By Rev Roberto Ochoa
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Hola My Friends of the Nebraska South Dakota Iowa Conferences of the United Church of Christ and beyond:
I send you greetings in the Name of Christ in these dog days of summer just before Labor Day.
Since becoming the Conferences Minister, I made a commitment to be transparent and expect transparency from all those that lead in the Tri Conference Ministries. And in the spirit of that transparency, with the help of God and the Nebraska Conference, I share the following developments to the wider Church.
On Monday evening, August 17th, the Nebraska Conference’s Board of Directors voted to submit a resolution at this year’s Nebraska annual meeting in Sioux Falls, SD to “authorize a comprehensive and objective review Of the Tri-Conference Ministry partnership” to be completed no later than February 28, 2027. Furthermore, the Nebraska BOD directed me to inform all Nebraska congregations, Associations, and Authorized Ministries that this resolution will be on the conference annual meeting agenda for review and vote on September 19, 2026.
The Nebraska BOD also directed me to inform the Iowa and South Dakota Conferences’ BODs of their planned action, encouraging the conferences to do the same. I have done so, prompting Iowa and South Dakota conferences to include the Nebraskan Resolution 2026 in their annual meeting agendas.
This resolution, if passed on September 19th will have an impact on the Tri Conference Ministries, as we know it, going into 2027-2028.
The TCM staff was informed of this development on Tuesday morning, August 18th, at a specially called meeting, as a courtesy so not to be blindsided by the news. Please keep our staff in your prayers, as it was made clear that this was not a reflection of the hard work of our conferences’ ministerial and administrative staff. The proposed resolution makes that very clear.
As the Executive Conference Minister for TCM and for Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences, I am in support of this resolution. I do believe that this type of discernment and assessment is long overdue. I trust that God will be with us through the compassion of Christ and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit on this journey of faith together.
I encourage all eligible delegates to the South Dakota Iowa Nebraska Conferences to attend their annual meetings either live or virtually on Saturday, September 19th to have your voice heard and vote counted. Registration is required and at no charge if attending online.
Please reach out to me with your questions, concerns and feedback. I ask for your prayers during this crossroad moment for the Tri Conference Ministries and for the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences of the United Church of Christ.
See you in Sioux Falls, South Dakota – September 17-20, 2026.
Bendiciones y Paz,
Rev Roberto