MONTANA - N. WYOMING CONFERENCE UCC
Rev. Jennifer Sowell
Associate General Minister, Love of Church
United Church of Christ
The Rev. Jennifer Sowell was elected Associate General Minister by the Special Meeting of the Thirty-fifth General Synod of the United Church of Christ on May 9, 2026. Jennifer has more than 20 years of pastoral experience as Senior Pastor and Associate Pastor of United Church of Christ congregations in three Conferences, most recently serving as the Senior Pastor of St. John United Church of Christ in Collinsville, Illinois. Jennifer was ordained in 2005 in the Metropolitan Association of the New York Conference.
he earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Religion in 1996 from the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia and her Master of Arts in Theology and Ethics in 1999 from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Her 20 years of ministry include building congregations and intergenerational ministries that produced thriving spiritual engagement. She has reconnected congregations with the Conference and with the National Ministries and has served on Committees on Ministry with demonstrated understanding of UCC polity and theology.
Jennifer’s commitment to justice has been realized through programmatic commitments and missional engagement. She is a strong advocate for disabilities ministries, gender justice, racial justice, immigration justice and the intersections of these and other challenges to people and communities. Her ministry has consistently served to expand inclusion and belonging with congregations enriched by growing diversities. Her creation of programs and services for members of the church and the communities she has served reflects her love of God and love of neighbor.
Lean into the Storm
141 Conference Annual Meeting
September 24-27, 2026
Helena, Montana
Sept 24 - Meet & Greet @ 6:00
Sept 25 - CAM Friday
Sept 26 - CAM Saturday
Sept 27 - Sunday Worship @ 10
Registration Fees
In-Person w/Banquet - $175
Zoom Online Participation - $50
Banquet Guest - $40
Best Western Hotel
1714 11th Avenue
Helena, Montana 59604
406-442-1770
$115 per night, deadline Sept 10
Delta Hotel
2301 Colonial Drive
Helena, Montana 59601
406-443-2100
$159 rate
please contact the office at ucc@mnwcucc.org so we can forward your name to the hotel
Choir Music
How Firm a Foundation
(Mark Hayes)
Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund
Minister for Disabilities and Mental Health Justice,
United Church of Christ
Sarah is passionate about loving God, her family, and being part of faith communities. Her personal mission is to partner with others to share God’s healing and hope. She is an ordained minister with standing in the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and has served as pastor to churches in Brooklyn, NY, Minneapolis, MN, and New Smyrna Beach, FL. Sarah also served as Regional Minister for the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ where she worked with congregations on vitality and renewal. After serving Christian Theological Seminary as Vice President for Advancement, Pastor Sarah was called in January of 2018 to serve as senior pastor of First Congregational UCC of Indianapolis, IN. Sarah’s formal education includes degrees from Trinity University (BA), Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv), Rutgers University (MSW), McCormick Theological Seminary (DMin). Sarah also completed the certificate in Fundraising Management from the IUPUI School of Fundraising.
Sarah is an active community volunteer and has served as a board member of the Indianapolis Martin Luther King Community Center and on the board of the national United Church of Christ Mental Health Network. Sarah currently serves on the leadership team for the Bethany Fellows, a national program mentoring young pastors. She is the Open and Affirming Consultant for the Indiana-Kentucky Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Sarah received the Princeton Engle Preaching Prize in 2002 for excellence in preaching and the Bob and Joyce Dell Award for Mental Health Education from the United Church of Christ Mental Health Network in 2015 for “her outstanding authorship and leadership in breaking the silence about mental illness in family and in church and offering healing and hope.” She is the author of the widely regarded book Blessed are the Crazy: Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness, Family and Church (Chalice Press, 2014) and blogs at sarahgriffithlund.com. In April of 2018, Sarah was called to serve on the UCC National Staff in a part-time position with the Wholeness Advocacy Team of Justice and Local Church Ministries, serving as the newly created Minister for Disabilities and Mental Health Justice.
