We Work for a
Just and Loving World

What Matters to Us

"To believe is to care. To care is to act."  Several years ago, this slogan was printed on bumper stickers to describe the United Church of Christ.  Critics found the slogan lacking because it didn't mention God at all.  For others close to the heart of the UCC, they knew God is at the heart of, and all wrapped-up in, our caring and acting. 

God creates.  God loves.  God's hope for all that God made is one of a peaceable reign of love and justice.  Filled with gratitude for all God's good gifts, God's hope is our hope.  Our hope connects with God's hope.  We share in both God's vision and work for the entire world. 

The Bible describes this vision in a variety of ways that includes paradise (Isaiah 11:6-9) and a peaceable realm (Isaiah 2:2-4), a great banquet (Luke 14:15-24), and a new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1-5). We see it in God's delivery of those from slavery and hear it in the justice-loving voices of prophets.  We especially see it in Jesus.  In him, the realm of God drew near (Luke 17: 20-21).  He taught about it, proclaimed it in prophetic stances, and lived it through offering his life for others.  We glimpse God's reign even now, and look for the fulfillment of God's love and justice in the future. 

Look around and it doesn't take long to discover, however, that the vision isn't fully realized.  We see a world where violence, discrimination, and hunger are weapons of greed and fear.  We notice those who are ignored are often victims of other's self interest—left in poverty with little hope. We wonder how long the world, our environmental home, can take the stress and depletion of human want.  We scratch our heads in amazement that nations war against nations and religions against religions—destroying the lives of the world's children. 

Yet God's vision breaks through in the bold witness of God's people.  By God's grace, we extend our hands to others through generous acts of service and compassion.  We reach across cultural, racial, and religious divides reconciling ourselves to one another.  In solidarity with those who are most vulnerable in our world, we do justice. God comes in moments of healing, peace, and deliverance.

The UCC connects caring and acting, gratitude and giving, peace and justice, service and advocacy in a life of prayer and justice.   We don't usually settle for things to just merrily-roll-along when our world is hurting. Instead, we follow Christ's lead and seek to address a broad range of concerns.  In 1959, soon after the founding of the UCC, we first outlined the broad arena of global concerns in the "Call to Christian Action in Society" Today, we encourage both individuals and congregations to link with both local and global concerns. With thanks to God, we call upon our congregations to network together and participate in God's reign of love and justice. 

Imagine another world is possible.

Or, make your selection below...

•    We are people of God’s extravagant welcome
•    We belong to Christ
•    We are a people of covenant, a united and uniting church
•    We are one at Baptism and the Table
•    We thank God by working for a just and loving world
•    We listen for the still-speaking God