United Church of Christ

The United Church of Christ (UCC) is based in the United States and is a Protestant denomination. It was formed in 1957 by the union of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches. The Congregational Churches trace their roots to the English Reformation and to Puritan New England.

The United Church of Christ is a historical continuation of the General Council of Congregational Christian churches founded under the influence of New England Pilgrims. The Congregational Christian Church had its beginnings on the American frontier. The Evangelical Synod of North America was a 19th-century German-American church prominent in the Mississippi Valley. The Reformed Church in the United States was initially made up of churches in Pennsylvania and surrounding colonies in the early 1700s. It is of German and Swiss heritage.

The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches shared a strong commitment under Christ to the freedom of religious expression. United Church of Christ congregations are independent in matters of doctrine and ministry and may not necessarily support the national body’s theological or moral stances.

The Bible recommended by the UCC is the New Revised Standard Version (1990) or the New Jerusalem Bible, which is a Catholic version. There are many other reliable translations including the revised New English Bible, the New International Version, and Today’s English Version.

Founding and Membership

The United Church of Christ was founded and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. The UCC distinguishes itself from other denominations in its belief that God is “still speaking.” The UCC is well known for their acceptance of diversity and evolving theology. It is one of the most progressive denominations today.

The United Church of Christ membership is nearly 1 million, primarily in the U.S.  There are more than 5,000 congregations in the United States. The UCC is in 44 North American states, with the highest concentrations on the east coast and in the Midwest. Many of its congregations choose to practice open communion. In 2015, Pew Research estimated that 0.4 percent, or 1 million adult adherents, of the U.S. population self-identify with the United Church of Christ.

Beliefs and Practices>

The UCC borrows from Scripture and Tradition to express its core beliefs. It stresses unity within the church and a unifying spirit to heal divisions.  New light and understanding are constantly being revealed through interpretation of the Bible. The United Church of Christ looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world.

The church believes that there are many paths to God. The United Church’s path is through Jesus Christ. The church also recognizes that Christians understanding of this is limited by an incomplete comprehension of God, Their belief is that the Holy Spirit is also at work through other non-Christian faiths.

All members of the UCC are equals as the priesthood of believers Although ordained ministers have special training, they are considered servants. Individuals are free to live and believe based on their interpretation of God’s will for their lives, but individuals and churches are called to enter into loving, covenantal relationship with Associations, Conferences, and the General Synod.

he United Church of Christ practices two sacraments: baptism and holy communion. A progressive mix of Christian history and evolving theology, the UCC distinguishes itself from other denominations in its belief that God is “still speaking.”