How we organize ourselves (or don’t)
Not that fond of Organized Religion? How about disorganized religion….
Just kidding. Sort of.
Our Congregational forebears 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).
Covenant and Autonomy in the UCC
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.