Digging Deeper, Stepping Up: Annual Gathering Filled with Inspiration and Joy

The Council for Health and Human Service Ministries’ (CHHSM) 87th Annual Gathering, held March 11-13, 2025, in Boston and Cambridge, Mass., filled the hearts, minds, and senses of attendees with meaningful worship, inspiring workshops and keynotes, joyful conversations, and poignant moments. 

Centered around the theme, “Into the Deep: Casting Nets of Justice,” the focus was from Luke 5:4 (NRSVue) — “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.’” Throughout the three days, the Annual Gathering called CHHSM leaders — whether in affordable housing, health care, older adult ministries, or community service ministries — to take bold action and approach their work with courage, collaboration, and a dedication to creating a more just and compassionate world.

“This year’s Annual Gathering as a powerful reminder of why we do this work,” said Jamar Doyle, president and CEO of CHHSM, “coming together as faith-based health and human service leaders to strengthen relationships, share ideas, and renew our collective commitment to justice and compassion.”

Opening Worship Lays the Foundation

The Annual Gathering began with worship March 11, with the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson, UCC general minister and president, preaching. One of the main messages of her sermon was that although we live in a “topsy turvy, upside down” world, and despite the weariness that comes with ever-increasing numbers of people in need, CHHSM must emphatically step up. 

Thompson reminded those in attendance that “we need to hold onto each other tighter than ever. We need to keep praying like we never prayed before.”

“And yet,” she added, “our action will be what helps us to make it through. The work of CHHSM agencies is more important than it has ever been.” She stressed that the work must be done together.

“The call for today is deeper. Deeper into the spirit. Deeper into our commitment to justice. Deeper in our relationship with God. Deeper in our commitments to one another,” she said. This is a time to consider how we do this work together, she added. “No one person can do it alone and we need to do the work together.”

“The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson’s opening call to ‘jump into the deep’ was particularly impactful,” said the Rev. Dr. Jamesetta Ferguson, senior pastor of St. Peter’s UCC and president and CEO of MOLO Village CDC, both in Louisville, Ky. “She reminded us that our communities will need our services more than ever amidst budgetary cuts and increasing societal challenges. This timely message resonated with my own observations of the growing needs within our community.”

The opening service, held at First Church of Cambridge (Mass.) Congregational UCC, also included the installation of the Rev. Dr. Zaria Davis as CHHSM’s associate for member engagement. CHHSM board and staff, along with Heartland Conference Minister the Rev. Dr. Dave Long-Higgins, all had a role in the blessing welcoming Davis to CHHSM. 

“I was personally touched that people took time to hold my installation during the service,” said Davis, “It will be etched in my mind forever.”

Keynote Addresses Punctuate Theme

As in years past, this year’s keynoters were a highlight of the Annual Gathering. Dr. Jonathan A. King, Ph.D., professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-chair of Massachusetts Peace Action, delivered the morning keynote March 12.  His address provided a powerful and eye-opening analysis of the federal budget, revealing the stark disparity between military spending and such critical health and human services as housing, healthcare, and education.

“His message underscored that budgets are moral documents, and it is up to us to advocate for just and equitable funding priorities that truly serve our communities and not the military industrial complex,” said Doyle. 

For the Rev. Darrell Goodwin, executive conference minister of the UCC’s Southern New England Conference, the scholarship sponsor of the Gathering, King’s presentation was particularly meaningful. “I was impacted deeply by the presentation from Professor King, about the impact of our tax dollars,” Goodwin said, “and have already begun to personally share what we learned with members of the Southern New England Conference.”

“Dr. King’s presentation provided great insight on the impact of funding nuclear weapon on health and human services, said Nichelle Simmons, associate vice president for program support at UCAN in Chicago. “The data was astonishing and, frankly, terrifying.”

Ferguson saw hope in King’s keynote. “It was deeply moving to hear him express hope in our collective efforts, reminding us that we are not alone in this fight,” she said.

Wednesday afternoon was given over to a keynote featuring Dan Herman, president and CEO of Ziegler, a privately held investment bank, capital markets and proprietary investments firm that specializes in the healthcare, senior living and education sectors to generate a positive impact on the communities its serves. Ziegler was the returning overall platinum sponsor of the Annual Gathering.

