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That they may all be one. (John 17:21) This
motto of the United Church of Christ reflects the spirit of unity on which it is
based and points toward future efforts to heal the divisions in the body of
Christ. We are a uniting church as well as a united church.
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In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity,
in all things charity. The unity that we seek requires neither an uncritical
acceptance of any point of view, nor rigid formulation of doctrine. It does
require mutual understanding and agreement as to which aspects of the Christian
faith and life are essential.
The unity of the church is not of its own making. It is a gift of God. But
expressions of that unity are as diverse as there are individuals. The common
thread that runs through all is love.
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Testimonies of faith rather than tests of faith.
Because faith can be expressed in many different ways, the United Church of
Christ has no formula that is a test of faith. Down through the centuries,
however, Christians have shared their faith with one another through creeds,
confessions, catechisms and other statements of faith. To read our current
UCC Statement of Faith click here.
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There is yet more light and truth to break forth
from God's Holy Word. This affirmation assumes the primacy of the Bible as a source for
understanding the Good News of Christ and as a foundation for all statements of
faith. It recognizes that the Bible, though written in specific historical times
and places, still speaks to us in our present condition. It declares that the
study of the Scriptures is not limited by past interpretations, but is
pursued with the expectation of new insights and help for living today.
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The Priesthood of All Believers. All members
of the United Church of Christ are called to minister to others and to
participate as equals in the common worship of God, each with direct access to
the mercies of God through personal prayer and devotion.
Recognition is given to those among us who have received special training in
pastoral, priestly, educational and administrative functions, but these persons
are regarded as servants—rather than as persons in authority. Their task is to
guide, to instruct, to enable the ministry of all Christians rather than to do
the work of ministry for us.
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Responsible Freedom. As individual members of
the Body of Christ, we are free to believe and act in accordance with our
perception of God's will for our lives. But we are called to live in a loving,
covenantal relationship with one another—gathering in communities of faith,
congregations of believers, local churches.
Each congregation or local church is free to act in accordance with the
collective decision of its members, guided by the working of the Spirit in the
light of the Scriptures. But it also is called to live in a covenantal
relationship with other congregations for the sharing of insights and for
cooperative action under the authority of Christ.
Likewise, associations of churches, conferences, the General Synod and the
churchwide "covenanted ministries" of the United Church of Christ are free to
act in their particular spheres of responsibility. Yet all are constrained by
love to live in a covenantal relationship with one another and with the local
churches in order to make manifest the unity of the body of Christ and thus to
carry out God's mission in the world more effectively.
