn8SMVSfEI-mcPp_oHx2Kln0

Please plan to attend this meeting as we will be voting on the revision of our conference bylaws, the proposal for Camp MoVal, and the 2022 budget.

05/20/2021

May 20, 2021
Grace and peace to you from the Justice and Witness Covenanted Ministry Team for the MMSC, UCC.

We are reaching out to invite you to participate in our MEDICAL DEBT RELIEF INITIATIVE. Inspired by a similar effort hosted by the St. Louis Association in 2019, funds were gathered conference-wide to help relieve medical debt, identified as the #1 cause of personal bankruptcy in the U.S. While the pandemic temporarily sidelined this effort, today we are committed to complete this act of grace and mercy. We’re focusing on poverty in Springdale, AR, Memphis, and the area around Shannondale, where our outdoor ministry site is located.

To date 20 individuals and congregations have donated a total of $11,208 for this purpose. The minimum amount required for the purchase of medical debt is $15,000. This leaves us with a goal of raising $3,792 for this purpose. We are excited to be able to turn $15,000 in cash into up to 1.5 million in medical debt relief.
Your donations in partnership with the non-profit RIP Medical Debt Relief organization and the national setting of the United Church of Christ, allow us to buy debt in bundled portfolios, millions of dollars at a time at a fraction of the original cost. On average, whatever you donate has 100x the impact. People will receive a letter that their debt is gone. No taxes. No penalties. Just like that, they’re free of medical debt.

To generate awareness and understanding in your congregation, we encourage you to view both this short explanatory video and the PBS News Hour podcast about RIP Medical Debt relief which follows. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSk8xDd2GbU
Please consider making a donation in support of our Medical Debt Relief Initiative which is inspired by our commitment to embody God’s love and mercy for all. Send your donations to the conference office or donate through the Missouri Mid-South website no later than August 1, 2021. In either case, please note that this gift is for MEDICAL DEBT RELIEF. Please contact Rev. Rob Van Ess at [email protected] for more information.

Thank you in advance,

Rev. Cindy Bumb (pronouns she/her/hers) and Rev. Rob Van Ess (pronouns he/him/his)

Co-chairs, Justice and Witness Covenanted Ministry Team MMSC, UCC

Conference office address: 483 E. Lockwood Ave.
Suite 15, St. Louis, MO 63119
Conference website: http://www.mmsucc.org/donate

04/23/2021

Tomorrow (Saturday 4/24) is our Missouri Mid-South business meeting! “Doors” will open at 8:45am and we begin at 9am. Here are some resources for you to prepare:

Materials for the business meeting are available here: https://www.missourimidsouth.org/copy-of-conference-annual-gathering

Information for registration, zoom backgrounds, and all other details about the gathering are available here: https://www.missourimidsouth.org/cag-2021

If you do not have Adobe Reader, which will allow you to access pdf documents, download Adobe Acrobat Reader software here.

04/23/2021

Today’s CAG Schedule: Friday, April 23

Gathering Spaces for Groups:
Members in Discernment: 10-11am
Licensed Pastors: 11:30-12:30pm
Interim Ministers: 1-2pm
Clergy of Color: 2:30-3:30pm
20/30 Clergy: 4-5pm
Children’s Ministers: 5:30-6:30pm

Registration and more information available at

Please note, there are three separate registrations for the Youth Event, the Monday through Friday week-long Events, and the CAG Business Meeting.  You will need to register for each one individually in order to be able to attend.

