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Ruling Elder Rev. Elona Street Steward, Synod Executive of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies and Vice President of the MCC Board of Directors, offered the second sermonic charge at the Installation service for MCC's new CEO Elder Suzanne P. Kelly. The Ruling Elder charged not only Elder Kelly but the whole church community to "boldly confront injustice."

Elder Suzanne P. Kelly was installed as CEO of Minnesota Council of Churches in a service at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis on October 22, 2024.

Bishop Jeffrey L. Smith of Christ Temple Apostolic Church in Roseville, Elder Kelly's home church, offered the first sermonic charge.

On October 22 Minnesota Council of Churches marked a new chapter in its history with the Installation of Elder Suzanne P. Kelly as our new CEO. There were many memorable elements of the service, including this introduction of Elder Kelly by Rev. Dana Neuhauser, an MCC Board Member, member of the selection committee, and a Deacon in the United Methodist Church.

This weekend's shooting at a campaign rally was horrifying and our nation is at an inflection point. Over 12 years of MCC Respectful Conversations there are elements of our design and practice that can inform how we act which are highlighted by some specifics of this moment, including remembering that there can be potentially toxic division in any group, that slowing ourselves and our responses down is healthy, and that having a goal when you go into an interaction will help you know what you want to get out of it. The best news is that hundreds of thousands of Americans are working for a hopeful future and fighting toxic polarization. Through MCC and our partners you can be part of that movement.

Part of the body of Christ recently canceled a panel on polarization because members were polarized about the inclusion of a speaker. The news highlights the problem of polarization within Christian communities and reminds us all about the resources we have to address it.

Would you believe that neither the head of Minnesota’s GOP nor its DFL party think of their counterparts as “enemies?” The word – and the existential threat, the need to eliminate that it implies – is one both leaders actively avoid using when referring to people

More than eight million Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes since the Russian invasion. According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, about 300 people have been admitted as humanitarian parolees to Minnesota.

I have been to Palestine and Israel five times since 2006. During the first days after the shocking and horrific attack by Hamas on civilians in Israel, I paused from making a statement out of respect for Jewish-led processes of grief.

Since 2012 churches have been practicing communion on election day. In 2023 congregations have a unique opportunity: Sunday, November 5 is exactly one year before Election Day 2024.