January Connection 2

January 15, 2026

DISCIPLES CONNECTION

AROUND THE REGION

Join us for Rev. Faust's Memorial Service

Rev. Ronald Faust passed away on November 20th, 2025. Faust served as a Disciples of Christ pastor for churches in Huntsville, Clever, Lake of the Ozarks, and Smithville.

Read Rev. Faust's full obituary here and an insightful post by Peaceworks Kansas City here.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 18th at 3:30 pm at Community Christian Church. (4601 Main Street, Kansas City MO 64112)

CYF Mid-Winter

43 high-school youth gathered for CYF Mid-Winter retreat at Tall Oaks during the first weekend of January. Minister of New Church Strategies Rev. Dr. Jose Martinez served as our keynoter. He led campers as they reflected on how to trust God and grow spiritually when life feels uncertain, painful, and confusing

The Regional Youth Cabinet and our director, Claire Lammers, planned the weekend. With support from our counselors: Nora Engelken, Tristan Jordan, Julianna McKee, Colton Pasquale, Rev. Stephen Underwood, and Abbey Widdick.

Be sure to register for summer camp June 22-27 at kcdisciples.org/cyf

Clergy Retreat

Rev. Ron Routledge, Claudia Kauffman, and Fred Herron led an Epiphany Retreat for our Clergy out at Tall Oaks.

The day included group games, mindful meditations, communion, a congregational conflict workshop, and fellowship time.

ALEX 2025 Yearbook Reporting is Open!

The Greater Kansas City Christian Church Disciples of Christ Regional Office will provide more information on reporting in our February connection. Office Manager, Claudia Kauffman, is attending an upcoming training and will be available to provide help to congregations next month. To get started reporting now

visit: disciples.org/alex

UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS

Chi Rho Mid-Winter

February 13 - 15

Live Loud, Love Louder

Our Chi Rho Mid-Winter theme is "Live Loud, Love Louder!" We will be exploring radical love, inclusion, and justice in the teachings of Jesus—and what that means for middle schoolers today.

Registration is OPEN and scholarships are available here.

All 6th - 8th graders are welcome to attend.

Regional Office Closet Cleaning

Volunteers Needed

If you like to do any of the following: organize, straighten up, sort, throw out - the Regional Office has a whole room that needs your help.

When: Thursdays in February Any 2-hour (or longer) timeframe from 10 am to 3 pm

Who: YOU and a friend or two

Where: Merriam Christian Church 9401 Johnson Dr, Merriam KS 66203

Why: The basement office needs cleaning out! There are oodles of office supplies and books to organize for donation to our regional churches. And there are files to go through and sort too.

How: Please call Office Manager Claudia at 913-432-1414 and leave a message if you’re interested!

Celebrating Rev. Dave Culver's

25 Years of Ministry at Liberty Christian Church

Join Liberty Christian Church in celebrating Rev. Dave Culver's 25 years of Ministry on Sunday, February 1st at 10 AM.

Liberty Christian Church

427 E. Kansas Street

Liberty, MO 64068

Greater Legacy Society Launch

Sunday, February 22nd, 2:30 pm at Country Club Christian Church

All Greater Kansas City Disciples are invited to join us for the launch of our new Regional Endowment Fund we are calling the Greater Legacy Society. This new partnership will allow individuals to consider ways they can leave a legacy for our Regional Ministry to continue well beyond our lifetimes.

This in-person launch will be a social gathering to hear more about the work of the Region and ways we can all invest in our shared future. Disciples who love the Church can participate with outright and blended gifts. Kirby (Gould) Hughes of the Christian Church Foundation will be present to answer questions around estate planning and including your congregation/ Region in that planning.

All givers who participate by the end of March 2026 will be named as Charter Members of this new Society. Please join us for an hour as together we celebrate the ongoing ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Greater Kansas City.

Much gratitude to our Task Force members who have developed our Gift Policy and Endowment Policy and are hosting this event: Ashley Cheung, Kirby Hughes, Rick Hueghy, Vicky Kumorosky, Ron Routledge, and Lem Whitmer.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Join the Becoming Beloved Community at the Martin, Music, and the Movement Now!

Event on

Friday, January 16th at 6:30 PM at The Oasis Church International. (11500 E 53 St, Raytown, MO 64133)

Reimagining Church Practices: Virtual Showcase

January 27 6 PM

Led by the NSP Social Weaver Cohort

How might sacred disruption give way to creative reconstruction?

