How we organize ourselves
(or don’t)
Not that fond of Organized Religion? How about disorganized religion…. Just kidding. Sort of.
First UCC Sauk City lives in the creative tension between congregational autonomy ("Our congregation has freedom to decide how we follow Jesus, without the control of bishops, district superintendents, or conventions..") and covenantal relationship with our wider United Church of Christ denominational family ("...and we come together with other congregations to hold each other accountable to the Gospel and do things together none of us could do alone.")
Our Congregational forebearers have deep roots in the history of democracy in America. Like any true and functioning democracy, church can be messy.
Here’s a little more about how we organize and operate (and if you want some riveting bedtime reading, check out a full copy of our constitution).
First UCC Welcome Statement: “Come to me,” Jesus said, “all who are weary”… (Matthew 11:28) First United Church of Christ – Sauk City is an Open & Affirming congregation. This is what “Everyone Is Welcome!” means to us: Whoever you are, whatever your story, however you identify, whomever you love, we would value your friendship and welcome you into our community. Every part of you is precious to God, and all of who you are is welcome at First United Church of Christ. So come to worship and to be nourished by bread and cup at Jesus’ table. Stay to serve Sauk City and beyond. We are looking forward to getting acquainted.
What is the United Church of Christ anyway?
We are a member congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), which is at the same time a very old and a very young denomination. The UCC has old roots that reach back to the Protestant Reformation in 16th Century Europe and include Puritans that settled in what would become the United States. But those roots didn't grow together to form the UCC that we know today until 1957, when several of those strands came together- hence the United Church. We are still growing and changing and working to bring more justice, peace, love, and compassion to the world., like it says in the Gospel. Here's more about the UCC:
Our faith is 2,000 years old. Our thinking is not.
We believe in God's continuing testament. This is why we are committed to hearing God's ancient story anew and afresh in our lives and in the world today. We try to remain attentive to God's creative movement in the world. Religion and science are not mutually exclusive, and your head and heart are both welcomed into our places of worship. We prepare our members and leaders to be engaged in ministry in the present and future church, and we embrace all kinds of communities and new modes of thinking. Why? Because God is still speaking,
No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.
We believe in extravagant welcome. This is why we insist that God's communion table is open, not closed, and God's gift and claim in baptism are irrevocable. We advocate justice for all. Our congregations extend hospitality as a sign of God's inclusive love. We teach that evangelism — offering bread to those in search of it — is God's mission. Our perspective is global, not provincial. We work with — not against — people of other faiths. Why? Because God is still speaking,
Never place a period where God has placed a comma.
We believe the church's mission is to change lives — individually, systemically and globally. We work to make transformation possible, but trust in God's grace. This is why we insist that churches must be places of vitality in worship, learning and advocacy. We are committed to working for justice, and we believe that lives are changed through global experiences and friendships. Why? Because God is still speaking.
In the United Church of Christ (UCC), congregations have a high degree of authority to make decisions about the way they run themselves, what they believe and how they function. The Congregations own their own property, and have the authority to call and dismiss pastors. Congregations are in covenantal relationships with other settings of church organization, as part of a Conference. The relationships between individual congregations and other settings of the denomination are cooperative and mutually beneficial.
While our church gets to choose our ministerial staff, it is the Association that has the power to ordain clergy, and the conference partners with local churches in the process of supporting and developing emerging church leadership. The national setting of the church provides leadership and services and organizes a national meeting called General Synod every two years, where church members from throughout the denomination gather for worship, education, debate and action.
