The United Church of Christ (UCC) has influenced my faith. Currently, I am a member of Naples United Church of Christ.
According to the UCC website, “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here. We believe in extravagant welcome.”
It is estimated that there are just over one million members in the UCC with the vast majority located in the United States.
So What?
The greatest contribution the United Church of Christ has made to my faith is the need for local congregations and denominations to be welcoming and inclusive.
- How welcoming and inclusive would you consider your local congregation? have you ever invited honest feedback from visitors or members of your larger community? What has your church done recently to become more welcoming and inclusive? How well does your church measure up to the standard of “no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey you are welcome here”?
- Visit the UCC Stillspeaking media page and scroll down to watch the tv ads (Bouncer, Ejector, or Steeples). Which ad do you find captures most clearly the welcoming and inclusive message? Why? What groups of people are likely to feel excluded from participating in your local congregation and what practical steps can be taken to overcome those obstacles?
- View the UCC Stillspeaking media page and watch the Language of God. What is your initial reaction to the ad as a whole? to the blending of the many images with the words compassion, love, community, justice, hope, equality, and praise? to the phrases “never place a period where God has placed a comma” and “find your church, find yourself”?