That They May be One
This motto of the United Church of Christ reflects the
spirit of unity on which the church is based and points
toward future efforts to heal the divisions in the body of
christ. We are a uniting church as well as a United
church.
In Essentials Unity, in Nonessentials Diversity,
in All Things Charity
The unity that we seek does not require an uncritical
acceptance of any point of view. Nor does it insist on a
rigid formulation of doctrine. It does require mutual
understanding and agreement as to which aspects of the
Christian faith and life are essential. The unity of the
church is not of its own making, it is a gift of God. But
expressions of that unity are as diverse as there are
individuals. The common thread that runs through all
lives.
Testimonies of Faith, Rather Than Tests of Faith
Since faith can be expressed in many different ways, the United Church of Christ has no formula that is a test of faith. Down through the centuries, however, Christians have shared their faith with one another through creeds, confessions, catechisms, and other statements. These include the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Augsburg Confession, and so on, all of which we value as authentic testimonies of faith..
[continue reading "What we Believe"]
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