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Forums > Communities > UCC 101
Subject: Wanted to say thanks - and ask a question.

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gonzo
New User
Posts:9
05/23/2006 4:58 PM  

I mainly want to say thanks for everyone who has had a hand in creating and supports i.ucc. I haven't been visiting here very long, but already this site has become a valuable resource for me.

Many years ago I became dissolutioned with my faith and especially with church. Part of my eroding faith can be attributed with my experiences at these churches (the large Methodist ended up a little rich for my blood and made me feel insecure, the good ol Southern Free Will Baptist turned me away when they got rid of the preacher I admired for calling out the deaconship on things like cheating on their wives) but most of it was because I'm lazy and didn't want to put the effort into faith that it deserves and requires.

Anyway, after a little growing up and a lot of waking up, I've felt the Spirit stirring inside me again. Problem is I'm still disillusioned with all the churches in my area. Sadly, there isn’t a UCC within driving distance - about 2hrs from Birmingham at about that from Huntsville, AL. So, for the time being at least - i.ucc has become my new church. I wanted to let you know how valuable this site is for someone like me.

All that brings me to my question. What does it take to get a church in your area? We're pretty rural with a nice conservative lacquer, but there are lots of folks here that I believe would embrace your statement of faith if they just had a venue and some folks to lead the way.

New User
Posts:0
05/24/2006 7:44 AM

Hi Gonzo

Welcome to the i.community!  I'm sorry there isn't a UCC church nearby and I'm glad you found us and that i.ucc is valuable to you.

About your question about what it takes to get a church in your area?  I'm sure the folks in Cleveland (UCC headquarters) have noticed (or will soon) your post.  If a new UCC church comes into your area, you can remember when you asked!

I know there's a UCC church in Athens. Is that nearby?
RuralUCC
26-50 posts
Posts:27
05/24/2006 8:14 AM
It's clear to me that the UCC needs to set up at least a few new congregations across the country so that everyone has a place at the Lord's table.  Thank you for your time and interest.  Just a note, I could not find my church or some of the other nearby churches on the internet--I wonder if there may be a UCC hiding in your area.  What a blessing it will be when you have a church family of your own.  It's the most wonderful part of life for my family and I. 
iucc
201-300 posts

Posts:265
05/24/2006 9:01 AM

Gonzo, thanks for your wonderful testimony, which is encouraging for all of us.

We hope that in time i.UCC will "incubate" new congregations when we have enough of a "mass" of people in a particular town or county to form a nucleus or "founding circle" for a new church. That time is not yet, since we've got only 500 members scattered through the country, but as we grow that will hopefully change.

In the meantime, you're welcome to be in contact with the UCC conference for your region. The Southeast Conference is at 404-607-1993, www.secucc.org, tdowns@secucc.org. Tell them that you found the UCC on i.UCC! :-) And though it may take awhile before we'll have enough registered users from your community to begin to build a congregation, please continue to take an active role in our online family!

Andy Lang, i.UCC
Andy Lang
Minister for Web Community and Communication
Local Church Ministries
United Church of Christ
gonzo
New User
Posts:9
05/24/2006 9:10 AM
Athens a pretty good drive as well, I'm afraid, but thanks for trying to help out! It's about 100 miles away. I live in Hamilton, which is just far enough that you can get to these places easy enough, you just have to be willing to write off the day getting there and back. I just don't think I could do that all the time, plus I couldn't afford the fuel bill.

I am a little closer to Florence(about 50 miles) and Tupelo, Ms(about 40). Either one of those I might could pull off, though the fuel bill might still be a problem at times if I did it on a regular basis.


Thanks also for the suggestion of scouting around, RuralUCC. I haven't spoted UCC in my regular driving, but I've far from looked everywhere I can look. I'll take some new roads and keep an eye and ear out.

Thanks Andy!

New User
Posts:0
05/25/2006 7:42 AM

Hey Gonzo,

Watch the online edition of the United Church News for an article in the June-July edition that talks about a plan for the UCC to add 250 congregations by 2011 and 1500 by 2021.  I just got the print edition in the mail so it should be online very soon. (but it wasn't yet this morning) http://www.ucc.org/ucnews/
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