|
Dear Folks:
The UCC was formed in 1957, rising out of the Social Gospel Movement, 2 devastating World Wars, and the Civil Rights Movement. The UCC brought together English-based Congregationalism with its local autonomy, the American “frontier” faith of the Christian and Afro-Christian churches with their emphasis on lay leadership, and German Evangelical and German Reformed churches with their synodic/presbyterian-style polity. While each CC congregation had to ratify the merger to join, E and R churches joined at once when the merger was ratified by their general synod. The former E and R churches are primarily located in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Former Congregationalist churches are found in New England, Midwest, and scattered throughout the West. Former Christian churches are found in and around Appalachia—Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, with some in the Midwest and West. I name this because Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference UCC churches are former Congregationalist churches. However, we are no longer Congregationalist; we are United Church of Christ, which has evolved into its own polity and theology.
In my mind, this evolution is represented best in three practical theological documents of the UCC: The New Century Hymnal (1994), the new Manual on Ministry (2018), and the even newer Manual on Local Church (2025). The NCH is based in our dedication to inclusivity, particularly focusing on language for people and God; MOM is steeped in our sense of covenant embodied by Committees on Ministry (our Church and Ministry Commission) as they focus on support and oversight of clergy; MOLC rises out of our desire for congregational autonomy while also giving us some unifying structure. All of these show the best versions of our United and Uniting denomination, and they reflect the roots of our predecessor denominations as well as the churches and streams founded or joining us since the merger.
I think we are stronger because we covenant to have oversight of our clergy. At ordinations, we recognize that clergy are authorized and given standing at the regional level (Associations or Conferences) to serve in and on behalf of the entire United Church of Christ, regardless of relationship to our predecessor denominations. Because of our shared value on oversight and accountability, clergy can move from Conference to Conference with some assurance of having been vetted for ministry by a discerning Committee on Ministry. Recognized by insurance companies that provide liability insurance, our structure of accountability is known to reduce fitness reviews, which are further reduced when clergy participate in communities of practice.
My own faith journey includes confirmation in a former German Reformed church, attendance in college at a former German Evangelical church and later a former Evangelical seminary, and ordination in a former Congregationalist church. I have also worked in and with Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ). There are differences and there are commonalities among and between these churches. It is often easy for me to use a shorthand to say, “We are congregationalist,” alluding to our emphasis on local autonomy. However, I am not a congregationalist leader; I serve in and on behalf of the entire United Church of Christ. Along with all of our clergy, I am accountable to our Church and Ministry Commission, which acts in covenant with the entire UCC.
As always, feel free to reach out with questions or comments.
In Peace and Prayer,
Pastor Tony
| 
