Resolutions

The United Church of Christ and Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD) share a rich and storied history as “united and uniting” churches. The United Church of Christ includes among its historical streams the German Reformed Church. The United Church of Christ, since 2003, has been in church communion (Kirchengemeinschaft) with the Union Evangelischer Kirchen (UEK). The United Church of Christ affirms that long-standing relationship with the Protestant churches in Germany, marked by more than 40 years of Kirchengemeinschaft (church communion) since Kirchengemeinschaft was affirmed at General Synod (1981)1 and the Evangelical Church of the Union in Germany (1980). In May 2024, leaders of the United Church of Christ and Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland affirmed the relationship between the denominations, and committeed to seek full communion.

The United Church of Christ and Iglesia Evangélica Unida de Puerto Rico share a rich and storied history as “united and uniting” churches and of being one church. IEUPR became a part of the UCC in 1961 as the Puerto Rico Conference of the UCC. IEUPR separated from the UCC in 2006. While the two churches share common history, heritage and values, opportunities for shared common witness can be lived together further in context of a common desire to be Church together. General Synod 32 in Milwaukee, WI established an ecumenical partnership between the United Church of Christ and Iglesia Evangélica Unida de Puerto Rico following intentional engagement to reconcile the separation of the two churches. That General Synod also requested that the two churches work toward the closest possible relationship while remaining independent churches. Following on that process, this resolution establishes and formalizes a full communion relationship between the United Church of Christ and the Iglesia Evangélica Unida de Puerto Rico.

The Small Town and Rural (STAR) Coalition seeks to be recognized as a Self-Created Group according to the United Church of Christ By-Laws, Article VI, existing to be a supportive expression of the Living Christ, in relationship with one another and with the Body of Christ, in all its forms. As defined by the Constitution and Bylaws of the United Church of Christ “the basic unit of organization and life within the United Church of Christ is the local church.”1 Local churches may self-identify as a “small town and rural church,” meaning they are geographically separated from metropolitan and suburban communities. The STAR coalition serves to support STAR churches in various ministry functions. This action requires a Bylaws amendment at the Thirty-Fifth General Synod.

This resolution calls upon the Thirty-Fifth General Synod of the United Church of Christ to declare our support of the United States House of Representatives bill, HR1433, The Philippines Human Rights Act, PHRA introduced to the 118th Congress and referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs of March 7, 2023. This bill states that no federal funds may be used to assist the police or the military of the Philippines until the Philippines government has taken certain actions insuring standards of human rights are upheld. We must stand in solidarity with our siblings in Christ in the Philippines moved by their faithfulness and in our responsibility as citizens of The United States of America.

The United Church of Christ has a 50+ year history studying sexuality, surveying the needs of congregations, and developing resources to provide faith-based comprehensive sexuality education within our local churches. Over the last 25 years, this work has been done in partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Association through the Our Whole Lives ministries. This resolution lifts up the need to continue the United Church of Christ’s faithful stewardship of the Our Whole Lives ministry, which provides training and resources to embrace the diversity of God’s creation, a framework to view bodies and relationships as sacred, and information about bodies and relationships as helpful, not harmful.

This resolution calls on the United Church of Christ to stand in solidarity with religious communities, researchers, and medical providers throughout the United States and across the globe in demanding that psychedelic and entheogenic plant and fungus-based medicines be decriminalized and made available for further research by scholars and healers for their beneficial and therapeutic capacities.

This resolution urges the United Church of Christ in all its settings to recognize the need to update language regarding those living with mental health experiences and neurodiversity in a way that reduces stigma and encourages inclusivity. It urges the United Church of Christ to understand the harm and offense many persons feel when language is used that does not affirm their individual and/or collective identities. Finally, it urges the United Church of Christ to acknowledge that, with love, we can choose to affirm and utilize language that is inclusive, strength-based, and person-centered.

This resolution gives voice to the plight of Christians and Muslims who have been persecuted by the Hindu Nationalist movement and bears witness to the violence inflicted on churches and individuals in an attempt to suppress their voice. It further advocates for religious freedom throughout the world, specifically in India.

Penn West, Penn Central, Pennsylvania Southeast, and Penn Northeast Conferences of the United Church of Christ (“movants”) recommend the General Synod of the United Church of Christ grant standing to a new Conference, the Keystone Conference, with boundaries covering the geographical area as movants’ boundaries, and terminate movants’ standing as Conferences of the United Church of Christ, effective January 1, 2026.