This conversation explores how queering church practices can open new pathways for shared power, deeper inclusivity, and communal imagination.

Staying True to the Call: Queer Clergy Leading

Through Polarity & Possibility

January 29 6 PM

Led by the NSP Peacock Cohort

This 90-minute interactive experience explores how queer clergy navigate the spiritual, political, and relational polarities shaping congregational life today—especially tensions like innovation & tradition and us & them.

Through embodied queer wisdom, polarity-management tools, guided listening practices, and breakout conversations, participants will explore how to remain grounded in their “why” while leading in divisive times.

https://leadingthroughpolarityNSP.eventbrite.com

A Student Ministry Reset: Rediscover Your Purpose

Student ministry is a lot. Between the constant energy and ever-changing dynamics of students discovering who they are, it's easy to lose sight of why we're here in the first place. ShareChurch's A Student Ministry Reset offers student ministry leaders a chance to pause, breathe, and refocus through four engaging sessions on January 29, 2026.

Host Steve Schneeberger and his team will guide participants through practical conversations: finding your purpose (What's the Point?), gaining tools for community building (What Do I Do?), measuring what matters (What's Realistic?), and discerning your calling (All In? Or Looking for the Next Thing?).

The interactive live webinar runs 10:00am–3:00pm CST with 6 months of replay access. Cost: $49/person or $445 for a Host Site (up to 10 people). CEU credits available.

Register

DCEF’s initial consultation will help guide your steps in 2026

Is your community of faith ready to take the first step in the planning process for its next church project or the future of its ministry? Whether it’s considering a new construction project, looking to update its place of worship, reimagining its ministry's vision, evaluating its facilities usage, or beginning to explore financial capital services, Disciples Church Extension Fund (DCEF)’s initial consultation is a great first step to address whatever its needs are.

Contact our regional Building and Capital Services Advisor Jim Michel at 317.635.6500 Ext. 2535 and/or jmichel@disciplescef.org to get the new year started on the right foot

DISCIPLES SEMINARIANS SUMMER IMMERSION IN INTERNATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE

Week of Compassion invites Disciples seminarians (age 21+), seeking ordination within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and enrolled in a seminary or theological school to participate in the SEMINARIANS SUMMER IMMERSION IN INTERNATIONAL DISASTER

RESPONSE, in Summer 2026.

Focused on short-term recovery, rehabilitation, and resilience projects responding to weather-related and human-caused disasters, the Immersion program will take place in the Philippines and in Pakistan, where participants will work alongside local partners

with existing relationships with Week of Compassion.

Week of Compassion will receive applications through January 31, 2026.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY: www.WeekOfCompassion.org/Opportunities

SAVE THE DATES

The Art of Dialogical Preaching

February 3 6 PM

Led by the NSP Nightingale Cohort #1

When we hear the word sermon, we often imagine pulpits, platforms, and a single voice.

But what if we imagined tables instead? Living rooms. Circles. Communities. Many voices. Many interpretations.

Join us as we explore preaching not as monologue, but as collective—reimagining the homiletical moment as a shared, dialogical practice.

Dialogical Preaching: A Conversational Reclamation

February 10 6 PM

Led by the NSP Nightingale Cohort #2

When life brings lemons, it doesn’t always bring the rest of the ingredients for lemonade.

This showcase features a facilitated conversation on reclaiming power amid grief, transition, and uncertainty—exploring what it looks like to hold both the weeping that endures the night and the courage required to move toward morning’s joy.

Celebration of Life Rev. Ted Satterfield

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Rev. Ted Satterfield for Saturday, Feb. 14th at 11 am at Emerson Park Christian Church. (1501 S 40th St, Kansas City, KS 66106)

Pastor Ted was an amazing resource for his congregation and to the Region.

Registration Now Open for Lead(HER) 2026:

Empowering Female Clergy

Lead(HER) brings together female clergy from across denominations for two and a half days of worship, practical skill-building, and authentic community. The expanded 2026 format includes Monday evening through Wednesday afternoon programming, responding to attendee feedback emphasizing the importance of connection and networking among clergywomen.

"For women, by women. Celebrating women. Healing women. Strengthening and encouraging women in their leadership, their ministry, and their lives."

Learn more and Register