This year I was honored to travel to the United Church of Christ’s 34^th Bi-Annual General Synod in Indianapolis, Indiana.The theme for this year's synod was "Making All Things New". From the 30^th of June through the 4^th of July, the United Church of Christ (UCC) crammed events, business, activism, and fun into five whirlwind days!   

I was thankful to be accompanied by my husband, Matthew Schmid, who was also a volunteer representative for the KKBS. To make it even more exciting, this was our first event as actual members of Westerville Community UCC Church, as well as long-standing partners and participants of churches from the UCC’s New York Conference.   

The synod was not only eventful for the UCC but also for the KKBS. The New York Conference of the UCC signed a new unlimited partnership with the KKBS. I, Christoph Schmid, standing in for Superintendent Rev. Dr. Silke Radosh-Hinder and Rev. Dr. Marsha Williams, signed the new partnership on the 30^th of June 2023 at the Indianapolis Convention Center in front of delegates attending the Synod from the New York Conference. Our beloved Melva Victorino was present and spoke on the importance of this partnership and the honor it is to see it grow from a courtship to a marriage! Melva was also instrumental in ensuring we were introduced to about half of the synod (this might not even be an exaggeration.)   

Later that day, we heard a powerful message from the guest speaker Nadia Bolz-Weber about hope amid ‘fear, anxiety, worry, and regret’. Nadia Bolz-Weber is an ordained Lutheran Pastor, founder of House for All Sinners & Saints in Denver, Co, the creator and host of The Confessional, and the author of three NYT bestselling memoirs: Pastrix; The Cranky, Beautiful Faith Of A Sinner & Saint (2013 and re-released in 2021), Accidental Saints; Finding God In All The Wrong People (2015) and SHAMELESS; A Sexual Reformation (2019).  

We also were honored to attend several interfaith, partnership, and mission-oriented events that gave us a glance into the multifaceted and powerful interfaith and partnership-driven programs the UCC is part of. We met people from all over the world, including a group of visitors with a sister partnership from Frankfurt. Melva again spoke about the importance of our partnership and how much both sides have gained from the transatlantic partnership.   

On Sunday, there was a moving worship service with Rev. Carmen Lansdowne, moderator of The United Church of Canada, who offered a sermon with a vision of reclamation and centering of marginalized communities amid a context where “our children are being born into a world of horrors.” It was captivating to see Rev. Lansdowne incorporate parts of her native indigenous tongue into her sermon to add a powerful component to this message!  

On Monday, in conversations with Rev. Sigrid Rother, Senior Pastor of Westerville Community UCC Church, and Rev. David Long-Higgins, head of the United Church of Christ’s Heartland Conference that covers parts of Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky, the idea was floated of adding me to the board of partnerships. After receiving the blessing of Peter Makari, head of the UCC’s international relationships for the Middle East and Europe, I was added to the Heartland Conference’s International Partnership Board.   

The next few days were mainly business, and it was fascinating to see the discussion and passing or failing of different issues. The issue that was causing the most heartburn was the resolution to move the synods from biannual to triennial, but this had some major concerns to many in the increased length that board members would serve. This moved their terms from six to nine years. Ultimately, this resolution passed by only one vote! However, there will be upcoming conversations and amendments to this resolution after a minority report was filed by those who opposed it.   

When the church was not meeting, they were out marching for social justice issues, from abortion rights to LGBTQI* issues. It is great to see a church that has such a loud voice for those who are oppressed.   

The experience of the 34^th UCC Synod was marvelous, and I am very excited to be on the list of people attending when they meet again in 2025 in Kansas City! 

written by Christoph & Matthew Schmid