Who We Are

OUR MISSION

Welcoming, Seeking, Loving, Serving in Christian Community…

This is our mission statement and guides us on our journeys together as we serve our Still-Speaking God

OUR VISION

“We are called by God to be a Christian Church, seeking to live Jesus’ vision of community and mission…” FCC Vision Statement

We value our Congregational heritage of democratic self-governance, intellectual freedom and responsibility of self-discovery.

We value our covenant with the United Church of Christ and seek ways to strengthen our commitment to the national and global expression of our ministry and mission.

We endeavor to increase our social concern for and connection with all who suffer, looking for ways to enable peace and justice among ourselves and in the world.

We are committed to providing opportunity for all persons to explore and grow in their unique spiritual gifts through a diverse range of worship, education, music, small group, and mission experiences.

We will work to remove barriers – – – physical, social, financial, attitudinal, theological – – – so that all will feel welcomed, included, valued and free.

We want to continue to grow, celebrating the gifts of new members, and being intentional about openness to change and planning for the future.

We seek to be a church valuing the contributions of all ages while understanding our special responsibility to help youth discover their own identity and prepare to be the church of tomorrow.

We will provide facility and leadership equipped to meet the needs of the next generation of the church.

We covenant to listen for God’s Word, mindful that religious truth will be revealed in varied, new, and surprising ways…

The Eight Points of Progressive Christianity

We are a member of the Center for Progressive Christianity.

By calling ourselves progressive, we mean that 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: Conventional Christians and questioning skeptics, Believers and agnostics, Women and men, Those of all sexual orientations and gender identities, Those of all classes and abilities;
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.

2011 Version, The Center for Progressive Christianity

The United Church of Christ

The forebears of our denominational connection, the United Church of Christ (UCC), include the Pilgrims, those independent free thinkers who sought spiritual freedom. Our Eugene church family has a heritage reaching back to the earliest days of our nation.

Formed out of a merger in 1957 between the Congregational-Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church in America, the 5,600 congregations of the UCC are known for our legacy of involvement in ministries of compassion, advocacy, and social justice. Dedication to progressive principles led our denominational ancestors to oppose slavery and form the first anti-slavery society in America with multiracial leadership. Our history also includes the ordination of the first African American pastor, the first woman minister, and the first openly gay minister. The UCC was the first major multiracial denomination to elect an African American as denominational president. The UCC was also the first to affirm marriage rights for non-heterosexual couples.

Visit our denominations website at www.ucc.org

Central Pacific Conference

We are members of the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ.

There are 49 church members in our geographical areas of Oregon, Idaho, and southern Washington.

Central Pacific Conference Newsletter

An online newsletter comes out monthly from the Conference Minister of our Central Pacific Conference. It is full of information about local and national church events, news from our neighboring churches, opportunities for service, mission opportunities, etc. If you would like to receive this free informational newsletter, you can sign up on the CPC website below.

www.cpcucc.org

Our Church Board

Our governance is “congregational,” which means that the members own the church and make all major decisions about money, mission, and staffing. We are Open and Affirming (ONA), which is the United Church of Christ’s (UCC) designation for congregations, campus ministries, and other bodies in the UCC which make a public covenant of welcome into their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

The congregation of members elect a nine-person Church Board to provide ongoing leadership, planning, program evaluation, and fiscal oversight. In congregational meetings budgets are presented, priorities are discussed, and leadership is elected.

Board members serve three-year terms and can be nominated by any member. Potential board members must have had previous church committee, task force, or other leadership experience, and have the endorsement of three other First Congregational UCC members.

The Board meets once a month and provides spiritual and missional leadership on behalf of the congregation. In addition to board meetings, each member also serves on one or more standing committees or task forces. If you are interested, please contact staff. A nomination form is made available each spring, and the election of board members occurs at the June Congregational Meeting.

Current Board Members, terms end in June: