UCCDM Reaches $100,000 Milestone, Press Release

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Jess Chancey

United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (September 7, 2015)
UCCDM Contact:
Secretary@uccdm.org

UCCDM REACHES $100,000 MILESTONE

The United Church of Christ Disability Ministries Board (UCCDM) is excited to announce that they have reached the first fundraising goal of $100,000 to fund The Virginia Kreyer Endowed Scholarship Fund for persons with disabilities called to authorized ministry in the United Church of Christ. Student applicants with disabilities and/or mental health concerns seeking ordination, licensed, or commissioned ministry will be awarded scholarship assistance beginning in 2016. Application information will become available later in the fall.

This scholarship honors the life, struggles, and work of the Rev. Virginia Kreyer. Born with Cerebral Palsy, Virginia experienced a call from God to ministry and answered that call. A graduate of Union Theological Seminary and ordained by the American Baptist Church, she struggled with not receiving a call from a local parish. In 1967, she joined Garden City UCC in New York and began organizing a committee concerned with issues around disability and the church. She brought a resolution to the New York Conference and then took it to the General Synod. Virginia was the first consultant to the committee which became the UCCDM. We are so grateful for the gifts of this “feisty” woman and the mission and ministry she nurtured, supported, and empowered.

The Second Hundred campaign has begun and there are various ways to donate. First, donations can be sent directly to Ms Pat Lyden, Associate Director, Grant and Scholarship Administration, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue East, Cleveland, OH 44115. Second, October 11, 2015 is Accessibility Sunday, celebrated throughout the United Church of Christ. Churches are encouraged to take a special offering for the Kreyer Fund that day and send it to the above address. Finally, donate through either the UCC.org or uccdm.org. Although donors “land” on a page that appears to be exclusively for the UCC Annual Fund, page 2 of the donor form allows donors to designate the special offering or scholarship fund the donation is for. No matter how a donor chooses to give, please be sure to indicate the Kreyer Scholarship Fund on checks, cover letters, or on the online form.

Remembering Virginia Kreyer

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Jess Chancey

In December 2013, The UCCDM Board learned of the death of Rev. Virginia Kreyer. Rev. Kreyer brought the lived realities of people with disabilities to the UCC Synod. Rev. Kreyer along with Rev. Harold Wilke established the predecessor to UCCDM. A scholarship fund has been established in Rev Virginia Kreyer’s name. The Kreyer Scholarship Fund is the only UCC Scholarship named after a woman and its purpose is to provide financial support to persons with disabilities who are preparing for authorized ministry. Memorial donations can be made to the Virginia Kreyer Scholarship Fund.

The following poem was written by Rev. Jeanne Tyler, Vice Chair of the UCCDM Board of Directors.

Virginia Kreyer

Well-dressed Lady

Whose eye upon you was serious

Whose eye upon you was compelling

Whose eye upon you made you consider her point of view

And agree to actions you might only consider.

Well- spoken lady

Who struggled for diction but not for clarity

Whose speech you reach for but whose uttering reached,

was deeply metaphorical and thus transforming.

Whose speech turned into acts of agency

Always encouraging others like her to act our way into an ever inclusive church.

Well-acting Lady

Called by God to ordained ministry chose the United Church of Christ, affirmed by the United Church of Christ

Who stood for peace in times of war

Who continued to dream of a church pieced together like Mama’s quilt

Each piece different yet beautiful to the wholeness of the quilt.

The quilt made up of individual pieces; each piece carefully chosen and included.

This eye upon you was serious, determined, focusing upon an inclusive church.

A Tribute to Ryan Mathews by Rev. Jeanne Tyler

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Jess Chancey

Ryan Mathews

Trumpet guy
Blew his horn
Transformed his mind
His heart set on Jesus
And all the rest of us:
The blind, lame , the depressed the out of mind
Trumpet Guy in a power chair
dissected Hebrew and Greek
thr

ew words around like notes
knew people’s hearts: tender and true
Trusted in ancient words as in
covenant care community commitment
Trumpet Guy
Rev. Jeanne Tyler

Memorial Service set for Ryan Mathews in St. Louis

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Jess Chancey

A memorial service has been set for Ryan Mathews, a recent graduate of Eden Theological Seminary and former student pastor at Webster Groves Christian Church.

