sign in sign up
<<
Home , Church of Christ, United Church of Christ

United of Christ Firsts

Highlights of how UCC ministry has shaped our religious, social and political landscape UCC Firsts

The United Church of Christ is a blend of four historic traditions — Congregational, Christian, Evangelical, and Reformed — and many newer traditions. Each has left a mark on U.S. religious and political history. Here are just some of the many ways the UCC and its predecessor bodies have led the way through ministry.

1620: Pilgrims seek 1773: 1st published spiritual freedom African-American poet Seeking spiritual freedom, forbears of A member of Old South in , the United Church of Christ prepare becomes the first to leave Europe for the New World. published African-American author. Later generations know them as the “Poems on Various Subjects” is a Pilgrims. Their , John Robinson, sensation, and Wheatley gains her urges them as they depart to keep their minds and hearts freedom from slavery soon after. open to new ways. God, he says, “has yet more light and Modern African-American poet Alice Walker says of her: truth to break forth out of his holy Word.” “[She] kept alive, in so many of our ancestors, the notion of song.” 1630: early experiment in 1777: Reformed democracy The Congregational churches congregation saves founded by the Pilgrims and other spiritual reformers spread rapidly The British occupy through . In an early — seat of the rebellious Continental experiment in democracy, each Congress — and plan to melt down congregation is self-governing and the Liberty Bell to manufacture elects its own ministers. The Congregationalists aim to create cannons. The Bell is safely hidden under the floorboards of a model for a just society lived in the presence of God. Their Old Zion Reformed Church in Allentown. leader, John Winthrop, prays that “we shall be as a city upon a hill ... the eyes of all people upon us.” 1785: First ordained African-American pastor 1700: An early stand Lemuel Haynes is the first African- against slavery American ordained by a Protestant Congregationalists are among denomination. He becomes a world- the first Americans to take a stand renowned preacher and writer. against slavery. The Rev. Samuel Sewall writes the first anti-slavery 1798: ‘’ seek liberty of conscience pamphlet in America, “The Selling Dissident preacher James O’Kelly is one of the early founders of Joseph.” Sewall lays the foundation for the abolitionist of a religious movement called simply the “Christians.” movement that comes more than a century later. The Christians seek liberty of conscience and oppose authoritarian church government. 1730s: The Great Awakening The first Great Awakening sweeps through Congregational 1839: defining moment for and Presbyterian churches. One of the great thinkers of abolitionist movement the movement, Jonathan Edwards, says the church should Enslaved Africans break their chains recover the passion of a transforming faith that changes “the and seize control of the schooner course of [our] lives.” Amistad. They are arrested and held in a jail while the ship’s 1773: First act of civil disobedience owners sue to have them returned Five thousand angry colonists gather in the Old South as property. Congregationalists and Meeting House to demand repeal of an unjust tax on tea. other Christians organize a campaign to free the captives. Their protest inspires the first act of civil disobedience in U.S. The Supreme Court rules the captives are not property, and history — the “Boston Tea Party.” the Africans regain their freedom. 1840: 1st united church in U.S. history 1889: Deaconess MoVeMent A meeting of Missouri forms the first united church in The Evangelical Deaconess Society U.S. history — the Evangelical Synod. It unites two Protestant and the Evangelical Deaconess traditions that have been separated for centuries: Lutheran Home and Hospital begin in St. Louis. and Reformed. The Evangelicals believe in the power of Katherine Haack, a trained nurse and tradition, but also in spiritual freedom. widow of an Evangelical pastor, is the first deaconess to be consecrated. 1845: ‘Protestant Catholicism’ At a time when women were often Theologian scandalizes the Reformed churches silenced at church, women such as Haack were leaders in the in when he argues for a “Protestant Catholicism” administration and guidance of the home and hospital. centered in the person of Christ. The movement founded by Schaff and his friend, John Nevin, revives 1897: Social Gospel sacramental worship in the Reformed church and sets the movement denounces stage for the 20th-century liturgical movement. economic oppression Congregationalist Washington 1846: First integrated anti- Gladden is one of the first leaders of slavery society the Social Gospel movement, which The Amistad case is a spur to the takes literally the commandment conscience of Congregationalists who of Jesus to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Social Gospel believe no human being should be preachers denounce injustice and the exploitation of the a slave. In 1846 Lewis Tappan, one poor. He writes a hymn that summarizes his : “Light up of the Amistad organizers, organizes your Word: the fettered page from killing bondage free.” the American Missionary Association—the first anti-slavery society in the U.S. with multiracial leadership. 1943: ‘Serenity Prayer’ Evangelical and Reformed theologian 1853: First woman pastor preaches a Antoinette Brown is the first woman that introduces the world to the since times ordained now famous Serenity Prayer: “God, as a Christian minister, and perhaps give us grace to accept with serenity the first woman in history elected the things that cannot be changed, to serve a Christian congregation courage to change the things that as pastor. At her a friend, should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one Methodist minister Luther Lee, from the other.” defends “a woman’s right to preach the Gospel.” He quotes the New Testament: “There is neither 1952: ‘The Courage to Be’ male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Evangelical and Reformed theologian publishes “The Courage to 1862-77: Colleges and Universities for Be” — later named by the New York Blacks in the South Public Library as one of the “Books The American Missionary Association starts six colleges: of the Century.” “Life demands again , , LeMoyne-Owen College, and again,” he writes, “the courage to Huston-Tillotson College, and Tougaloo surrender some or even all security College, all historically black colleges and universities that for the sake of full self-affirmation.” continue to offer excellence, access, and opportunity in higher education. It also founds Brick School, today part of 1957: Spiritual and ethnic the UCC’s Franklinton Center in . traditions unite The United Church of Christ is 1887: Poor Wolf BECOMES born when the Evangelical and CHRISTIAN Reformed Church unites with the Poor Wolf, Chief and Spiritual Leader Congregational Christian Churches. of the Hidatsa people, converts The new community embraces a to Christianity. In 1971, the UCC rich variety of spiritual traditions and embraces believers of Council for American Indian Ministry African, Asian, Pacific, Latin American, Native American and is formed. to provide ministry and European descent. witness in Indian settings, and understanding of Indian communities to the wider church. (con’d. on back) 1959: Historic ruling 1977: National UCC that airwaves are public disabilities ministries property Harold Wilke (standing in photo) is Southern television stations impose first to lead national UCC disabilities a news blackout on the growing civil ministries. Born without arms, the rights movement, and Martin Luther internationally known disabilities King Jr. asks the UCC to intervene. of the UCC’s advocate serves as pastor, author, Office of Communication organizes churches and wins in denominational executive. When President George H.W. Federal court a ruling that the airwaves are public, not private Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act, newspapers property. The decision leads to hiring of persons of color in worldwide carry a photo of Bush handing Wilke one of his television studios and newsrooms. pens, which Wilke accepts with his left foot.

