ntelligent dialogue and a strong independent streak sometimes cause the
United Church of Christ (UCC) and its 1.4 million members to be called a
“heady and exasperating mix”. The UCC tends to be a mostly progressive
denomination that unabashedly engages heart and mind, while maintaining
a balance of congregational autonomy with a strong commitment to unity
among its nearly 6,000 congregations. With a history dating back to the
16th century, the UCC and its forebears have proven themselves capable
of moving forward, tying faith to social justice and shaping cutting edge
theology and service in an ever-changing world.

Affirming that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, the UCC 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. Yet the UCC also
affirms the responsibility of the church in each generation and community to
make faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression,
and in purity of heart before God. 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. One of the UCC's distinguishing characteristics is
its penchant to believe that ... God is still speaking, ... even when it puts us out
there alone. History has shown that, most often, we're only alone for a while.
Besides, we receive so many gifts from our ecumenical partners, being "early"
seems to be one of ours.

The UCC recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.

The symbol of UCC comprises a crown, cross and orb enclosed within a double oval bearing the name of the church and the prayer of Jesus, "That they may all be one" (John 17:21), which reflects our historic commitment to the restoration of unity among the separated churches of Jesus Christ.