We are UCC and United Methodist. We are a worshiping community of faithful, participating Christians, who respect the environment, are welcoming to all people, believe in social equality, integrity, honesty, humility, love, and goodness, with concern for the suffering and the unfortunate. We believe that worship is something deeper than words; it is where our life of faith is grounded.
Congregationalism is a religious ideal based upon freedom of interpretation. This freedom pertains not only to scriptural understanding, but also to the divine revelation that an individual receives through the power of the Holy Spirit. This freedom also extends to our Church government.
In the UCC, the local Church is an autonomous body. Each Church has the opportunity to associate freely with other churches of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ (MACUCC) for the purposes of wider fellowship, nurturing vitality and covenant among member churches. Jesus said to his disciples, “follow me.” He continues to call us in that way today, urging us to deepen our spiritual connection to him so that we may serve others. We are sojourners together, not identical thinkers. We learn from and with each other.
United Methodists believe in salvation by grace alone. By grace, we are made whole, and called to love and serve the Lord through our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. United Methodist churches are part of a larger church government consisting of Districts, Annual Conferences, Jurisdictions and the General Conference. Each church is under the oversight of a District Superintendents who in turn is accountable to a Bishop. The United Methodist Church places a strong emphasis on personal holiness, mission, and inclusion.
As a Federated church, we realize each other’s values and each other’s contributions. We are a union of believers who share common beliefs while maintaining our individual polities. We share a common governance within the bylaws, policies and procedures of the United Church of Christ, Federated. We honor our separate traditions by fulfilling the requirements of each denominational body. Romans 12:5 states, “So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Congregationalism is a religious ideal based upon freedom of interpretation. This freedom pertains not only to scriptural understanding, but also to the divine revelation that an individual receives through the power of the Holy Spirit. This freedom also extends to our Church government.
In the UCC, the local Church is an autonomous body. Each Church has the opportunity to associate freely with other churches of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ (MACUCC) for the purposes of wider fellowship, nurturing vitality and covenant among member churches. Jesus said to his disciples, “follow me.” He continues to call us in that way today, urging us to deepen our spiritual connection to him so that we may serve others. We are sojourners together, not identical thinkers. We learn from and with each other.
United Methodists believe in salvation by grace alone. By grace, we are made whole, and called to love and serve the Lord through our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. United Methodist churches are part of a larger church government consisting of Districts, Annual Conferences, Jurisdictions and the General Conference. Each church is under the oversight of a District Superintendents who in turn is accountable to a Bishop. The United Methodist Church places a strong emphasis on personal holiness, mission, and inclusion.
As a Federated church, we realize each other’s values and each other’s contributions. We are a union of believers who share common beliefs while maintaining our individual polities. We share a common governance within the bylaws, policies and procedures of the United Church of Christ, Federated. We honor our separate traditions by fulfilling the requirements of each denominational body. Romans 12:5 states, “So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”