What We Believe

As a congregation we have joined the hundreds of churches in the United Church of Christ in expressing God’s extravagant welcome to everyone. Open and Affirming expressing a particular welcome to persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered. Everyone, without exception, is invited into the life, work and leadership of Union Church.

Our denomination, The United Church of Christ, a merger of the Congregational Christian churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church in 1957, was formed to express more fully our oneness in Christ, to make more effective our common witness to Christ, and to serve God’s reign in the world. The essence of our faith and practice is beautifully summarized in the preamble to the UCC constitution:

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. It 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. It claims as its own the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers. It affirms the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. In accordance with the teaching of our Lord and the practice prevailing among evangelical Christians, it recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lordês Supper or Holy Communion.

The United Church of Christ Statement of Faith is a contemporary testimony and
affirmation of a vibrant faith in our still-speaking God:

UCC Statement of Faith

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify:

You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image,and set before each one the ways of life and death.

You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.

You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.

You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.

You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in your realm which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.

Amen.

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