Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ has chosen to be a Just Peace congregation of the United Church of Christ. Through this stand, the church affirms that making peace and doing justice are the tasks of Christians given to them by God’s vision for shalom.

The members of Coral Gables Congregational UCC have declared themselves an “Open and Affirming” congregation, which means that all people regardless of sexual orientation, gender identities, and gender expressions” (or “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender” people) are welcome into the full life and ministry of the church.

The United Church of Christ is a gathering of 5,600 churches with over 1.2 million members nationwide.  Our roots go back to the Puritans and Pilgrims who founded this country, and to the German Evangelical and Reformed Churches, who grew out of the Reformation movement in Europe.We are people of God’s extravagant welcome who listen for the Still Speaking God and insist that Jesus didn’t turn people away, so neither do we.

The motto of the UCC is “That They May All Be One.” This is from the prayer of Jesus (John 17:11) for the unity of the church.  Members of the United Church have been leaders in the movement to heal the divisions in the Christian church, and local congregations welcome into membership people from diverse religious backgrounds. Today, approximately two-thirds of our members have come to the UCC from other denominations, or from no denomination.

New light and understanding are constantly being revealed through interpretation of the Bible, says the United Church of Christ. All members of the UCC are equals in the priesthood of believers, and though ordained ministers have special training, they are considered servants. Individuals are free to live and believe based on their interpretation of God’s will for their lives, but individuals and churches are called to enter into loving, covenantal relationships with Associations, Conferences, and the General Synod.

The United Church of Christ uses as one of its logos the symbol of a comma, which comes from the saying…”Never place a period where God has placed a comma.”At a time when religion is too often portrayed as narrow-minded and exclusive, the members of Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ are raising their voices for an alternative vision:

· where God is all-loving and inclusive

· where a church welcomes and accepts everyone as they are

· where your mind is nourished as much as your soul

· where Jesus the healer meets Jesus the revolutionary

· where together we grow a just and peaceful world.