WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRISTI am a UCC "transplant"! I was raised in a home with no religious persuasion, attended a Methodist confirmation class in Junior High, but my parents wouldn’t allow me to join. I married a Christian Scientist and then we converted to being a Baptist. I became active in a local American Baptist Church and through that, found my call to ministry. I attended the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, California. I served both American Baptist churches and then a congregation aligned with the Church of the Brethren (the COB and ABC are "sister" denominations). However, when I found myself divorced, I also found that I had run into that same wall of prejudice and ignorance that has plagued the Christian church for centuries. Although I had served several churches successfully, I was "unacceptable" to stand in a pulput as a woman who had been divorced.
Looking back, I can only be grateful that these life lessons brought me to the UCC where I have truly found me home – and a ministry that opens doors and arms to others who have experienced rejection at the hands of the Christian church. Here are some of the reasons I love the UCC! (With thanks to the UCC resources that help me articulate these thoughts!)
We are an AFFIRMING denomination – saying "yes" to God in recognizing the dignity for all people and the integrity of our faith with all of life. We celebrate our diversity as a people of faith who come from a rich variety of traditions and gifts that make us unique. We feel a call to be a peace and justice church as well as a growing and evangelizing church. It says in the Preamble of the Constitution of the UCC: "The United Church of Christ acknowledges as its sole Head, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior. It acknowledges as kindred in Christ all who share in this confession."
We are a COVENANTING denomination – joining with one another in a relationship of love based on the promises of God. We govern ourselves democratically with local congregations being responsible for their own affairs, including how money is raised and spent and how social issues are addressed and considered. However, we join together in shared ministries in our communities, our nation and the world believing that our cooperation and ecumenical work is what God requires of us. Currently, the UCC has "covenantal" agreements with eleven other Protestant denominations. Each of these denominations has entered freely into this covenant with each of the others and we are all the beneficiaries of our work together.
We are a SEARCHING people, seeking to learn God’s will and way for us as disciples in the world. We do not have all the answers!! We recognize, with humility, that "God is still speaking" and we cannot begin to know the ways in which God has been and will be at work in the world bringing for "new light" and fresh understanding. . This spirit of openness is expressed in the phrase "in essentials, unity’ in non-essentials, diversity; in all things, charity."
We are a WITNESSING people, committed to demonstrate the Good News of God’s love throughout all of creation. We recognize that we have a shared responsibility for the world that requires not only prayer and worship and serving together – but also hard work and mutual understanding. We live our convictions by joining together for God’s mission in the world.
We are a WELCOMING people – a Church which reaches out to invite and include persons of every age, tongue, race and religious background. As an Open & Affirming denomination we welcome ALL people into fellowship with us.
As Trinity’s very own Non-Discrimination Policy states: "Because we are called as Christians to love each person as we are loved and accepted by God, we will not accept, condone or make accommodations for any form of discrimination… based on race, creed, religion, age, color, disability, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, genetic predisposition or carrier status."
I am proud to be UCC because in this wider Church and in our own local church we can live out a faith that is real and concrete – standing before God offering praise and honor in worship, challenging each other to grow and deepen our understanding of our faith through Christian education and experience community through work and service, knowing that there is always more to discover about God’s ways and God’s will for us and the world.
It is my hope and my prayer, that you too can find a home at Trinity. Come give us a try!
Pastor Nancy
Email Reverend Nancy Dahlberg!