Join Damascus Project Director, Rev. Stephanie Perdew, PhD for a monthly Zoom discussion of biblical texts and sermon ideas, with the focus on topics for the month ahead. Whether you use the Revised Common Lectionary or the Narrative Lectionary or choose your own texts, this discussion is for you. Sessions take place at noon on the first Tuesday of each month. Free for any UCC member to attend. Email Stephanie for the Zoom Link at stephanie.damascus@wcucc.org

The 2026 Stewardship Webinar Series schedule is now posted! Organized by the Rev. Andrew Warner, these events are all free to attend and run from 6:30-7:30 PM CST. Please register using the posted Zoom registration link for each webinar individually. This helps us track which topics people were most interested in and adjust the topics for next year.

Honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the Damascus Project and the BTS Center invite you to take time in October to read and reflect with us on Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: An Invitation to North American Indigenous Interpretation by T. Christopher Hoklotubbe and H. Daniel Zacharis. Facilitated by Rev. Stephanie Perdew, PhD, Director of the Damascus Project & Rev. Nicole Diroff, Program Director at the BTS Center. The authors will join us for conversation during the final gathering.

Dates/Times:

Thursdays October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29   3:00-4:30 pm CT/4:00-5:30pm ET via Zoom

With an author talk on October 29!

Tuesdays, October 6-November 10, 2026  7:30-8:30 PM CST via Zoom. EcoSpirituality asks how to attend to the Holy within our ecosystems, our homes. Amidst escalating climate catastrophe, encountering Wisdom across the historic breadth of Christian spirituality helps us learn within place and (en)counter the grief of our damage to what the Creator called “good.” We will weekly encounter other spiritual traditions as they offer Wisdom to enrich ecospiritual connections while nesting our learning in our own environments.

Tuesday evenings October 6, 13, and 20 from 6:30-8:00 PM CST

Taught by Rev. Stephanie Perdew, PhD, Director of the Damascus Project and tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation.

For clergy seeking continuing education, lay folks, Indigenous and Native relations committees from local churches, Members in Discernment. All are welcome.

This course fulfills the anti-racism training education requirement for authorized ministers in the Minnesota and Wisconsin Conferences. Wisconsin Conference clergy must have taken Exploring Implicit Bias already for this to be applicable.

Please note: MNWI Discount Code does not apply for this course.

This three session training focuses on common Human Resources topics, selection and onboarding of staff; goal setting and performance management, and position management. Each session will include a case study for discussion and plenty of time for Q&A. Tuesdays November 3, 10, 17 6:30-8:00PM CST, Instructor: LeAnne Moritz

Exploring Implicit Bias is an introductory level bias awareness and anti-racism training for UCC authorized ministers and members in discernment, approved by the Minnesota and Wisconsin Conferences Committees on Ministry. Participants build skills for self-inventory and self-awareness, recognizing bias in themselves and taking accountability for how their biases function and effect others. Those from other Conferences should check with their Committee on Ministry to ensure this training meets your requirements. Mondays, November 9, 16, & 30, 2026 4:00-6:00pm Central Time via Zoom. Facilitated by Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown and Anna Stamborski.

Thursdays January 7-February 25, 2027 6:30-8:30 PM CST via Zoom and the Damascus Project Learning Network An overview course of the United Church of Christ exploring the denomination’s history, covenantal polity, and other governance questions. Instructor: Rev. Michael Jones, Member of the UCC History and Polity Teachers Network Minnesota and Wisconsin Conference members can use the code MNWI in checkout to save 15% on your order!

Are you wondering about Christian education among and across the generations? Creating intergenerational formation, worship, and church activities? This course will engage participants in developing ministry to all ages. With pastoral and lay leaders in mind, background will be provided in theology, developmental growth, spiritual practices, neurodivergence, and pastoral care. Practical application will support a congregation’s intergenerational spiritual life.

Dates/Times: Tuesdays January 12 & 19; February 9 &  23; March 9 & 16; April 13 & 27, 2027, 6:00-7:30pm CT via Zoom

With Rev. Debbie Gline Allen

A boundary awareness training for members in discernment and authorized ministers of the UCC. This training is approved by the Minnesota and Wisconsin Conferences Committees on Ministry. For those from other Conferences, please check with your Committee on Ministry to ensure this training will meet your requirements. Thursday January 14, 2027, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM CST via Zoom and the Damascus Project Learning Network.

A boundary awareness training for members in discernment and authorized ministers of the UCC. This training is approved by the Minnesota and Wisconsin Conferences Committees on Ministry. For those from other Conferences, please check with your Committee on Ministry to ensure this training will meet your requirements. ThursdayApril 15, 2027, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM CST via Zoom and the Damascus Project Learning Network.