1972: Ordination of first 1989: Ecumenical Partnership The United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Dis- openly gay minister ciples of Christ) approve a historic partnership of full commu- The UCC’s Golden Gate Association nion. The two denominations proclaim mutual recognition of ordains the first openly gay person their sacraments and ordained ministry. as a minister in a denomination: the Rev. William 1993: Apology accepted R. Johnson. In the following three Sometimes “being first” means being decades, urges equal the first to admit a past mistake. In rights for homosexual citizens and calls on congregations to Hawai’i, UCC President Paul Sherry welcome gay, lesbian and bisexual members. apologizes on behalf of the church for the complicity of missionaries 1973: Standing with farm in the 1893 overthrow of Hawai’i’s workers government and leader, Queen Meeting in St. Louis, the UCC General Lili’uokalani. $3.5 million is pledged to native Hawai’ian Synod suspends business after churches and a non-profit organization. learning from Cesar Chavez that farm owners have unleashed a campaign 1995: Singing a new song of violence and beatings against The UCC publishes The New Century Hymnal — the only strikers. The church flies delegates to hymnal released by a Christian church that honors in equal Coachella Valley to show support. measure both male and female images of God. Although its poetry is contemporary, its theology is traditional. “ 1973: Civil rights activists freed The Wilmington Ten — 10 civil rights activists — are charged 1997: ‘Formula of with the arson of a white-owned grocery store in Wilmington, Agreement’ N.C. One of them is , a social justice worker Centuries of division between the sent by the UCC to Wilmington to help the African-American Lutheran and Reformed branches community overcome racial intolerance and intimidation. of Protestant Christianity end when The UCC’s General Synod raises bail. Chavis’ conviction is UCC, Presbyterian Church USA, overturned and he is released after spending four-and-a-half Reformed Church in America and years in prison. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America agree on a relation- ship of through a “Formula of Agreement.” 1976: First African- The Formula acknowledges the historical roots American leader of an –– and the theological differences –– between the traditions, integrated denomination and celebrates the potential for shared mission and ministry. General Synod elects the Rev. Joseph H. Evans president of the United 2005: equality Church of Christ. He becomes the On July 4, the General Synod first African American leader of a overwhelmingly passes a resolution racially integrated mainline church in supporting same-gender marriage the United States. equality. UCC General Minister and President John Thomas says that the Synod “has acted courageously to declare freedom, affirming marriage equality, affirming the civil rights of same gender couples ... and encouraging our local churches to celebrate and bless those .”