04/22/2021

Today’s CAG Schedule: Thursday, April 22
Pivoting in Our Mission Workshop: 12-1pm with Elena Huegel, Global Ministries
Afternoon Yoga: 2:30-3pm with Dr. Ashley Hicks
Prayer Space: 4:30-5pm with Rev. Rob Van Ess, Holy Trinity UCC, Memphis, and Sonya Vann, Christ the King UCC, Florissant
Wine & Wonder with Ginny: 5:30-6:30pm with Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel, Conference Minister
Bylaws Conversation: 7-8:30pm with the Bylaws Subcommittee of the Conference Council
Registration and more information available at https://www.missourimidsouth.org/cag-2021?fbclid=IwAR18-uDY8s6Fr8P6pNtinG2XLFhsZm3Tc1TPyB_8heH9dqik_F6WhBIxWmY

Please note, there are three separate registrations for the Youth Event, the Monday through Friday week-long Events, and the CAG Business Meeting.  You will need to register for each one individually in order to be able to attend.

04/21/2021

Late, but I'm sure you already have all of these on your calendar:
Today’s CAG Schedule: Wednesday, April 21

Morning Meditation: 9-9:30am, with Rev. Kristin Aardema-Faigh, Zion UCC, Mayview
Pastoral Relations Committees Workshop: 10:30-11:30am, with Rev. Jimmy Watson, St Louis Committee on Ministry, and Rev. Polly McWilliams, Eastern Committee on Ministry
Prayer Space: 1:30-2pm, with Rev. Rob Van Ess, Holy Trinity UCC, Memphis, and Rev. Kristin Aardema-Faigh, Zion UCC, Mayview
Seminary Debt Workshop: 2:30-3:30pm, with Bob Fairbrook, Ernst & Young
General Synod Conversation: 4-5pm, with Rev. Damien Lake, Associate Conference Minister
Pets in Ministry Workshop: 6-7:30pm, with Rev. Liz Deveney, Trinity UCC, Lexington and Hank, the dog

Registration and more information available at

04/20/2021

Today’s CAG Schedule: Tuesday, April 20:
Prayer Space: 9-10am, with Rev. Rob Van Ess, Holy Trinity UCC, Memphis, and Rev. Carole Barner, Grace UCC & Mt Tabor UCC, St Louis
Retiring Well Workshop: 11am-12pm, with Anna Blandino & Baheru Mengistu from the UCC Pension Boards
Pivoting in Ministry Workshop: 2-3pm, with Rev. Becky Turner, Christ Church Maplewood, Rev. Mary Albert, retired from Epiphany UCC, St Louis, and Rev. Michael Stephens, Southwood UCC, Raytown
Budget Chat: 4-5pm, with Mike Mueller, Conference Treasurer, and Mickey Clarke, Chair of Conference Finance and Administration
Youth Leaders’ Renewal Service: 6-7pm with Cindy Birkner, Conference Youth Coordinator

Registration and more information available at

04/19/2021

Check it out.

This is the recording of our Conference Annual Gathering Worship Service from April 18, 2021. Feel free to use it in your congregations to provide a break fr...

04/19/2021

04/19/2021

Today's schedule for Conference Annual Gathering:
Monday, April 19. Zoom link is the same as Opening Worship, if you joined us last night:
12-12:30pm Prayer Space with Rev. Rob Van Ess, Holy Trinity UCC, Memphis, and Rev. Holly McKissick, Peace Church UCC, Kansas City. A time for people across the conference to pray with and for each other.
3:00 - 4:00pm Technology in the Church, with Rev. Damien Lake, and Rev. Rob Van Ess: This workshop will review current ways to continue to expand your digital footprint as a church living in modern times. Some areas we will explore are the use of social media platforms to get your message out, technology is not just for youth and the importance of having a good website and page.
4:30 - 5:00pm Young Adult Gathering with Cindy Birkner, Conference Youth Ministries Coordinator. Join in for conversation as we talk about our faith in the world today.
6:30 - 7:30pm Beer w/Damien: Why not grab a beer or your beverage of choice and join our ACM for some fun and conversation. You can always ask him about his favorite hobbies.
More information and registration is at

Please note, there are three separate registrations for the Youth Event, the Monday through Friday week-long Events, and the CAG Business Meeting.  You will need to register for each one individually in order to be able to attend.