Our Roots
In 1957, four denominations rooted in the Protestant Reformation joined together to form the United Church of Christ. Its member churches live in a loving covenant with one another and with God as revealed in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This covenant preserves the autonomy of the local congregation. The unity that we seek requires neither an uncritical acceptance of any point of view nor a rigid formulation of doctrine. We believe in responsible freedom—we embrace individual expressions of faith, and the individual questioning and seeking of God’s presence in our lives. We believe that we are called to minister to others and seek to live as disciples of Jesus Christ, God with us.
Statement of Faith
The Revision of 1981: A Doxology *
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 of Faith, Revised 1981 (in the form of a Doxology), affirmed by the Fourteenth General Synod of the United Church of Christ.