U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock to Keynote UCC Conference in Worcester

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., will deliver the keynote address at the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ’s annual meeting on September 26 at the DCU Center in Worcester. The event, organized by the conference, will open at 3:30 p.m. with the keynote speech beginning at 4 p.m. and being available via livestream. Tickets for the general public cost $35 and include either in-person admission or the livestream link, which can be accessed at sneucc.org/warnock-tickets.

Warnock, who serves as the senior pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, became Georgia’s first Black senator after winning a January 2021 special election and was reelected to a full term in 2022. He grew up in public housing in Savannah as the 11th of 12 children and has served on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, where he helped shape provisions in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act addressing housing supply and affordability.

In addition to the keynote address, Warnock will preach at a separate worship service the following morning at 10 a.m. This service is free but requires advance registration due to limited space. Rev. Darrell L. Goodwin, the conference’s executive minister, emphasized the importance of the moment, calling for reflection on shared responsibility and the future communities are working to build together.

The Southern New England Conference encompasses 556 churches and more than 100,000 members across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The conference’s annual meeting provides a platform for congregations to engage in dialogue, share resources, and address common challenges.

The inclusion of a U.S. senator in the conference’s programming underscores the intersection of faith and public service, highlighting the role of religious leaders in shaping policy and community development. As the United Church of Christ continues to engage with societal issues, events like this annual meeting serve as a reminder of the church’s commitment to social justice and communal responsibility.

The United Church of Christ, rooted in the Restoration movement, emphasizes the importance of scripture, tradition, and reason in guiding its mission and ministry. Its congregations and leaders often engage in advocacy and outreach, reflecting a commitment to justice and the well-being of all people. The conference’s focus on shared responsibility aligns with this tradition, encouraging congregations to work together in building a more just and equitable society.

As the conference unfolds, it will provide an opportunity for members to reflect on their collective mission and the role of faith in addressing contemporary challenges. The presence of a prominent religious leader like Sen. Warnock offers a unique perspective on the intersection of faith and public life, reinforcing the importance of moral leadership in shaping a just and compassionate society.

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