That All May Be One

​“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” —John 17:20-23
 
As a United and Uniting denomination born out of the Christian unity movement in the United States in the early-to-mid-20th century, with deep Reformed roots, the United Church of Christ in the United States was founded around the ideal, “that they may all be one.”
 
From the very beginning, the UCC embodied this ideal of Christian unity, bringing together five different Christian streams into union as the United Church of Christ, but more than that, these various and varied streams demonstrate a sense of diversity in unity to this day. The Congregational, Christian, Evangelical, Reformed, and Afro-Christian Churches that formed the UCC in 1957 represented diverse populations and diverse perspectives within the Protestant Mainline, but followed a call to unity, bringing the beauty of their diversity into one United Church.
 
Today, the call to unity in the Body of Christ remains a core ideal of the United Church of Christ in the United States as we seek to live up to Jesus’ call and the mission embedded in our founding…

• It is that ideal that motivates the denomination’s participation in conciliar ecumenical bodies in the U.S. like the National Council of Churches, Churches Uniting in Christ, and Christian Churches Together.
• It is that ideal that motivates the denomination’s participation in global conciliar bodies like the World Council of Churches, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and the Caribbean and North American Area Council of the WCRC.
• It is that ideal that motivated the forming of full communion partnerships with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); The Formula of Agreement with the Presbyterian Church (USA), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Reformed Church of America; and the United Church of Canada.

• It is that ideal that motivates ongoing dialogue with the United States College of Catholic Bishops, as well as the exploration of deepened partnerships with churches in Puerto Rico, Germany, and around the world.

 
Alongside this absolute commitment to pursuing Christian unity, the United Church of Christ has maintained a distinct and bold voice seeking justice for all God’s people. At times, this commitment to prophetic and public witness has proved challenging, as we know well that speaking truth to power is often met with resistance. Further, in a time when some would prefer that churches remain silent in the public arena, the boldness of the UCC has often been met with significant criticism from both within and outside the denomination. And yet, the commitment to prophetic witness remains undeterred, as the United Church of Christ remains focused on bringing about a “Just World for All.”

• It is this commitment to justice that spurred the UCC’s predecessor denominations to ordain the first woman (Antoinette Brown), the first person of African descent (Lemuel Haynes), and the first openly gay individual (William Johnson).
• It is this commitment to justice that fueled the UCC’s unwavering support for Equal Marriage.

• It is this commitment to justice that motivates the work of the UCC for racial justice and the decolonialization of the Church.

 
It is not always easy to balance these two guiding ideals of the United Church of Christ. Yet, to be followers of Christ rarely means taking the easy path. Instead, following the example of Christ, we are called to speak up for those who are oppressed and marginalized, and to make certain that all people have space to speak up for themselves. Further, it is a call to be dedicated to remaining in relationship with all of God’s people, motivated by the love of God that we have all received. It has always been a both/and when it comes to the pursuit of unity and the pursuit of justice, never an either/or.
 
In a time such as this…

• when we witness in the wider culture a complete disregard for meaningful engagement across disagreement,
• when we hear the demonizing of those who do not look, think, or love as we do,

• when we watch our leaders demonstrate a complete lack of concern for those in need,

 
…we are called to embrace both aspects of our identity as the United Church of Christ. Speaking the truth we understand as we call for justice for all, remaining engaged with those of varying perspectives for the good of all. For in this way, we most authentically live out the call of Christ to love as he first loved us, and to be completely one in the pursuit of the kindom of God for all God’s people.
 
—Mark Pettis
Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Minister
United Church of Christ