A Denomination of Firsts: The UCC

The United Church of Christ is a church of firsts—the first historically white church to ordain an African American, the first to ordain a woman, the first to ordain an openly gay man, the first Christian church to affirm the right of same-gender couples to marry.

The UCC is a diverse community of 5,000 churches and 1 million members held together by their covenantal promise to serve God in the co-creation of a just and sustainable world.

In the UCC, each congregation is autonomous, a member of the national church but not subject to it. The members of a congregation are its ultimate authority. It is covenant, a promise like a wedding vow to stay in the relationship, that keeps individuals, each church, and regional and national offices tied together.

It was formed by the merger in 1957 of four long-standing denominations:

  • The Congregational Churches, which began in England and included the Puritans in New England;
  • The Christian Church, which grew out of the Second Great Awakening in America;
  • The Evangelical and Reformed Church, brought to America by German immigrants;
  • The Reformed Churches formed in the Calvinist tradition in Switzerland, England, France and Germany

All four denominations subscribed to the reunifying trend during the early 20th century.

Motto:

“That they may all be one”

Purpose Statement:

To love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and our neighbor as ourselves

Vision Statement:

United in Christ’s love, a just world for all

Mission Statement:

United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we welcome all, love all and seek justice for all