Herman’s presentation provided invaluable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of senior living. His “compelling keynote examined the financial and political realities shaping the industry, and offered data-driven analysis and strategic perspectives,” Doyle said. Herman’s presentation underscored the challenges and opportunities ahead, using as an example Ziegler’s commitment to supporting senior living communities navigating shifting dynamics with resilience and innovation.

The final keynote on March 12 featured the Rev. Dr. Calvon T. Jones, assistant minister and director of the Memorial Church of Harvard University in Cambridge. Jones’ presentation was more sermon than keynote, as he revealed the profound connection between faith and justice. He focused his address on Imago Dei — Latin for “image of God.” The phrase, said Jones, contains within it the very essence of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion because DEI calls us to honor the sacred worth of all people.

 “This striking revelation reinforces that God’s image is not singular or exclusive, but beautifully diverse, radically inclusive, and inherently just,” said Doyle.

The Rev. Beth Long-Higgins of United Church Homes concurred, calling Jones’ message inspirational as he shared “the revelation of the connection between the term Imago Dei, that we are created in the image of God, and the current context that in Latin, God is spelled ‘D E I.’ God is diverse, equitable, and inclusive!”

For the Rev. Andrea Asselmeier of Emmaus Homes, the sermons and keynote were the most important parts of this year’s Gathering. “This CHHSM Gathering was just what I — and I’m guessing many others — needed. Many of those gathered were coming to the meeting bearing the weight of what is happening in the country, both from a humanitarian perspective and a potential crisis of funding,” she said. “But this Gathering still managed to bring hope and remind us that God is with us as we do this work together. The preaching and closing keynote were powerful and called us to renewed resilience and to strengthen our community in our collective work.”

Workshops Connect Work to the Theme

A multitude of workshops, including such topics as self-care, legislative advocacy, storytelling, justice and human rights, and more, filled March 12 and 13. 

For Doyle, a workshop led by the UCC’s Washington, D.C., office on “Faithful Disruptions: Leveraging your Faith for Change in Congress and the White House” provided “invaluable, hands-on guidance for effective advocacy. Learning how to craft compelling messages to our Congressional representatives — and practicing that in real time — gave us the tools to press for policies that uplift our communities.”

Ferguson found the diverse workshops abundant in providing valuable tools and insights. She also appreciated the tweaks in the Annual Gathering format. “I was particularly impressed by the new, more engaging conference format,” she said, “which fostered deeper connections among participants.”

Part of that new format was the conference app on the Whova platform, which facilitated meetups, pushed out updated information, created an easy avenue for photo sharing, and increased communication ability between attendees.

Nollau Graduate Consecration Service a High Point

The consecration of the 2025 Nollau Leadership Institute class as Diakonal Ministers was again a highlight of the Annual Gathering. The service took place during an early evening worship March 12 at Old South Church UCC in Boston. During the consecration litany, the current class members received basins and towels representing their call to be one in health and human service leadership. The basins contained tealights placed there by the congregation as symbols of blessing and unity. 

The small blue electric votive candles had been used during the service “to guide folks to reflect on their calls to ministry and then place their candles in the Diakonal Minister basins to show how our call is collective,” said the Rev. Dr. Elyse Berry, CHHSM’s associate for advocacy and leadership development. “We even sang, ‘I am the Light of the World’! It was just such a powerful sense of the Spirit being with us, moving among us, and inviting us to let our lights shine together.”

Prior to the consecration ceremony, Rev. Goodwin of the UCC’s Southern New England Conference delivered the sermon. “The two worship services were welcome opportunities for renewal and inspiration,” said the Rev. Beth Long-Higgins. “And to be able to worship in the two historic church buildings in Cambridge and Boston was fantastic.”

Goodwin’s message focused on the life and work of the Rev. Louis Edward Nollau, for whom the institute is named, and the work of all of CHHSM that grew out of Nollau’s initial ministries of the mid-1800s.

“Rev. Goodwin’s inspiring message … further emphasized the conference theme,” said MOLO Village’s Ferguson. “The call to embody Nollau’s courage and inclusivity in our ministries, and to embrace the spirit of harambe in our work was a powerful reminder of shared purpose.”

Harambe (hah-rahm-BAY’) is Swahili and means “all pull together.” Goodwin encouraged the congregation to say the word with special emphasis. “Tonight,” he said, “I want your marching word in CHHSM to become harambe.”

