News

Read the latest news from General Synod 35.

Cleveland Rocks! General Synod 36 will return to ‘The Land’ in 2028

This homecoming will mark the fifth time Cleveland has hosted a General Synod and the first of the new triennial system, with previous gatherings in 2015, 1987, 1960, and 1957, the first Synod after the UCC was formed.

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Progressive faith on the airwaves: Missouri Mid-South Conference launches radio station

Exciting things unfolded in the exhibit hall at General Synod 35. At a booth in partnership with the UCC Media Justice Ministry, the Missouri Mid-South Conference(MMSC) proudly announced the launch of KPVF-FM, a progressive faith radio station based in the St. Louis area and streaming nationwide. This milestone represents over a year of dedicated planning, collaboration, and visionary leadership aimed at amplifying justice-centered, inclusive voices in faith-based media.

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UCC starts looking toward its 70th birthday

The United Church of Christ’s 70th birthday will be a little different.

The denomination has always marked its round-numbered milestones in odd-numbered years, and always at a General Synod. The memorable 50th, for example, was celebrated in Hartford, Connecticut, in 2007, with Synod speakers like Barack Obama, Bill Moyers and Marian Wright Edelman.

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20-voice Synod choir will ‘put some spice on it’ at closing worship

The 20 singers and their conductor took stage in the Kansas City Convention Center, with 30 quick minutes to rehearse and get out of the way. They had never met in person.

“Put some spice on it,” director Bryan Johnson urged the altos. And they did. “You sound great,” he said. “I’m going to take that back to Chicago with me.”

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Advocates hold emotional ‘No ICE Raids’ prayer service and rally during General Synod 35

The UCC National Collaborative on Immigration gathered on the steps of the Kansas City Conference Center on July 14 to call on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) to stop the raids, family separation, and disappearances of community members that have been escalating under the Trump administration. Over 200 people joined in the emotional protest where they rallied, chanted and prayed to speak out against these raids. Protestors held signs that said, “Love knows no borders” and “Her love melts ICE.”

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Rewriting the ‘we need more children’ narrative: Focus on building and nurturing relationships with kids, say Love of Children execs

The Rev. Trayce Potter, the United Church of Christ’s youth and young adult engagement minister and director for Love of Children and the Rev. Tyler Ung, minister of children and youth and assistant director for Love of Children came to the GS LIVE studios at General Synod 35 on July 14 to talk about the exciting possibilities for churches to minister to children and youth.

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General Synod Elects At Large Members to United Church of Christ Board

The General Synod elected 12 at large members to the United Church of Christ Board at its Plenary session on Monday, July 14.

The UCC Board comprises up to 52 members, of whom 36 are elected by General Synod. Under the current UCC Bylaws, members serve over the course of three General Synods, or six years. With the change to a triennial Synod, this would result in nine-year terms for UCC Board members.

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General Synod 36 Moderator, Asst. Moderator elected

General Synod 35 delegates elected a Moderator and Assistant Moderator for the next General Synod in 2028.

Jean Avison of Beaverton, Ore., the current Assistant Moderator, was elected as Moderator by the body. The Rev. Dr. Susan Cartmell of Amherst, Mass. was elected Assistant Moderator.

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‘Home for me now’: UCC celebrates its new and renewing churches, CASA Grant Awardees

Until this year, Alaska had four United Church of Christ congregations. Now it has five. And the fifth one just attracted 350 young people.

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Watching or reading? We’d love to know!

Nearly 2,000 members and friends of the United Church of Christ are gathered in Kansas City. You are invited to share photos, video clips, and any reflections on your individual or group experience with the UCC News Team.

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General Synod recognizes honored guests, Mission Co-Workers

The 35th General Synod welcomed some familiar faces Friday evening as honored guests.

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Delegates line up to speak out

Ten delegates lined up at 9:01 a.m. on Saturday morning for this General Synod 35’s first SpeakOut! session. As expected, their topics covered a wide spectrum.

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UCC News launches daily, live talk show at General Synod

The United Church of Christ news team is launching a live, daily talk show at the 35th General Synod. This year’s Synod runs from July 11-15 and is being held in Kansas City, Missouri.

The talk show — GS LIVE — will stream via the UCC YouTube page daily from 11:30 – Noon CST, starting Friday, July 11. Co-hosts are Charles Jefferson, news director for UCC News, and Donna Frischknecht Jackson, UCC’s communication specialist.

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Proposed Constitution & Bylaws Changes Regarding Unified Governance for Consideration by General Synod 35

This summer, General Synod 35 will review and act on three different sets of proposed amendments to the UCC Constitution and Bylaws. This is the third article in a series of articles regarding the proposed amendments. (Here is the first articleHere is the second article.) You can also find a Frequently Asked Questions Document here, and you can register for the next Webinar about these changes using the information below:

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Changes to UCC’s Constitution and Bylaws to be considered by General Synod 35

This summer, General Synod 35 will review and act on three different sets of proposed amendments to the UCC Constitution and Bylaws. To help answer questions and engage in dialogue around these proposed amendments, the United Church of Christ Board is offering up a series of articles and webinars along with a Frequently Asked Questions document.

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Committee Chair the Rev. Kelle Brown presented a resolution affirming the human dignity of transgender and nonbinary persons to General Synod 34.

Self-nominations requested for individuals to serve as General Synod committee chairs

As planning for General Synod is well underway, the General Synod staff are seeking self-nominations for people to serve as committee chairs. This invitation is specifically for delegates at General Synod 35 in Kansas City, which takes place July 11-15.

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General Synod 35 online registration now open

Registration for the 2025 General Synod of the United Church of Christ is now open.

The event takes place July 11-15, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri, and offers the opportunity for thousands of folks within the United Church of Christ to gather for worship, fellowship, attending to business, offering public witness, and setting the denomination’s priorities for ministry.

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UCC opens search for two Associate General Minister positions

Applications are now open for the Associate General Minister of Love of Church and the Associate General Minister of Love of Neighbor.

A search committee has been formed for each position, and they are beginning the process of discernment to identify the people called to these roles, in accordance with the UCC Bylaws.

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Excitement grows as the UCC goes “Into the Deep” for GS35

Excitement is mounting as the announcement that General Synod 35 rules and deadlines have been announced, calling United Church of Christ members to Kansas City in July of 2025. The theme of the gathering is “Into the Deep,” based on Luke 5:4, which says, “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’”

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General Synod 35 rules and deadlines are approved and announced

Deadlines and information are now available for those who want to submit business to General Synod 35, the next major gathering of the United Church of Christ.

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General Synod Nominating Committee calls for applicants to UCC Board and Synod leadership

Applications to serve the church as a member of the UCC Board are now open, and the Nominating Committee of the United Church of Christ General Synod is encouraging people across the denomination to apply.

The committee is seeking candidates for three types of positions: General Synod moderator and assistant moderator, as well as 12 UCC Board members.

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For next General Synod, Kansas City will welcome UCC in 2025

There’s plenty to see in Kansas City.

That was the invitation from Missouri Mid-South Transitional Conference Minister the Rev. Mary Nelson, and Kansas-Oklahoma Conference Minister the Rev. Lorraine Ceniceros, during the final plenary of General Synod 34 on July 4.

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