The service, which will begin at 10 a.m., on Monday, October 17, will be held in The Chapel of the Press Building at the seminary located at 475 E. Lockwood Ave. The Chapel is on the second floor.

February 28 Deadline for Award Nomination Invitations for UCC DM and MIN

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Jess Chancey

United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries and UCC Mental Illness Ministry Award Nominations are due by February 28, 2011.
Continue reading →

A Joyful Summary

Posted on October 2, 2010 by Jess Chancey

A Joyful Summary of the Newly Reconstituted United Church of Christ Mental Illness Network (UCC-MIN)

October 2, 2009

At the recent Pathways to Promise Interfaith Summit Conference on Mental Illness from Sept. 29-October 1, 2009 in Belleville, IL, the UCC MIN has been renewed. A new Steering Committee was formed and the new Chair of the Network is Alan Johnson.

The program highlights for me, said Alan, were the presentation by Dr. Ken Thompson, the medical director of the Center for Mental Health Services, the personal testimony by the Rev. Jane Fisler-Hoffman, the interim conference minister of the UCC Southern California, Nevada Conference, and the training by the Rev. Craig Rennebohm. Ken lifted up the significance of clergy gatherings as well as the importance of offering a spiritual home that address the needs of people who are living with mental illness. Faith communities provide a structure of belonging that provide social inclusion in a society that breeds a cycle of exclusion, he said. Jane spoke compellingly, compassionately, and clearly about ways to embrace everyone who is living with depression, especially clergy. Craig gave an on the spot training on companioning.

Three hours were given to envision the next steps of the UCC MIN and how we might implement them.
First, we edited a Covenant Statement drafted by Craig. It names the intent of the UCC MIN and invites participation by all the setting of the church. Our intent is to have at least 10% of our UCC membership to sign onto this covenant by General Synod, 2011.
Second, we spelled out the structure for developing and expanding our communications. That includes the MIN website, a link with the UCC Justice and Witness as well as the Local Church Ministry. We talked about our own Facebook as well as joining the UCC My Space.
Third, we envisioned a National Conference on Mental Illness in the fall of next year, 2010. We acknowledged it was eleven years ago that General Synod voted â€œCalling the People of God to Justice for Persons with Serious â€˜Mentalâ€™ Illnesses (Brain Disorders,) and we still have much more work to do! Very tentatively we heard one suggestion of a title: Our Churches Widen the Welcome: For all who are affected by Mental Illness/Brain Disorders and those who want to know more! One suggested site is Denver due to the strong connection with two congregations in particular that are involved in this area of ministry as well as the Denver Mental Health Center that is working strongly in the area of spirituality and mental illness/recovery.
Fourth, the new Steering Committee was formed by acclamation!
Fifth, we affirmed the faithful and long-standing work of the UCC MIN in particular through the leadership of Bob Dell, Craig Rennebohm and Norma Mengel.
Sixth, we thanked the UCC LCM and the UCC Disabilities Ministry for their financial support over these years and look forward to the continued connection with JW. We thanked Barbara Baylor for her presence and participation though JW.
Seventh, throughout the three-day conference we continued to wrestle with the language we use about this area. Mental Illness and/or Mental Health and/or Brain Disorders; Wellness, Healing and Recovery; suffering and/or the gifts; are these â€œillnessesâ€ disabilities? We are all trying to find language that is appropriate and inclusive, and is particular in that it describes how things are as well as being compassionate.

We are off and running with the Holy Spirit’s energy and the impetus of our passion we are ready to re-engage the UCC in mental illness/brain disorder issues and concerns. More will come. However, in the meantime, you are invited to get in touch with Alan Johnson with your thoughts, reflections, questions, and interest. (revalan2004@comcast.net)

Make-a-Gift to Harold Wilke Fund

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Jess Chancey

For more information or to make a gift to the Reverend Harold H. Wilke Fund for the ongoing program work of the UCC DM, please go to http://www.ucc.org/make-a-gift/. Thank you for your contribution.

United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries

on a mission to make the UCC Accessible to All (A2A)

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