Written by the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer
August 20, 2009

Think about the joy we all feel when new members are welcomed into our fellowship. Clearly, a piece of that is the swell of pride that emerges from knowing that of all the choices that could have been made, of all the churches that could have been selected, of all the denominations that could have been chosen - it is we they joined!

A piece of this is also the extent to which that gnawing wonderment about whether or not we will survive into the next generation is mitigated every time a new member joins. We feel, if even only briefly, that the often rising tide of questions about our viability are stemmed when new members pledge their allegiance to us.

Well, we in the Southwest Conference are feeling some of that. Two churches have come to us and asked, "What would it take for us to become a part of the United Church of Christ?"

Two churches have listened to our answers to those questions and have agreed to enter into serious conversation with us about what full Affiliation would look like.

Two churches have formed partnerships with existing Southwest Conference congregations and have outlined a series of events over the next six months at which the partners can come together, can fellowship, can worship, can listen, can question, can answer, and in the end can come to an understanding of what full participation in the United Church of Christ would look like.

Two churches have every intention of voting at their annual meetings in January whether or not to proceed with full Affiliation with the United Church of Christ.

These two churches are Black Mountain Community Church and First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.

Black Mountain Community Church in northern Scottsdale is an independent congregation, small in membership but large in heart that began exploring a relationship with the United Church of Christ a couple of years ago.

First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Los Cruces has felt a partnership with and affinity for the United Church of Christ for some time. Many of its members have come to Los Cruces looking for a United Church, but knew that without that their best option was this very creative and energetic Disciples of Christ church.

I am privileged to walk with both churches through every step of the process. Neither church approaches these decisions lightly; good questions have been asked and answered. Over the next six months, they will come to know us in the Southwest Conference through the building of relationships with members at Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ, Valley Community United Church of Christ in Silver City, and Desert View United Church of Christ in El Paso.

We all lift them up in prayer through this time of critical discernment.

And it will be with much joy and enthusiasm that, if the Spirit so moves and if given the opportunity next April at our Annual Meeting in Sedona, we will cast the vote to receive them into covenant partnership in the United Church of Christ.

I hope you can detect my own sense of joy and enthusiasm here. To be present at gatherings where who we are and what all we do as the United Church of Christ is affirmed, is accepted and is met with kind of enthusiasm that we have witnessed is truly joy-filled.

Let the Body of Christ rejoice with each new partnership that is built.

Let the Body of Christ celebrate the breaking down of walls and barriers.