Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A Protestant Christian denomination: The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States, formed by the 1957 merger of the Congregational Christian Church and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. It is known for its congregational polity, theological diversity, and commitments to social justice.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • She is a minister in the United Church of Christ.
  • The local United Church of Christ congregation voted to become an Open and Affirming church.
  • The United Church of Christ's statement of faith emphasizes the unity of all Christians.

Advanced Usage

• "UCC": A common initialism for the United Church of Christ.

  • The UCC's national offices are located in Cleveland, Ohio.

• "UCC congregation": Refers to a local church body within the denomination.

  • Our UCC congregation is very active in community service projects.

Variants and Related Words

• Congregationalism (n): A system of church governance in which each local congregation is self-governing, a key characteristic of the UCC's heritage.
• Mainline Protestant (adj): Relating to a group of traditional Protestant denominations, a category which includes the UCC.

Synonyms

• Denomination: A recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church.
• Communion: A religious group or church, especially one sharing a common faith and discipline.

Related Phrases

• Open and Affirming (phrase): A designation used by many UCC congregations to publicly welcome LGBTQ+ individuals.

  • The search committee is looking for a pastor who will lead the church to become Open and Affirming.

• God is still speaking (phrase): A well-known campaign and theological emphasis of the UCC, symbolized by a comma, suggesting ongoing revelation.

  • The "God is still speaking" initiative reflects the UCC's belief in continuing testament.

Related Idioms

• : To belong to or be influenced by the theological and ecclesiastical heritage of the United Church of Christ.
  • His approach to ministry is very much of the UCC tradition, emphasizing both personal faith and social action.

Noun

1. merger of the Congregational Christian Church and the Evangelical and Reformed Church in 1957