“We will no longer see ourselves as individual agencies. We will see ourselves as one organization: CHHSM,” Goodwin said. 

The Nollau graduates’ final capstone projects also were on display throughout the Annual Gathering, and classmates were on-hand to answer questions about their projects. Embrace Living Community’s Jennifer Truppa handed out electric candles to folks passing her capstone project, which included a graphic that read, “Be the Light.”

The capstone projects “are intended to help the Nollau graduates express what they believe leadership to be,” said Berry. “For Truppa, leadership is not only being the light; it is reminding others that they, too, are the light of the world. I don’t know how many candles she had, but it seemed that everywhere I looked, there was another candle, and another. It was beautiful to see folks resonating with her project through conversations, as well as how Jennifer glowed as her creativity and authenticity impacted others.”

Affinity Groups and More Round-Out the Experience

At the welcome dinner on March 11, the mood was festive as CHHSM recognized the work of retiring leaders, including the Rev. Dr. Ken Daniel of United Church Homes, Vivian Lucas of Franklinton Center at Bricks, the Rev. Dr. Bruce Roller of United Church Outreach Ministry (UCOM), and the Rev. Donna Smith-Pupillo, RN, of Deaconess Nurse Ministry. CHHSM also welcomed new executives Tameka Brown of Deaconess Nurse Ministries, Erik Keener of United Church Outreach Ministry, Noah Moore of Uplands Village, Ryan Rigg of United Caring Services, Shirley Ryan of Crossroad Child & Family Services, the Rev. Dr. Douglas Wooten of Franklinton Center at Bricks, and Ken Young at United Church Homes.’

Attendees also took a moment to honor the life and legacy of Brian R. Bodager, former president and CEO of CHHSM partner the UCC Pension Boards, who passed away just weeks before the Annual Gathering, and also lifted up residents and caregivers of CHHSM agencies who died in the past year.

The Annual Gathering also reintroduced CHHSM’s Affinity Groups, including the Executive Roundtable. “These groups will keep the momentum of our time together going all year long, providing ongoing spaces for collaboration, support, and innovation,” said Doyle.

As in year’s past, the Gathering included CHHSM’s annual business meeting. Newly elected board members include Kim Kilday of EveryAge, Mathhew J. Oldani of Deaconess Foundation, and the Rev. Dr. Marilyn Pagán-Banks of A Just Harvest. Re-elected board members include the Rev. James Pennington of Back Bay Mission and Shirley Ryan of Crossroad Child and Family Services.

In total, this year’s event gathered 139 attendees from 64 different CHHSM members and friends. Each session during the three days gave special recognition to this year’s Annual Gathering sponsors. In all, 15 partners and members stepped up to sponsor various portions of the Gathering, assuring a successful event. Their sponsorship was crucial in enhancing the Annual Gathering’s visibility and overall success.

“The [Southern New England] Conference was blessed to be a sponsor,” said Goodwin. “It is clear the CHHSM agencies are what the world needs in this critical moment, and I am grateful for the CHHSM staff in making this possible.”

A Surprise Announcement

Perhaps the most exciting moment of the event was the announcement of next year’s “The Gathering 2026,” a first-ever ecumenical event that will include UCC CHHSM, Mennonite Health Services (MHS), the Methodist Ministry Network, and the Presbyterian Association of Homes & Services for the Aging (PASHA). The theme, “Many Gifts, One Spirit,” will reflect on the ways all the health and human service organizations are stronger together, united in the call to serve with justice, love, and compassion.

“CHHSM’s 88th Annual Gathering will be part of this larger convening,” said Doyle, “where we will learn from our partners in other faith traditions, strengthening our shared commitment to faith-based health and human service ministry.”

Attendees returned home following the Annual Gathering filled with new information and inspiration for the work ahead. 

Many attendees expressed the joy in reuniting with colleagues and friends. “Beyond the keynotes, workshops, and worship, the best part of the Annual Gathering was simply being together,” said Doyle, “reconnecting with friends and colleagues, sharing stories, and strengthening the bonds that make CHHSM such a special community.”

Ferguson left energized. “The 2025 CHHSM Gathering was a transformative experience,” she said. “It reinforced my commitment to serving with courage, compassion, and a deep trust in God’s abundance, even in the face of adversity. I left Cambridge feeling inspired and equipped to ‘cast my net wider’ in service to my community.”