United Church of Christ

The United Church of Christ goes all the way back to the Pilgrims, shares a history of courageous solidarity with the oppressed, and seeks to build a world that is loving and inclusive of all people. In 1957, the Congregational Church and the Evangelical and Reformed Church joined to become the United Church of Christ. They united for a number of reasons. They had much in common and desired that this new union would be one small statement in fulfilling Christ’s prayer that the whole Church come together as stated in the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of John: That they all may be one. Our denomination is different from most in that we do not have a top-down governance. In fact, there is not only autonomy in the local church but also with the individual. Although we have national offices and elected national officers in Cleveland Ohio, state offices and officers of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ, a Hartford Association, and our local churches, our relationship is not hierarchical. Rather, we are mutually responsible and mutually accountable. We are in covenant relationship and it works. It works because, ultimately, when people make their own decisions, they take responsibility for those decisions. We are “the Church” together but the real responsibility is between the individual and God. For more information, go to www.ucc.org or www.ctconfucc.org. Simply highlight the link you wish to follow, right-click on it, and follow it to the site.