News

Jul 16, 2025

Resolutions on restoring full funding to USAID and VOA pass at last plenary of Synod

General Synod Delegates were engaging in faithful and urgent deliberation around the two resolutions.

Jul 16, 2025

Synod seeks U.S. pressure to end violence against religious minorities in India

With dangerous religious nationalism in the news in North America and Europe, a U.S. church is calling out that same problem in India.

Jul 15, 2025

General Synod Passes Declaration for an End to Genocide in Palestine

Following heartfelt discussion and careful consideration, General Synod took a clear stand in naming the ongoing genocide of Palestinians “a humanitarian crisis that calls for immediate action.”

As the “Declaration for an End to Genocide in Palestine” was brought to the delegate body, the Rev. Emma Loane, chair of the resolution’s committee #11 and delegate from the Indiana Kentucky Conference, named an awareness of “bearing the weight of a topic of immense global urgency marked by devastating human cost and long, painful histories behind every word.”

Jul 15, 2025

Resolution Opposing Immigration Policies Passes

Delegates to General Synod 35 overwhelmingly approved an emergency resolution that opposes Trump administration immigration policies, supports immigrants and refugees, and calls for antiracism work.

Jul 15, 2025

Raising Alarm About a Consolidation of Power, Delegates Reject Bylaw Change

With speakers raising the alarm about a consolidation of power, voters at the 35^th General Synod rejected a proposed revision to the UCC Constitution and Bylaws which would have changed the Associate General Minister positions from being elected by Synod to being appointed by the General Minister and President.

Jul 15, 2025

Small Town and Rural Coalition resolution adopted by General Synod

Following a ‘very open and free flowing discussion,’ the General Synod adopted a resolution recognizing the Small Town and Rural (STAR) Coalition of the United Church of Christ as a Self-Created Group on Monday, July 14.

The resolution, which passed 372 for to 244 against, with 55 delegates abstaining, was sponsored by several UCC Conferences, arrived on the Synod floor with the lightest of modifications on its face: a pair of technical edits to the group’s designation in compliance with the Bylaws. But it became clear that reservations were on the minds of more than a few delegates.

Jul 15, 2025

‘The world needs OWL’: Synod affirms ongoing work of Our Whole Lives and comprehensive sexuality education

As Our Whole Lives (OWL) celebrates 25 years, General Synod overwhelmingly affirmed the program’s ministry of providing faith-based comprehensive sexuality education in partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Jul 15, 2025

A Declaration of Support for Philippine Human Rights Overwhelmingly Passes at GS35

With a resounding vote of 628 in favor (3 against, 4 abstentions) the Declaration of Support for Philippine Human Rights, a Resolution of Witness, sailed through the plenary of General Synod 35 on July 14.

Committee chair Rev. Terry Parrish introduced it to the Synod crowd saying “It is imperative that we continue to speak to human rights violations still occurring in the Philippines under the auspices of a war on drugs. It is time for us to speak for our neighbor because there may be a day when we need someone to speak for us.”

Jul 15, 2025

Healing continues as Synod declares ‘full communion’ with Puerto Rican partner

U.S. and Puerto Rican church partners who parted ways nearly 20 years ago took a big step back toward each other on July 14.

Meeting in Kansas City, the 35^th General Synod of the United Church of Christ declared the church to be in ‘full communion’ with its longtime Caribbean partner, Iglesia Evangélica Unida de Puerto Rico. The UCC Board had brought the proposal to the Synod with encouragement from leaders of the Puerto Rican church, after years of conversation.

Jul 14, 2025

‘Awesome’ Vote Positions UCC to Strengthen Ties with German Partner

The United Church of Christ took a step July 14 to deepen its relationship with a very old friend.

The UCC’s General Synod, meeting in Kansas City, voted to be in “full communion” with its longtime partner, the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland, or the Protestant Church in Germany.

Jul 14, 2025

Resolution of the Continually-Evolving Language of Mental Health Passes

Conversations around mental health will get — if not necessarily easier — a lot more just and compassionate for those struggling with and/or in a mental health crisis.

On July 14, General Synod delegates overwhelmingly approved the Resolution of the Continually-Evolving Language of Mental Health. The resolution, proposed by the Mental Health Network of the United Church of Christ, cited the growing need for congregations to be aware of the ever-evolving language and the harm historically done by words.

Jul 14, 2025

General Synod Reaffirms Commitment to Justice: Voting in favor of Resolution 8

At the 35th General Synod, delegates responded in favor voting to approve (627 in favor, 8 against, and 1 abstaining) the emergency resolution from the Southwest Conference, calling to reaffirm UCC’s commitment to immigrant, migrant, and refugee rights. The resolution comes amid rising anti-immigrant policies, including expanded detentions and the rollback of protections.

Jul 14, 2025

Synod Approves Formation of New Keystone Conference

With no debate, the 35^th General Synod overwhelmingly approved the request by the Penn West, Penn Central, Pennsylvania Southeast, and Penn Northeast Conferences to come together to form the new Keystone Conference.

Jul 01, 2025

What does it mean to be in full communion with another denomination?

The United Church of Christ has long had a commitment to reconciliation among the many branches of the Body of Christ that includes its relationships of full communion. In line with tradition in years past, the 35th General Synod of the UCC, July 11-15 in Kansas City, Missouri, which is the church’s national gathering, will invite heads of full communion to join in witness, and continue to live into our vision that “all may be One.”

Jun 24, 2025

Emergency resolutions for Synod consideration address immigration, humanitarian funding, genocide in Palestine

Five new resolutions will come before delegates at the upcoming General Synod 35 in Kansas City. They are now available for review.

These Resolutions of Witness each address current political and humanitarian concerns and were submitted by the May 31 deadline for late-arriving resolutions that could not have been anticipated by the original deadline.

May 15, 2025

Proposed Bylaws Changes Regarding Director Terms 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 second article in a series of articles regarding the proposed amendments.

Mar 25, 2025

Resolutions for General Synod 35 span global contexts, holistic health, Conference change

The final proposed resolutions for General Synod 35 are now available for review. Eight resolutions and one formal motion are ready to be considered by this national body of the United Church of Christ in Kansas City, July 11-15.

Nov 19, 2024

All four Pennsylvania conferences pass motion toward one combined conference

On Nov. 9, each of the four United Church of Christ conferences in Pennsylvania passed the same motion requesting authorization from the UCC General Synod for the four to become one.

These coordinated but separate meetings were one step further toward the possibility of forming a new, combined Keystone Conference from the Penn West, Penn Central, Pennsylvania Southeast, and Penn Northeast Conferences.