About Community United Church of Christ
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here, and we really mean it. For over 161 years, Community United Church of Christ has served Champaign-Urbana and shined God’s light for all to see.
We are a Just-Peace, LGBTQ Open & Affirming, Theologically Progressive Congregation of The United Church of Christ, located in the heart of the University of Illinois. We are worth our words.
We are young and old, gay and straight and in between. We are single and partnered, happy and sad, confused and inspired. We are street smart and college-educated, town and gown, students and residents. Some of us can’t pay our bills and others have more than enough to share.
We are God’s people. We are the Body of Christ.
What are our words worth?
Just Peace Congregation
At CUCC, we covenant to seek the ways of justice and peace so as to make a difference in the lives of all who experience injustice and violence in our nation and the world. As a church, we have made this public covenant for peace with justice since 1988.
The Just Peace Church vision is a hallmark of United Church of Christ theological identity. For 30 years, the Just Peace Church pronouncement has inspired a grassroots movement of UCC congregations committed to corporately naming and boldly proclaiming a public identity as a justice-doing, peace-seeking church. The Just Peace pronouncement articulated the UCC position on war and peace distinct from other approaches such as crusade, pacifism, or “just war.” Grounded in UCC polity and covenantal theology, the position focuses attention on alleviating systemic injustice of all types using non-violence and calls us to offer the message, grounded in the hope of reconciliation in Jesus, that “Peace is possible.”
LGBTQ Open and Affirming
At CUCC, we covenant to be a community of faith which is open to and affirming of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer people because it is our divine mission to love, affirm, and actively support all persons. LGBTQ folks are welcome to participate fully in the life and ministry of our faith community. As a church, we have made this public covenant since 1995.
Since 1985, the United Church of Christ has made it possible for UCC churches to make this public declaration. Many church bodies throughout history have officially excluded and/or condemned LGBTQ folks. We see, in scripture and throughout the Christian tradition, evidence of God’s extravagant welcome!
Theologically Progressive
At CUCC, we covenant to take the Bible seriously, not literally. In the early 2000s, we affirmed our alliance with The Center for Progressive Christianity and affirm the 8 points of progressive Christianity.
By calling ourselves progressive Christians, we mean we are Christians who
- Believe that following the path and teachings of Jesus can lead to an awareness and experience of the Sacred and the Oneness and Unity of all life;
- Affirm that the teachings of Jesus provide but one of many ways to experience the Sacredness and Oneness of life, and that we can draw from diverse sources of wisdom in our spiritual journey;
- Seek community that is inclusive of ALL people, including but not limited to:
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- Conventional Christians and questioning skeptics,
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- Believers and agnostics,
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- Women and men,
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- Those of all sexual orientations and gender identities,
- Those of all classes and abilities;
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- Know that the way we behave towards one another is the fullest expression of what we believe.
- Find grace in the search for understanding and believe there is more value in questioning than in absolutes;
- Strive for peace and justice among all people;
- Strive to protect and restore the integrity of our Earth;
- Commit to a path of life-long learning, compassion, and selfless love.
In the heart of the University of Illinois
Over 100 years ago, our foreparents longed to move their church on campus to be in ministry with students, staff, and faculty. And we’ve been doing that very thing ever since. The United Church Campus Ministry Foundation of the United Church of Christ is one of our congregation’s dearest ministry partners. At CUCC, we love being a home away from home for college and graduate students. You can learn more about Campus Ministry here