Welcome to the United Church of Christ—a community of faith that seeks to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. The UCC was founded in 1957 as the union of several different Christian traditions: from the beginning of our history, we were a church that affirmed the ideal that Christians did not always have to agree to live together in communion. Our motto—”that they may all be one”—is Jesus’ prayer for the unity of the church. The UCC is one of the most diverse Christian churches in the United States. Use the directory on the left of this page to read stories about the history and future of our community.

About the UCC

Intelligent dialogue and a strong independent streak sometimes cause the United Church of Christ (UCC) and its 1.4 million members to be called a “heady and exasperating mix.” The UCC tends to be a mostly progressive denomination that unabashedly engages heart and mind. And yet, the UCC somehow manages to balance congregational autonomy with a strong commitment to unity among its nearly 6,000 congregations—despite wide differences among many local congregations on a variety of issues.

While preserving relevant portions of heritage and history dating back to the 16th century, the UCC and its forebears have proven themselves capable of moving forward, tying faith to social justice and shaping cutting edge theology and service in an ever-changing world. Affirming that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, the UCC 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. Yet the UCC also affirms the responsibility of the church in each generation and community to make faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. 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. One of the UCC’s distinguishing characteristics is its penchant to believe that … God is still speaking, … even when it puts us out there alone. History has shown that, most often, we’re only alone for a while. Besides, we receive so many gifts from our ecumenical partners, being “early” seems to be one of ours.The UCC recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion.

Also linked from this page: the meaning of the United Church of Christ logo with copies of the logo in different formats for use by local churches, a copy of our Constitution, a brochure about the new structure of the UCC’s national ministries, the UCC Archives Page with links to various historical societies, and our database of UCC congregations in your community.

GOD’S Earth

God’s evolving creation is extravagantly interrelated. Significant environmental issues are before us. In the UCC, we celebrate that everything we do to tend and appreciate the diversity of earth community matters.

On April 8, the Collegium of Officers of the United Church of Christ released a significant theological statement, “And Indeed It Is Very Good – A Pastoral Letter on Faith and Environment: Living in Community with God’s Creation.” The letter offers a new prophetic word about the need to celebrate the beauty of the earth and engage in faith action on behalf of the interrelated components of creation. We want to make clear the UCC’s extravagant hospitality with evangelical courage that extends to the environmental and the social, the local and the global.

“Worshipping God in prayer and communion, energizing community transformation, our efforts become a breathing with the world. We dare to move forward with practices of care and devotions of nurturing “creation communities.”

Endorsements for EarthCare

“If the Good News isn’t Green News we are all a bunch of frauds.”
“Hurray for the UCC’s Pastoral Letter! We can no longer equivocate. If the Good News isn’t Green News we are all a bunch of frauds. How can we love God and not be passionate lovers and caretakers of God’s marvelous creation?”

“Every church in America ought to commit to reducing its energy consumption by 20% within 4 years. Let’s say: 20 by 12!”

Nick Carter
President

Andover Newton Theological School

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright

Thomas speaks to ‘broad set of emotions’ involving Wright controversy
Written by staff reports
May 1, 2008

Writing from a trip to South America where he is visiting mission partners in Argentina and Chile, the Rev. John H. Thomas, general minister and president, acknowledges the ’sadness and anger’ that is being experienced across the church and nation over the Jeremiah Wright controversy.

It is understandable that members of the United Church of Christ have been wrestling with the controversy surrounding the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. with the same broad set of emotions and frustrations that have been expressed nationwide in recent days and weeks.

What we’ve heard from many of you is concern for our denomination and the well-being of our local churches. For this I am grateful. There is also dismay and outrage that the United Church of Christ is being painted in broad, caricatured strokes that diminish and ignore the reality of our members’ many viewpoints and our churches’ diverse histories and perspectives.

While there is high regard for Rev. Wright’s ministry and leadership at Trinity UCC in Chicago during the past thirty-six years, and for his prophetic, scriptural preaching, many of us today are troubled by some of his controversial comments and the substance and manner in which they have been communicated, both by him and as characterized by the media.

Following Rev. Wright’s insightful interview with Bill Moyers on Friday, many in the UCC hopefully anticipated that the prophetic voice of the church would be more clearly understood by the public and affirmed. But, unfortunately, following widespread critique of his handling of questions and answers at the National Press Club, that deep hope has turned now to unsettling despair for many. There is a collective and abiding sadness and anger in the present moment, regardless of theological or political persuasion.

I write this while in South America where I have been visiting cherished partner churches and courageous human rights organizations in Argentina and Chile. In countries still haunted by wounds from oppressive dictatorships three decades ago, I have been struck by the depth of interest in our nation’s political process, and by the deep hopes of many that the United States can be a force for economic justice, peace, human rights, and racial reconciliation in a hemisphere still afflicted by deep poverty, violence, and despair. It is time now for all of us – candidates and church members alike – to turn to these compelling moral themes.

To that end, we seek your support and active preparation as many in the UCC and beyond embark on a sacred conversation on race, beginning May 18, a time when we hope our churches will promote an honest, thoughtful and mature examination of the issue of race in this country. Your prayers are also sought and encouraged for our nation and our church, especially for Trinity United Church of Christ as it continues to bear the weight of this highly visible, politically charged controversy.

May God bless us with the renewed courage, insight and grace that these days require.

The Rev. John H. Thomas
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