FIRST CHURCH AND ITS DENOMINATIONS

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

UCC MASSACHUSETTS CONFERENCE

The First Church in Sterling has the unusual distinction of belonging to three different denominations at the same time—combining the traditions of three separate churches in the town: Unitarian, Baptist and Congregational. Our church history, “From One to Three to One”, tells the story of how this came about.

Almost every New England town, particular­ly in Massachu­setts, has a Congregational Church, often with its tall white steeple beside a town common. Many people do not realize that, until 1826, taxes supported the Congregational Churches in Massachu­setts and paid the salaries of ministers. There was in effect an established or state church, inherited from the early Pilgrims and Puri­tans. Those first settlers believed that God was leading them to build a new soci­ety in this "promised land" of America. For them, society, government, and religion were not at all separate. They were proudly independent folk, who prac­ticed a real grass roots (if selective) democ­racy, and the church was right at the center of it all. They founded colleges, such as Harvard and Yale (to train their ministers). "Missionar­ies" like John Elliot reached out to the Indians. And ministers preached election day sermons calling government and people to a godly life.

As the early English Congrega­tion­alist, John Robinson, had put it: "God hath yet more light to break forth from his Word". After 1826, the Congregationalists were on their own‑‑one religious choice among sever­al, rather than being part of the establish­ment. As this happened, they man­aged to remember that change was essential to their identi­ty, and change they did. They became the first U.S. denomination to take an offi­cial stand against slavery, the first to ordain women, and the first to allow women to vote. Their theology evolved and grew as they tried to understand the Bible and Chris­tian tradition in the light of the changing world around them.

They joined with the Con­gregational Meth­odists, the Evangelical Protestants, the Ger­man Congregationalists, and then in 1931 merged with the Christian Churches. Final­ly, in 1957, these "Congre­gational Christian Churches" joined with the German Evangeli­cal and Reformed Church to form a wholly new denomination to be known as the "Unit­ed Church of Christ". We are now one of over 6000 UCC congre­gations across the country, and relate to an association of about 100 churches in Central Mass., and the Massachusetts Conference of over 400 churches. In the 30 plus years of its history, this young denomination with long and varied roots has earned a reputation for its strong ecumenical focus and its commitment to social justice.

Shortly after its formation, the UCC adopted a contemporary Statement of Faith (see below). When com­pared with the ancient creeds (Apostles' or Nicene) the statement shows how the UCC tries to hear the Word of God embodied in Christian tradition and express it in lan­guage for today. There is also a balance or tension in the UCC be­tween individual and congrega­tional freedom on the one hand, and a sense of the larger Church, on the other. The Statement of Faith, for example, is "a testi­mony, not a test". Each person is responsible for hear­ing and responding to the Word of God, but does so "in covenant" ‑‑that is, in relation ­ship and dialogue with the Wider Church. (Baptists and Unitarians do not have as clearly de­fined a sense of "Church", and do not have any commonly held statement of faith.)

The UCC also provides a clear link with the modern ecumenical movement. (The church motto, taken from Jesus' prayer in John 17, is "that they may all be one".) The UCC has been deeply involved with the World Coun­cil of Church­es, as well as national and local ecumenical groups. The UCC is part of the Consultation on Church Union, where­by a number of Protestant denominations are moving toward full com­munion with each other. The UCC is al­ready in close partner­ship with the Christian Church‑Disciples of Christ. As a part of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, which includes Presby­terians and others, the UCC is in dialogue with other major church bodies, such as Lutherans and Roman Catho­lics.

Finally, one cannot overlook the UCC's vital witness and involvement in issues of social justice. Its mission programs aim not only to Christianize, but also to truly help others in the name of Christ. From the aboli­tionist movement of the 19th century, to the civil rights movement, to the peace move­ment, to affirming the rights of homosexuals, to earth stewardship and ecology‑‑the UCC tries to work for the values that reflect God's king­dom coming on earth, as it is in heaven.

United Church of Christ Statement of Faith

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit,
God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God,
and to your deeds we testify.
You call the worlds into being,
create persons in your own image
and set before each one the ways of life and death.
You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
You judge people and nations by your righteous will
declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior,
you have come to us
and shared our common lot,
conquering sin and death
and reconciling the world to yourself.
You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit,
creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ,
binding in covenant faithful people of all ages,
tongues and races.
You call us into your Church
to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,
to be your servants in the service of others,
to proclaim the gospel to all the world,
to resist the powers of evil,
to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table,
to join him in his passion and victory ­
You promise to all who trust you
forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace,
courage in the struggle for justice and peace,
your presence in trial and rejoicing,
and eternal life in your realm which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you. Amen.