The United Church of Christ

The United Church of Christ was birthed in the ecumenical movement of the early 1900s. In 1957, the denomination brought together the German Reformed, the Congregational Churches, the Christian Connection, and the Evangelical Synod. These diverse faith communities found unity in their commitment to the Lordship of Christ. At Salem, we are equally diverse in our theologies, but united in our commitment to care for each other. Following the teachings of Jesus, we seek to love God with all our heart, mind, body, and soul, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

The UCC expresses its core beliefs in this statement of faith:

  • We believe in God, the Eternal Spirit, who is made known to us in Jesus our brother, and to whose deeds we testify:
  • God calls the worlds into being, creates humankind in the divine image, and sets before us the ways of life and death.
  • God seeks in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
  • God judges all humanity and all nations by that will of righteousness declared through prophets and apostles.
  • In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord, God has come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the whole creation to its Creator.
  • God bestows upon us the Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.
  • God calls us into the church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be servants in the service of the whole human family, 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.
  • God promises to all who trust in the gospel forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, the presence of the Holy Spirit in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in that kingdom which has no end.

 Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto God. Amen.

(taken from ucc.org)