Pilgrim Church is a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC). The denomination began in 1957 when the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church joined. The UCC motto is taken from Jesus’ words to his disciples in John 17:21, “That they may all be one.” We are a united and uniting church.
Pilgrim’s roots are in the Congregational tradition, which can be traced back to the Pilgrims and Puritans. We are a congregation of the Southern New England Conference of the of the United Church of Christ. Individual UCC congregations are not bound by hierarchal control—each local church is autonomous. However, we are a people of covenant. One of our denomination’s historical phrases is, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”
Our overarching creed in the UCC has always been and will always be love. As a denomination, here are the UCC’s core beliefs:
- We believe in the triune God.
- We believe that each person is unique and valuable.
- We believe that each person is on a spiritual journey.
- We believe that the persistent search for God produces an authentic relationship with God.
- We believe that all of the baptized “belong body and soul to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
- We believe that all people of faith are invited to join Christ at Christ’s table for the sacrament of Communion.
- We believe the UCC is called to be a united and uniting church.
- We believe that God calls us to be servants in the service of others and to be good stewards of the earth’s resources.
- We believe that the UCC is called to be a prophetic church.
- We believe in the power of peace.
- We are a people of possibility.
