Is The United Church of Christ About To Start Growing?

Since the meeting of the General Synod of the United Church of Christ there has been growing interest in churches joining the UCC. United Church News reports:

Denominational leaders said this week that as many as 15 different churches and church groups have inquired about affiliating with the UCC since the meeting of its General Synod earlier this month.

On the heels of a General Synod that dramatically spiked the church’s national visibility, inquiries have come from a variety of sources, according to the Rev. David C. Schoen, the UCC’s minister for evangelism.

Schoen said the inquiries include expressed interest from three significantly large congregations representing three different regions of the country -- with a combined membership of nearly 12,000 parishioners.

"Interest has been all over the map,” Schoen said. "The interest has ranged from people wanting to plant a church to churches wanting to affiliate with the UCC to groups of people wanting to know about the UCC and how they might become affiliated with the UCC as a new church start. It has all been very exciting.”

We have known since the launch of the UCC’s God Is Still Speaking advertising campaign that tens of thousands have contacted the UCC about learning were they can find a local UCC congregation to worship in. Even more have contacted the denomination since General Synod.

Mainline Protestant churches and Roman Catholic churches have seen declining numbers for many years. Maybe that trend will finally start to reserve itself for the UCC.

Are you looking for a UCC church?  Click here.  Want information on how to have your congregation become part of the UCC or looking to help with a new church start?  E-mail the Rev. David C. Schoen.

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