Characteristics of United Church of Christ
The characteristics of the United Church of Christ can be summarized by the key words in the names that formed our union:
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Christian ~ By our very name, the United Church of Christ, we declare ourselves to be part of the body of Christ-the Christian church. We continue the witness of the early disciples to the reality and power of the crucified and risen Christ, Jesus of Nazareth.
Christian ~ By our very name, the United Church of Christ, we declare ourselves to be part of the body of Christ-the Christian church. We continue the witness of the early disciples to the reality and power of the crucified and risen Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. •Reformed ~ All four denominations came from the tradition of the Protestant Reformers: We confess the authority of one God. We affirm the primacy of the Scriptures, the doctrine of justification by faith, the priesthood of all believers, and the principle of Christian freedom. We celebrate two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper (also called the Holy Communion or the Eucharist.)
Reformed ~ All four denominations came from the tradition of the Protestant Reformers: We confess the authority of one God. We affirm the primacy of the Scriptures, the doctrine of justification by faith, the priesthood of all believers, and the principle of Christian freedom. We celebrate two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper (also called the Holy Communion or the Eucharist.) • Congregational ~ The basic unit of the United Church of Christ is the congregation.
Congregational ~ The basic unit of the United Church of Christ is the congregation. •Evangelical ~ The primary task of the church is the proclamation of the Gospel. The Gospel literally means the "Good News" of God's love revealed with Jesus Christ. We proclaim this Gospel by word and deed to individual persons and to society. We gather for the worship of God, and through each week, we engage in the service of humankind.
Evangelical ~ The primary task of the church is the proclamation of the Gospel. The Gospel literally means the "Good News" of God's love revealed with Jesus Christ. We proclaim this Gospel by word and deed to individual persons and to society. We gather for the worship of God, and through each week, we engage in the service of humankind. In any given community in our country as many as 65% of the population, on average, are un-churched. That means a significant majority does not attend worship anywhere. This information is for you to consider checking us out if you are in that number, as well as for our members who attend services regularly.
Denomination History
The United Church of Christ (UCC) came into being in 1957 with the union of several different Christian Traditions from the following Churches:
•The Congregational Churches were organized when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation (1620) and the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629) united in 1648.
The Congregational Churches were organized when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation (1620) and the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629) united in 1648. •The Reformed Church of the United States traced its beginnings to congregations of German settlers in Pennsylvania founded from 1725 on. Later, people came from Reformed immigrants from Switzerland, Hungary, and other countries.
The Reformed Church of the United States traced its beginnings to congregations of German settlers in Pennsylvania founded from 1725 on. Later, people came from Reformed immigrants from Switzerland, Hungary, and other countries. •The Evangelical Synod of North America traced its beginnings to an association of German Evangelical pastors in Germany.
The Evangelical Synod of North America traced its beginnings to an association of German Evangelical pastors in Germany. Through the years, other groups such as American Indians, Afro-Christians, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Volga Germans, Armenians, and Hispanic Americans have joined with the earlier groups. Christians from other traditions, including the Roman Catholic Church, have found a home in the UCC, and so have gay and lesbian Christians who have not been welcomed in other churches.
The UCC celebrates and continues a broad variety in its common life. Whatever your personal history or experience, the UCC is a congregation that welcomes people of all ages, occupations, circumstances, cultures, and race. The UCC is one of the most diverse Christian Churches in the United States.
What does the Logo Symbolize?
The symbol of the United Church of Christ comprises a crown, cross, and orb enclosed with a double oval bearing the the name of the church and the prayer of Jesus, "That they all be one" (John 17:21). It is based on an ancient Christian Symbol called the "Cross of Victory" or the "Cross of Triumphant." The crown symbolizes the sovereignty of Christ. The cross recalls the suffering of Christ-his arms outstretched on the wood of the cross-for the salvation of humanity. The orb, divided into three parts, reminds us of Jesus' command to be his "witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The verse from Scripture reflects our historic commitment to the restoration of unity among separated churches of Jesus Christ.
What We Believe
We can tell you more about the United Church of Christ with the help of seven phrases from Scripture and Tradition that expresses our commitments.
•That they may all be one. (John 17:21)
That they may all be one. (John 17:21) • In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity, in all things charity.
In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity, in all things charity. •The unity of the church is not of its own making. It is a gift of God. But expressions of that unity are as diverse as there are individuals. The common thread that runs through all is love.
The unity of the church is not of its own making. It is a gift of God. But expressions of that unity are as diverse as there are individuals. The common thread that runs through all is love. •Testimonies of faith rather than tests of faith.
Testimonies of faith rather than tests of faith. •There is yet more light and truth to break forth from God's Holy Word.
There is yet more light and truth to break forth from God's Holy Word. •The Priesthood of All Believers.
The Priesthood of All Believers. •Responsible Freedom. As individual members of the Body of Christ, we are free to believe and act in accordance with our perception of God's will in our lives. But we are called to live in a loving, covenantal relationship with our congregations for the sharing of insights and for cooperative action under the authority of Christ.
Responsible Freedom. As individual members of the Body of Christ, we are free to believe and act in accordance with our perception of God's will in our lives. But we are called to live in a loving, covenantal relationship with our congregations for the sharing of insights and for cooperative action under the authority of Christ. •To proclaim in word and action the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
To proclaim in word and action the Gospel of Jesus Christ. •To work for reconciliation and the unity of the broken Body of Christ.
To work for reconciliation and the unity of the broken Body of Christ. •To seek justice and liberation for all.
To seek justice and liberation for all. •This is the challenge of the United Church of Christ.
This is the challenge of the United Church of Christ. What is The United Church of Christ?
