The Hartford Advocate has an interesting article about the United Church of Christ (UCC), New England’s largest Protestant denomination, holding its 26th General Synod.
This article lauds the UCC for extolling a ‘Christianity’ in which people, believe in Jesus, but not too much.
If the UCC had a motto, it would be something like “Christian but Not Insane.” The following statement appears on the UCC Web site and sums up its perspective: “[The UCC] seeks to be Multiracial, Multicultural, Open and Affirming, and Accessible to All —A Church where everyone is welcome!”
Normal Christians are off the wall you see. They get so into that Jesus thing and morals. The UCC doesn’t get into any of that weird stuff.
The UCC has long been in the forefront of progressive social justice issues [Uh oh!]. Many renowned political activists are members of the UCC, including the man who nearly single-handedly revived the Democratic Party—Howard Dean.[HAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh no you didn’t!] Perhaps most tellingly, the Rev. Barry Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, is a member. The UCC believes that religious faith should play a part in American society but not impose its will on governance.
Ah, I see. the UCC is the Church for those who wish to call themselves Christian for political expediency, but in no way will their consciences be formed or their voting be affected by any of that weird ‘Jesusy’ stuff.
Obama, who speaks at the synod on Sat., June 23, has been a member of Chicago’s Trinity UCC since 1988, and as he has reminded people on the campaign trail, “I was elected as Illinois’ Senator, not Illinois’ minister.”
So in the same way that we know that Lindsay Lohan is lying when she says “I like sobriety, but I’m not like a Nazi about it. That cocaine isn’t mine” or my brother Matthew says “Star Trek is alright, but I’m not a Trekkie or anything. Those pointy ears were a Secret Santa gift.” The UCC is for that particular brand of liar who wishes to say “I am Christian.” without actually being one.
July 26, 2007 at 4:15 pm
I am a former Congregationalist/UCC, now a VERY happy Catholic. One of the great turning points in my faith was enduring an Easter sermon at a local UCC church (the faith of my family back all the way to my Mayflower ancestors).
Instead of an expected sermon of “he is risen, he is risen indeed,” I got some tepid discussion that centered around the alleged vagarias in the last chapter of the Gospel of Mark —- i.e., the RESURRECTION !! Did I mention it was an EASTER SUNDAY service?
Like Tolkien wrote about the Hobbits coming to Fangorn, “…The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains.” That vacuous sermon started me on my journey that ended in Rome.
In a way I am glad they have become the “United Church of Whatever.” If they had not, I might have been content in the shallows (IMHO).
July 26, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Welcome Home. the water’s holy.
July 27, 2007 at 2:56 pm
I grew up in the United Church of Christ, and only left it because the Army sent me to the South, where there weren’t many UCC congregations. I ended up in the Episcopal Church, very nearly becoming a priest, before I re-discovered this very open-armed, extremely Christian, denomination.
I am now finishing my preparation to be a UCC pastor, and couldn’t be happier about it. I wonder, when I read things like the original post and these comments, why some people enjoy denigrating other’s expression of their faith. Not all of us are content with marching single-file behind a guy with a funny hat. Still, I know that some do yearn for more directive leadership, and as a disabled veteran, I just want to say “you’re welcome” that I helped provide you a place where you’re free to be Catholic, or a United Christian, or a Baptist, or …. whatever you choose. Just try not to be so judgmental under the umbrella of this freedom I gave you, OK?
July 27, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Hi Dennis.
First, thanks for defending our country and the sacrifice you have given to it and all of us. Nothing we can say can express our appreciation properly.
Second, part of that freedom we all love so much and you defended is the freedom to call it as we see it. You certainly have no problem with it thinking we all follow in line behind the Pope.
Kind of odd to say (and I paraphrase) “your welcome, now shut up” but somehow still say you believe in freedom of speech, isn’t it.
July 28, 2007 at 1:41 am
Matthew. Thanks. The water is lovely, and so very, very deep 🙂
RobK. Aptly put. Bravo.
Dennis, I wish you all the best. May you serve God as best as you can. Take some if advice if you will. When you do become a pastor, in your Easter sermon try to talk about Jesus Christ, even if it’s obliquely. As the old saying goes, the only time you hear the word Jesus Christ in a Congregational (or Episcopal; I tried that for a few years as well) church is when the janitor stubs his toe.
As to my take on the UCC, if we are going to pull rank, as I mentioned, my family has been Congregationalist since the denomination began. My family helped to found it, brought it to this New World, and shed blood to defend it (in the French & Indian War, the War of Independence, The American Civil War, et. al.). I believe that gives me “squatters rights” to have an opinion on the matter.
I also realize the Congregational church is probably the most democratically based denomination in its makeup. Which is one of its greatest strengths, and, unfortunately, has sown the seeds of its own destruction. H.L. Mencken once said …”People deserve the government they get, and they deserve to get it good and hard.” This is what we are presently seeing in the plummeting decline in the UCC.
Dennis, honestly, I wish you well. But if I were you, I wouldn’t buy any green bananas:
http://www.ird-renew.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=fvKVLfMVIsG&b=390529&ct=3999995
July 28, 2007 at 8:29 am
“Whoever is separated from the Catholic Church, by this single sin of being separated from the unity of Christ, no matter how estimable a life he may imagine he is living, shall not have life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.”
– Saint Augustine
July 28, 2007 at 8:31 am
“Even the heretics appear to have Christ, for none of them denies the name of Christ; yet, anyone who does not confess all that pertains to Christ does in fact deny Christ.” – St. Ambrose
July 28, 2007 at 12:56 pm
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! James 2:20
July 30, 2007 at 1:48 am
“Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.”
–Saint Matthew 7:22-23