Explore these resources about the United Church of Christ.
Note any questions you have and discuss them with your confirmation partner.
Also, explore the UCC website. It has LOADS of interesting information and resources. CLICK HERE
Note any questions you have and discuss them with your confirmation partner.
Also, explore the UCC website. It has LOADS of interesting information and resources. CLICK HERE
A church for all christians
The United Church of Christ has long been a church of welcome with a uniting spirit. While born out of the protestant reformation that splintered the Christian church, we have sought to connect with all Christians. The history of the churches that became the United Church of Christ is an impressive list of being the first to welcome and embrace leadership from those others left out.
Click here to see the list of UCC firsts
Click here to see the list of UCC firsts
UCC Churches practice Congregational Polity
"The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church defines "congregationalism" as "that form of Church polity which rests on the independence and autonomy of each local church." According to this source, the principles of democracy in church government rest on the belief that Christ is
the sole head of his church, the members are all priests unto God, and these units are regarded each as an outcrop and representative of the church universal." (Who Runs the Church?: 4 Views on Church Government, Steven B. Cowan, gen. ed., p. 135, Zondervan 2004)
the sole head of his church, the members are all priests unto God, and these units are regarded each as an outcrop and representative of the church universal." (Who Runs the Church?: 4 Views on Church Government, Steven B. Cowan, gen. ed., p. 135, Zondervan 2004)
Guiding Principles of the United Church of Christ
While the UCC is a non-creedal church, which means there
is no testament of faith or belief you have to make in order to join, there are
some guiding principles that hold us together as a community.
In order to be taught on the national level as a guiding principle of the
UCC a statement must have been either agreed upon when the Evangelical and
Reformed Church joined with the Congregational Christian church in 1957, or have
been voted on at a National Synod of the UCC. Once a statement is voted on at the
national level, other settings of the UCC are encouraged to discuss and vote on
the statement. Each congregation is free to accept or reject each statement and is free to engage with the guiding principles in ways that are authentic to that congregation.
Click her for a listing of all UCC Synod Resolutions.
http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/SUBINDEX.pdf
Christ as the Head of the Church
http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/jesus-christ-is-head-of-the.html
Jesus Christ is head of the church
Christ is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation;
for in Christ all things were created, in heaven and
on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or principalities or authorities--
all things were created through Christ and for Christ.
Christ is before all things, and in Christ all things hold together.
Christ is the head of the body, the church;
Christ is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in everything Christ might be preeminent.
For in Christ all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through Christ all things are reconciled to God,
whether on earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of Christ's cross.
Colossians 1:15-20
About this testimony
This testimony of faith, adapted from Colossians 1:15-20, is from the
Book of Worship, United Church of Christ. In the words of Holy Scripture,
it affirms our belief that Jesus Christ is the center of creation, the head
of the church, and both the human and divine One "in whom the fullness
of God was pleased to dwell."
Bible-centered church
Preamble to the Constitution of the United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ acknowledges as its sole head, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior. It acknowledges as kindred in Christ all who share in this confession. It looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, to prosper
its creative and redemptive work in the world. It claims as its own the faith of
the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic
insights of the Protestant Reformers. It affirms the responsibility of the
Church in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in
honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. In
accordance with the teaching of our Lord and the practice prevailing among
evangelical Christians, it recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's
Supper or Holy Communion.
About this testimony
Adopted at the uniting General Synod of 1957, the Preamble of the Constitution
of the United Church of Christ represents the core of the theological consensus
that brought the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational
Christian Churches together in covenant.
United & Uniting
http://www.ucc.org/about-us/what-we-believe.html
What we believe
Remember, these beliefs are a statement, NOT a creed. Belief in these statements is not a pre-requisite for partiicpation in the United Church of Christ. We are a church who believes that God is Still Speaking and that each of us can hear what God is saying in our hearts.
We believe in the triune God: Creator, resurrected Christ,
the sole Head of the church, and the Holy Spirit, who guides and brings
about the creative and redemptive work of God in the world.
We believe that each person is unique and valuable.
It is the will of God that every person belong to a family of faith where they have a
strong sense of being valued and loved.
We believe that each person is on a spiritual journey
and that each of us is at a different stage of that journey.
We believe that the persistent search for God produces an authentic relationship
with God,
engendering love, strengthening faith, dissolving guilt, and giving life purpose
and direction.
We believe that all of the baptized 'belong body and soul to our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.'
