Statements of Faith Local churches are the foundational communities in the organization of the United Church of Christ. There are more than 6,000 such congregations, and while they share a common bond, they evolved from different traditions. Those traditions include New England Congregationalists, German Evangelical and Reformed heritages, white American and African American Christian Churches, and ethnic churches organized by the American Missionary Association. They all came together as the United Church of Christ in 1957. From the constitution of the UCC:  The United Church of Christ acknowledges as its sole Head, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior. It acknowledges as kindred in Christ all who share in this confession. It looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world. It claims as its own the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers. It affirms the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. Learn more about the United Church of Christ.

A Prelude on the Statement of Faith The statement of Faith was adopted by the General synod in 1959, just two years following the United Church of Christ beginning, and a year before the constitution.  It is significant that we wanted to express our common faith before we worried about church structure.  Dr. Roger Shinn, Reinhold Niebuhr Emeritus, Union Theological Seminary, writes: "....they (General Synod) also knew that one responsibility of a church is to search its mind and declare its convictions.  A belief that is unspoke in incomplete, and a Statement is part of that church's contribution to the life of the wider church in which it seeks to play a responsible part." The statement of faith is not a "creed," like the Apostles or Nicene creeds.  Creeds are those statements of Faith to which everyone is expected to believe and accept.  Rather, the Statement of Faith is an attempt to phrase the belief in contemporary modes of thought.  "It is not a standard of objective authority in the United Church of Christ.  Whatever authority it has is the authority of an honest testimony whose persuasiveness depends on its contents."  (Roger Shinn, page 7, Confessing Our Faith)  It is best described as a testimony, not a test of faith. "The Statement has no legal status in the United Church of Christ.  General Synod 'approved' it and 'submitted' it to the conferences, associations, and local churches, not for their ratification but for approval and use.  General Synod 'encouraged' its use in 'congregational worship, in private devotions, and for purposes of study.'  But the United Church of Christ nowhere requires its use"  (Shinn, page 8, op cit) There have been three revisions:  (1) The original as adopted in 1959, (2) the 1976 version by Dr. Robert Moss, then president of the UCC and dying of terminal cancer, in reponse throughout the church for a more inclusive Statement, and finally (3) the 1981 version written as a doxology addressed to God rather that a statement about God.  The pronoun YOU for God is neither male nor female, but inclusive. The Statement of Faith (Doxological Form) Basically, the Statement of Faith attemps to continue the tradition of the faith, the history of God's action, and the contemporary and future promises of God.  Its form is that of a conversation with God about God's deeds and concluded with a doxology of praise.  It is formed not by nouns about God but rather by verbs showing the acts of God.  It describes a God of actions and the deeds of God.  Seven deeds are lifted up and the are:   Prologue: THE CONFESSIONS OF FAITH The first deed: GOD CREATES The second deed: GOD SEEKS TO SAVE The third deed: GOD JUDGES The fourth deed: GOD COMES TO US IN CHRIST The fifth deed: GOD BESTOWS THE HOLY SPIRIT the sixth deed: GOD CALLS TO DICIPLESHIP The seventh deed: GOD PROMISES The Conclusion Doxology

What do we believe? "The point of walking with God is not to arrive, but to walk with God." - M. Craig Barnes     Statement of Faith of United Church of Christ Our faith walk is guided by the Statement of Faith of the United Church of Christ. It is a biblically-based summary of essential Christian  faith ... but it does not come alive until we begin to live it. We believe in God, the Eternal Spirit, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father, and to his deeds we testify: He calls the worlds into being, creates man in his own image and sets before him the ways of life and death. He seeks in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin. He judges men and nations by his righteous will declared through prophets and apostles. He has come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to him. He bestows upon us his Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races. He calls us into his church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be his servants in the service of men, 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. He promises to all who trust him forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, his presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in his kingdom which has no end. Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto him. Amen.       Covenant for Life Together We seek to live our values by framing our church-life with a covenant that is derived from Scripture: Having received Christ as our Lord and Savior, having been baptized and being in agreement with the Community Congregational Church of Elburn's purpose, plans and polity, we commit ourselves to God and to the other members of this church to do the following: 1.  As a members of our church we. . . . . .  pray for its health and growth We always thank God for you and pray for you constantly. 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2 . . .  invite the un-churched to attend The Master said to the servant, "Go out to the roads and the country lanes, and urge the people there to come so my house will be full." Luke 14:23 . . .  warmly welcome those who visit So warmly welcome each other into the church, just as Christ has warmly welcomed you; then God will be glorified. Romans 15:7 2.  We protect the unity of our church . . . by acting in love toward other members Have a sincere love for other believers, love one another earnestly with all your heart. 1 Peter 1:22 . . . by refusing to gossip Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs. Ephesians 4:29 . . . by supporting our lay and pastoral leaders So let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony, and on the growth of our fellowship together. Romans 14:19 3.  We serve the ministry of our church . . . . . . by discovering our spiritual gifts, talents and passions Serve one another with the particular gifts God has given each of you. 1 Peter 4:10 . . . by being equipped for service (God) gave . . . some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up. Ephesians 4:11-12 . . . by developing a servant's heart Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who . . . (took on) the very mature of a servant. Philippians 2:3-4, 7 4.  We support the testimony of our church . . . . . . by attending faithfully Let us not give up meeting together . . . but let us encourage one another. Hebrews 10:25 . . . by seeking to grow in Christian virtues Whatever happens, make sure that your everyday life is worthy of the gospel of Christ. Phil 1:27 . . . by giving regularly A tenth of (all your) produce . . . is the Lord's and is holy. Leviticus 27:30

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