wfn.org | UCC installs new leader as it celebrates 20 years in Cleveland

[George Conklin <gconklin@igc.org>]

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> Contact: Gregg Brekke

> United Church of Christ

> Phone: (216) 736-2177

> E-Mail: brekkeg@ucc.org

> Thursday, April 15, 2010

UCC installs new leader as it celebrates 20 years in Cleveland

The Rev. Geoffrey A. Black to be installed as the United Church of Christ's new 
General Minister and President in monumental weekend celebration.

Cleveland, OH ?The United Church of Christ will install the Rev. Geoffrey A. 
Black as its new leader during services Saturday, April 17 at Federated UCC in 
Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Services begin at 2 p.m., with a reception to follow.

Black, new general minister and president of the 1.1-million-member UCC, 
succeeds the Rev. John H. Thomas, who served in the office for 10 years. Thomas 
was ineligible for an additional term.

Black served for nearly a decade as minister of the UCC's New York Conference before being elected general 
manager and president last June during the UCC's 27th General Synod. In his nomination speech, Black invited 
all members of the church, in every setting ­ in local churches, in covenanted ministries, in 
theological seminaries, and as ecumenical partners ­ to work together. "In the UCC," he said, 
"ministry is not a social act. We are in this together."

"We do not lose heart,? he said, quoting scripture. ?We are all of us in this ministry 
together." Black spoke of the UCC?s commitment to justice and peace as ?part of our 
identity. It is possible for us to be an inclusive church and still be a church of faith. This 
is why our voice is needed; so that all people will know that they are God's people."

Black?s installation will culminate a high-energy weekend for the UCC, which will launch on April 
16 its next "God is Still Speaking" commercial. Titled "The Language of God," 
the 90-second video will represent the UCC?s first viral internet campaign relying exclusively on 
social networking and the church's members to spread the message.

Other events April 16 include a dinner fund-raiser for more than 500 guests 
from across the nation at Cleveland?s Renaissance Hotel Grand Ballroom. Social 
hour begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the meal and presentations. In addition, 
the UCC is launching its ?Stillspeaking Voices? campaign ? an opportunity for 
UCC members and supporters to opt-in individually in the Stillspeaking 
Movement. The goal is for every Stillspeaking church to enlist 10 percent of 
its members to become Stillspeaking Voices.

All are welcome at the installation as the UCC celebrates Black's leadership 
and accelerates momentum for its new viral campaign.

Media is invited to attend both the Friday dinner and Saturday?s installation 
service. For more information, please contact the Rev. Gregg Brekke, UCC news 
director, at 216-736-2177 or brekkeg@ucc.org.

> ###