It is a question that I am asked repeatedly. People have heard of the Church of Christ, they have heard of the United Methodists, they know of Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Universalists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Catholics. Few, apparently, have heard of the United Church of Christ. So, what is the United Church of Christ (UCC)?
A wee bit of historical background helps. The United Church of Christ is the offspring of four previous Protestant denominations. The ties stretch back to the 17th century European Reformation. The Evangelical Church and the Reformed Church were early players in European denominationalism. Each movement came to America fairly early, and those two denominations merged, in 1934, to form The Evangelical and Reformed Church. Coming from the European/German religious environment, this denomination formed around beliefs, orthodoxies and common practices. An opposite side of the theological coin is represented by the other two ancestor denominations of the United Church of Christ. They are the Congregational Churches, which follow Calvinist, Puritan and congregational beliefs, and the Christian Churches, which were spiritual movements. These organizations of churches merged, in 1931, to form the Congregational Christian Churches.
No foundational bodies could have been more distant in relationship. The E & R Church was firmly dogmatic and formal, while the CC churches tended toward spirituality and an energetic experience of authentic faith. But these groups merged, in 1957, to become The United Church of Christ. The denominational motto, "That they all may be one," is derived from the notion that all Christian denominations could be unified by the larger issues of following Christ instead of being divided by diversity of practice. The structure arrived at for the new denomination followed basic congregational lines, while forming wider church opportunities and ministries.
Part of that wider church structure is the bi-annual meeting of representatives from the entire United Church of Christ, called "General Synod." The most recent general Synod meeting was held in Tampa, FL in 2011. At that meeting, representatives from around the denomination wrestled with the issue of what it means to be The United Church of Christ. Their work is represented in three basic statements of what it means to be The United Church of Christ.
The United Church of Christ subscribes to "a continuing testament." Following on the heels of the UCC "Stillspeaking" campaign, a continuing testament suggests that the church today is an ongoing witness to a God who still acts, still speaks, remains relevant, forms the ongoing story of God in relationship with God's people. Our testament is not exclusively recorded in the canons of Old and New Testaments. It resides, too, in the stories of men and women and children who continue to hear and make manifest God's will in our contemporary context. We are a developing, reforming, reshaping institution, constantly seeking to hear new words that God may speak.
The United Church of Christ offers "an extravagant welcome." No matter where you are on life's journey, no matter where you have been or what you have done, despite what you may do, every person is welcome here. The united Church of Christ seeks to be open to every person, regardless of her or his background, orientation, color, race, creed, conduct or context. The United Church of Christ is, at its best, not simply "Open and Affirming," but actively welcoming. The UCC is about the empowerment and calling of every person. Persons are the means by which God continues God's work in the world. The UCC attempts to welcome all.
The United Church of Christ is "changing lives." Since God is still active in our world, and since the means of God's grace in the world rests with God's people, it is necessary for the church to be in the business of changing persons. The United Church of Christ seeks to shape persons as conduits through which flow God's grace. This sometimes means overcoming the hurt and rejection of those who have been shut out by creeds, dogmatism and orthodoxy. It sometimes means inviting persons to unlearn the systemic tendency to settle on certain acts and beliefs as sacred and holy. It sometimes means doing whatever it takes to help persons develop an authentic relationship with the God of Jesus Christ.
Readers of The Shiloh Insider will notice straight away that each of these descriptions of the United Church of Christ are actually actions. They are verbs. How congregations and people of the United Church of Christ go about the work of discerning a continuing testament, providing an extravagant welcome and changing lives is not nearly so important to the denomination as the simple fact that these three describe what the churches and persons are doing. Each person is called to minister. Each is called and equipped to serve. Each is called to follow a continuing testament, provide and extravagant welcome and change lives.
If this is work in which you might be interested, I urge you to seek out a neighborhood UCC congregation. Shiloh Church is very intentional about its work to be The United Church of Christ. So are many others of our local congregations. Plan to visit this Sunday!
4 comments:
... a nice synopsis ... it always makes me wonder; is it more important to know who we were, who we are or who want to be?? Or are all three equally important? Struggling with this right now. And why do we struggle so hard to work with those who would seem to be of a like mind?
Now the UCC is embarked on encouraging folks to enter into a time of "discernment" about their ministries. Not just "doing" or "serving" but coming to some understanding of "why?"
Otherwise, what makes us any different from any other service oriented grouping ... and there are lots and lots of good ones. Just curious ... Any thoughts, ... anyone?
We have only the present which probably equates with who we are; but, if we don't know history, we are likely to repeat the mistakes of the past. Knowing who we are gives us hope for the future and what we want to become. I don't remember the author, but it could be compared to "The child is father of the man."
I belong to other service organizations in which we do good things, but the difference to me is my religious faith in the Holy Trinity--God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit.
I do not find myself drawn to orthodoxies or creedal statements. I am drawn instead to actions and behaviors. If the Church paid more attention to its actions and behaviors, and less to its orthodoxies and creeds, I think it might be a more faithful representative of Christ Jesus. We have learned it from the past. If we seek to shape our actions on Christ's ethic, our present shapes the future.
I do not find myself drawn to orthodoxies or creedal statements. I am drawn instead to actions and behaviors. If the Church paid more attention to its actions and behaviors, and less to its orthodoxies and creeds, I think it might be a more faithful representative of Christ Jesus. We have learned it from the past. If we seek to shape our actions on Christ's ethic, our present shapes the future.
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