The United Church of Christ acknowledges as its sole head, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Saviour. 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 every 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 teaching of our Lord and the practice prevailing among evangelical Christians, it recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion.
~excerpt from the Preamble of the Constitution of the United Church of Christ
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The 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 beings,
created 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 discipleship,
to be your servants in 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 you trust
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.
~Adpoted, United Church of Christ Executive Council, 1981
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Accessible to All (A2A) & Open and Affirming(ONA) Statement
“As a community of Christ we believe that all persons are children of God, created in God’s image, and affirm the inherent value, worth and dignity of all races, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, and gender identities, without regard to one’s marital status, family structure, faith and educational background, economic and social standing, mental and physical ability, military or civilian status. No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
In the prophetic tradition of the progressive United Church of Christ, we extravagantly welcome all people into the full life, membership, leadership, mission, fellowship, worship, and sacraments of this church, and invite all to bear the responsibilities, blessings and joys of membership, ministry and life in this church. Recognizing that we are an increasingly diverse culture and that there are differences among us in private belief and interpretation of sacred scriptures, we covenant, as the community of Christ, to work and serve the Lord together in this church.”
Approved at the Annual Meeting of Christian Fellowship Congregational Church, January 2017
