About Us : What We Believe, Who We Are, What We Do...
What We Believe: Creed
What We Do: Faith in Action
Who We Are: Ethos & Polity
Who We Are: Ethos & Polity
What We Do: Faith in Action
Who We Are: Ethos & Polity
What We Do: Faith in Action
What We Do: Faith in Action
What We Do: Faith in Action
Who We Are...
A Short Course History of the UCC
A Short Course in the History of the United Church of Christ tells our story beginning with our origins in the small community who followed Jesus 20 centuries ago and continuing to the present. Learn about the Reformation—a protest movement against the abuse of authority by church leaders; the rediscovery by Luther and Calvin of the Bible’s teaching that salvation is not earned, but is a gift; the epic journey of the Pilgrims from England to the shores of North America; the waves of emigration by German and Hungarian Protestants seeking spiritual and political freedom; the beginning of the first Christian anti-slavery movement in history; the 20th-century movement to reunite the divided branches of Christ’s church, and, as a result of that movement, the union of several traditions of Protestant Christianity into the United Church of Christ in 1957.
UCC Ethos
Principles and Ideals:
Diversity, Justice & Witness, Ecumenics & Mission
1987 Statement of Mission (Doxological)
We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify: You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image, and set before each one the ways of life and death. You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin. You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles. In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself. You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races. You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory. You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in your realm which has no end. Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you. Amen.
*statement was affirmed by General Synod XVI.
Polity
"UCC Ecclesiology" (click to follow)
A 1991 paper on UCC ecclesiology, prepared as background for restructuring the national setting of the UCC.
"UCC Constitution and Bylaws" (click to follow)
The UCC Constitution and Bylaws underwent major revisions in 2000; other amendments related to ministry were voted in 2005 and 2009.