No matter who – no matter what – no matter where we are on life's journey –
notwithstanding race, gender, sexual orientation, class or creed – we all belong to God
and to one worldwide community of faith. All persons baptized – past, present and future –
are connected to each other and to God through the sacrament of baptism. We baptize
during worship when the community is present because baptism includes the
community's promise of 'love, support and care' for the baptized – and we
promise that we won't take it back – no matter where your journey leads you.
We believe that all people of faith are invited to join Christ at Christ's table for
the sacrament of Communion.
Just as many grains of wheat are gathered to make one loaf of bread and many grapes
are gathered to make one cup of wine, we, the many people of God, are made one in
the body of Christ, the church. The breaking of bread and the pouring of wine
reminds us of the costliness of Christ's sacrifice and the discipleship to
which we are all called. In the breaking of bread, we remember and celebrate
Christ's presence among us along with a 'cloud of witnesses' – our ancestors,
family and friends who have gone before us. It is a great mystery; we claim it
by faith.
We believe the UCC is called to be a united and uniting church. "That they
may all be one." (John 17:21) "In essentials–unity, in nonessentials–diversity,
in all things–charity," These UCC mottos survive because they touch core values
deep within us. The UCC has no rigid formulation of doctrine or attachment to
creeds or structures. Its overarching creed is love. UCC pastors and teachers
are known for their commitment to excellence in theological preparation,
interpretation of the scripture and justice advocacy. Even so, love and unity
in the midst of our diversity are our greatest assets.
We believe that God calls us to be servants in the service of others
and to be good stewards of the earth's resources. 'To believe is to care; to care is to do.'
We believe that the UCC is called to be a prophetic church.
As in the tradition of the prophets and apostles, God calls the church to speak truth to
power, liberate the oppressed, care for the poor and comfort the afflicted.
We believe in the power of peace,
and work for nonviolent solutions to local, national, and international problems.
We are a people of possibility.
In the UCC, members, congregations and structures have the breathing room to explore
and to hear ... for after all, God is still speaking, ...
Open & Affirming
http://www.ucc.org/lgbt/ona.html
What does "Open and Affirming" (ONA) mean?
Reflecting the Open and Affirming action of the General Synod (1985)
and the Transgender action of the General Synod (2003), to say that a setting of the UCC (a local church, campus ministry etc.) is “Open and Affirming” means that it has publicly and specifically declared that those of all “sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions” (or “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender” people) are welcome in its full life
and ministry (e.g. membership, leadership, employment, etc.) It bespeaks a spirit of hospitality and a willingness to live out that welcome in meaningful ways.
Foothills Congregational Church O&A Statement
OUR VISION: We are an Open and Affirming Congregation, which means we provide a spiritual home that welcomes each individual as a beloved child of God. We affirm the humanity of all people, welcoming into the full life and ministry of the church, people of every ability, age, ethnicity, culture, economic status, gender, sexual orientation and religious belief.
Multi-Cultural, Multi-Racial
http://www.ucc.org/justice/advocacy_resources/pdfs/multiracial-multicultural/becoming-a-multiracial-and-multicultural-church.pdf
WORDS OF INSPIRATION
What Shall I Render Unto God?
In a world divided by hatred, render love
In a world smashed by fear, render faith.
In a world burdened by ethnic strife in eastern Europe,
Render kindness over cruelty.
In a world torn by the Wall of shame,
Render the refreshing spirit of Glasnost and perestroika.
In a world smeared with the pain of hunger and
homelessness, render food and shelter.
In a world tormented by the demons of sexism and racism,
render equality and liberty.
In a world cursed by apartheid,
Render the joybells of freedom.
In a world that disvalues our children,
Render protection and compassion.
In a world unsure about the future,
Render the cup of salvation;
Render the shield of faith.
Pay your own vows unto the Lord.
E. Hammond Oglesby, Ph.D.
In 1993, the 19th General Synod of the United Church of Christ issued a pronouncement, “Calling the United Church of Christ to be a Multiracial and Multicultural Church.”
A Multiracial and Multicultural Church:
• affirms and lives out its faith in God as revealed through Jesus
Christ;
• knows we are interconnected with people of all races, ethnicities and
cultures;
• embodies and rejoices in these diversities as gifts to the human
family;
• welcomes all people into the community of faith without discrimination because of color,
race, ethnicity, language or culture;
• formally recognizes and utilizes the racial and cultural varieties of gifts within the
context of Christian unity;
• struggles within church and society to rid itself of the sin of racism which has prevented
an authentic embrace of the races, ethnicity and cultures in our denomination;
• makes multiracial and multicultural inclusiveness a key organizing principle for church in society;
• works for justice and peace throughout the global community;
• reflects in its membership the changing demographics;
• declares itself an anti-racist congregation.