Good news for the United Church of Christ is being reported today by United Church News:

The 4,300-member Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, Texas, has voted overwhelmingly to seek denominational affiliation with the UCC.

On Oct. 30, during a congregational vote, 94 percent of voting members answered “yes” to the question, “Shall the Cathedral of Hope affiliate as a member church with the United Church of Christ?” The congregation’s decision now awaits response from the UCC’s North Texas Association, which is the denomination’s setting charged with taking up a request for “congregational standing.”

“The Cathedral of Hope and the United Church of Christ seem like a natural fit,” said the Rev. Jo Hudson, an ordained UCC minister who serves as senior pastor and rector of the Cathedral. “The United Church of Christ has long been at the forefront of societal change, most recently, of course, by becoming the first mainstream denomination to support equal marriage rights for same-gender couples. Their values are our values, and we look forward to joining in partnership and continuing the work for which God has called us together.”

Ironically, at a time when UCC leaders are conceding that an estimated 20 congregations are likely to leave the denomination in response to a decision in July by the UCC’s General Synod to affirm same-gender marriage equality, the 1.3-million-member church also is attracting interest from existing congregations in unprecedented numbers. In October alone, six existing churches joined the UCC, which may be a single month’s record.

Cathedral of Hope’s decision comes amid speculation that two other large-membership churches will consider joining the UCC in 2006.

In Minneapolis, the 2,000-member Plymouth Congregational Church has planned forums about the UCC in anticipation of a May 2006 congregational vote. And, in Tulsa, Okla., the Higher Dimensions Family Church – a charismatic, integrated mega-church founded 25 years ago by Oral Roberts Evangelistic Ministries – has made known its interest in UCC affiliation. The church’s founding pastor, Bishop Carlton D. Pearson, has indicated his enthusiasm for the UCC at recent gatherings of the denomination’s Northern California – Nevada Conference and Kansas – Oklahoma Conference.

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Welcome aboard!