The core of the United Church of Christ has its roots in the Congregational churches of New England, but it is the result of the 1957 merger of the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church.
Within the UCC, there is no central body capable of imposing a specific doctrine or worship format on its member congregations so, for the most part, local congregations are free to continue to observe the liturgy and theological positions they held before the merger.
There are beliefs that are central to the United Church of Christ, and the denomination describes these as being Christian, Reformed, Congregational, and Evangelical. While there are churches within the United Church of Christ that are conservative, overall the denomination is one of the most, if not the most, theologically liberal Protestant denomination in North America.
In a sense, the UCC represents a union of Congregationalism and Presbyterianism, with congregationalism as the rule for church government and Presbyterianism the basis of the connection between the churches.
Local churches in the UCC enjoy the freedom to hire ministers and lay staff, as well as to dismiss them. Each local church adopts its own constitution, bylaws, and rules of procedure.
Local churches in a geographical area are grouped into an association, which is responsible for assisting churches in need, admitting new churches, and licensing, ordaining, and installing clergy. The organizational structure of local churches varies greatly throughout the UCC
Associations are grouped into conferences, again by geographical area, except for the Calvin Synod, which consists of churches of the Hungarian Reformed tradition, regardless of location. Conferences act on requests and references from local churches, associations, the general synod, and other bodies within the conference. The chief purpose of the conference is to coordinate the work of the local churches and associations, to offer counsel and advisory services, and to establish and maintain conference offices, institutions, centers, and other agencies.
The highest body of the United Church of Christ is the General Synod, which meets every two years. It is made up of conference delegates and voting members of boards of directors of the Covenanted Ministries of the church. An Executive Council is elected by the General Synod to act for the synod on matters that come up between meetings. The Executive Council recommends salaries for officers, prepares a national budget, and is responsible for UCC's publications. It also submits recommendations to the General Synod.
A central goal of the United Church of Christ is to bring all of the Protestant Christian bodies together. It is involved in an organization known as Churches Uniting in Christ, which seeks to establish full communion between nine Protestant denominations in the United States. At the present time, the UCC has entered into an ecumenical partnership with the Christian Church, also known as the Disciples of Christ. It is in full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Reformed Church in America. Outside of the United States, the UCC is in full communion with the Union Evagelischer Kirchen (Union of Evangelical Churches) in Germany.
The United Church of Christ was the first major Christian body in the United States to endorse same-sex marriage. After the Presbyterian Church, the UCC is the second-largest Christian denomination to support gay marriage. However, same-sex marriage is not supported by some churches within the denomination, and others have left the body over this, and other liberal issues.
Membership in the United Chuch of Christ decreased by more than forty percent since the mid-1960s. In the United States, it is strongest in the Northeast and the Midwest.
The focus of this category is on the United Church of Christ. Websites representing the UCC General Synod or its conferences, associations, and affiliated companies and agencies are appropriate for this category. Those representing local churches should be listed in the appropriate Local & Global category, however.
Recommended Resources
The Calvin Synod is a conference of the United Church of Christ that is composed entirely of Calvinist congregations of Hungarian descent, and conservative in doctrinal and social matters. Its history and heritage are highlighted, and its member congregations are published to the site. Archives and updates of its publication, the Calvin Herald, are included, and access to various reports, documents, and other resources are put forth.
http://calvinsynod.org/
Global Ministries is an arm of the United Church of Christ, created in the 1990s to coordinate the missions work of the UCC. Its history, organizational structure, and contacts are posted to the site. Reports on its mission fields around the world are set forth, including group trips, special projects, mission opportunities, and its child and elder sponsorship program. A list of missionaries, mission personnel blogs, and volunteer opportunities are posted to the site.
https://www.globalministries.org/
Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ
Formed in 1823 as the Hawaiian Association of Ministers and Churches, then the Hawaiian Evangelical Association, the organization took its current name in 1959, when the HEA chose to join the United Church of Christ. UCC churches in Hawaii are listed on its site, including open and affirming churches. A directory of congregations, associations, councils, foundations, missional teams, and affiliated organizations are published to the site.
http://www.hcucc.org/
Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ
Formed in 1964, the Illinois Conference came about through the consolidation of the North Illinois Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Conference of Illinois. The conference, its associations, member churches, and ministries are featured, along with an overview of its ministries and programs, a calendar of upcoming events, and administrative contacts. Church relationships and congregational development are also featured.
http://ilucc.org/
Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ
The PNC of the UCC consists of churches, camps, and communities in Alaska, Northern Idaho, and most of Washington State. Member churches are listed, and the PNC’s committees, partners, and contacts are published to the site. New churches, ministers, and members are introduced. The requirements for ministerial standing in the PNC are stated, along with the guidelines for concluding pastorates, ministry opportunities, and a calendar of events.
http://pncucc.org/
South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ
Headquartered in New Braunfels, Texas, the South Central Conference is a fellowship of churches, associations, and ministries of the United Church of Christ in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Its churches, camps, seminaries and universities, communities, and other ministry partners are noted, along with a schedule of annual meetings and other events. A directory of clergy and laity, Church World Service school kits and access to various forms and documents are included.
https://sccucc.org/
Southern Conference, United Church of Christ
Formed in 1957, after the union of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches in Cleveland, Ohio, and eight years before the UCC was created, the Southern Conference is further divided into the Western North Carolina Association, Eastern North Carolina Association, and the Eastern Virginia Association, each of which are highlighted here. Member churches and affiliated ministries are included.
https://www.soc-ucc.org/
The organizational site for the UCC includes a directory of churches within the association, as well as its ministries and programs. Access to a variety of reports and documents are made available, along with contact information for the church leadership, budget reports, its constitution and bylaws, and UCC brand guidelines. Also included are reports on social justice issues that are prominent to the denomination. An online shopping area is included.
http://www.ucc.org/
