CHHSM to be Presenting Sponsor of UCC’s Biennial General Synod

The Council for Health and Human Service Ministries announced Wednesday (Sept. 12) that it is the Presenting Sponsor of the United Church of Christ’s General Synod 32, to be held June 21-25, 2019, at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, Wis. The theme of Synod will be “Shine!” based on Matthew 5:16.

“CHHSM member ministries are always mindful of their rich UCC heritage,” said Michael J. Readinger, president and CEO. “To be able to celebrate those diverse histories as the Presenting Sponsor of the next General Synod is a logical step for us. We are the UCC, and we want to play a part in helping the UCC’s light shine as, together, we continue to work toward a Just World for All.”

Fifteen CHHSM members, along with the organization itself, have contributed significant funds to the sponsorship. One of the main benefits of the sponsorship will be a 2,000-square-foot space in the General Synod exhibit hall.

“The large space is particularly exciting,” said Readinger. “In 2017, we combined our space with that of other CHHSM ministries into a single large exhibit space in order to tell the various stories of CHHSM more effectively. With the additional footage this sponsorship provides, we will be able to showcase even more of our many health and human service stories, as well as the many options available to our UCC family.”

To date, 15 CHHSM members have stepped up contributed funds to the sponsorship: Advocate Health Care, headquartered in Downers Grove, Ill.; Retirement Housing Foundation, with main offices in Long Beach, Calif.; United Church Homes, with headquarters in Marion, Ohio; Embrace Living Communities of Oak Brook, Ill.; the UCC Wisconsin Conference CHHSM; United Church Homes and Services of Newton, N.C.; Havenwood-Heritage Heights, Concord, N.H.; Back Bay Mission, Biloxi, Miss.; Cedar Community, West Bend, Wis.; Crossroad Child and Family Services, Fort Wayne, Ind.; EHM Senior Solutions, headquartered in Saline, Mich.; Elon Homes and Schools for Children, Charlotte, N.C.; Emmaus Homes of St. Charles, Mo.; Fairhaven  Senior Services of Whitewater, Wis.; and Park’s Edge Preschool in Hales Corners, Wis.

The Presenting Sponsorship also includes prominent CHHSM placement on signage, printed materials, the event app, the Synod website, and Synod marketing materials. Additionally, CHHSM and its members will be featured in a variety of ways during the four-day event: videos during plenary and the Sunday afternoon worship service; items in delegate registration bags; seven presentations in the exhibit hall lounge space; and exclusive branding on various registration materials.

“The United Church of Christ is thankful for the long-standing relationship we have with the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries,” said Nichole M. Collins, the UCC’s associate director of annual giving. “We are honored to have the opportunity to continue this work [at] General Synod.”