Jesus didn’t turn people away; neither do we.
You are welcome here,
Whether your faith is as deep and wide as a river,
Or is fresh and under-construction…
Whether you are young or old, black or white,
Gay or straight, whole or wounded….
Whether you’re here for a day or for a lifetime…
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey,
You are welcome here…
Faith Assumptions: 
Faith is a personal journey. Whoever you are, and wherever you are on your journey, you are welcome here.
¬ We are a church of open hearts and open doors for all, without distinction.
¬ We have no ‘tests of faith’ and respect differing views on matters of faith. Science and faith are each appreciated as avenues of increased wonder and meaning.
¬ Our children’s programs and vibrant Youth Group reflect the high value we place on children and teens.
¬ Our outreach projects embody our desire to help the hungry, the hurting, and the homeless, both locally and abroad.
¬ Our dynamic music program embraces all musical genres and instruments, from our baby grand piano and massive pipe organ to mandolins and electric guitars.
¬ Our historic buildings, dating back to the 18th century, reflect our respect for tradition while our Building Campaign reflects our hope for the future.
Five Key Points of Faith
- Freedom of conscience and private judgment. We are each entitled to our own personal approach to God. The church does not dictate the terms.
- This church is non-creedal. There is no test of belief. Christian character is the only requirement. We do not all need to be at the same place on the journey to God, and the church is not meant to enforce conformity of belief. How we live is the main test.
- Authority of the local church. This church is very democratic. The local church runs its own business and its leadership is shared amongst its members. All members are ministers, not just clergy.
- Sole authority of the Bible. While not fundamentalist in interpretation, we look to scripture for our authority, not to the church hierarchy or government or public opinion.
- Christ is the only head of the church. We are all equal in the church, we are all disciples. The head of the church is not the minister, or a Pope, or any other authority – only Christ.
“In essentials unity; in non-essentials, diversity; in all things love.”
“That they may all be one.“ John 17:11
This UCC motto reflects the spirit of unity on which the church is based.
What is the United Church of Christ?
The United Church of Christ is one of the historic ‘mainline’ Christian denominations. Yet it is one of the newer denominations, dating from the ecumenical movement in 1957. It has some of the earliest and deepest roots in our nation, stemming from some of our earliest settlers such as the Pilgrims and Puritans. And it has been at the forefront of the progressive church movement.
In 1957, two Protestant churches – the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church – united to form the United Church of Christ. These churches – themselves the result of earlier mergers – shared a strong commitment to the freedom of religious expression, found their authority in the Bible, and were more concerned with what unites Christians than with what divides them.
United Church of Christ Beliefs.
In essentials unity, in nonessentials diversity and in all things charity.
The unity that we seek requires neither an uncritical acceptance of any point of view nor a rigid formulation of doctrine. It does require mutual understanding and agreement as to which aspects of 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.
Testimonies of faith rather than tests of faith.
We have no formula that is a test of faith. Through the centuries poems, confessions and catechisms have helped the church express what words alone cannot say: that God’s love is available for everyone. We cherish the words of the past but are not limited by them in our modern lives.
There is yet more light and truth to break forth from God’s Holy Word. We celebrate the insights of our sacred writings and recognize that they still speak to us in our present condition. We also note that the study of the Bible is not limited to past interpretations but is to be pursued with expectancy for new insights and help for living today.
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. The role of the minister is one of servanthood — not hierarchical authority — and their task is to guide, to instruct and to enable all believers to do the work of the ministry for we are not a church where the minister ministers and the congregation congregates.
Responsible freedom.
As individual members, we are free to believe and act in accordance with our perception of God’s will for our lives. But we are also called to live in a loving, covenantal relationship with one another — gathering in communities of faith, congregations of local believers and in local churches.
In short as Gracie Allen said, “Never place a period where God has placed a comma!”