About

The Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ came into being on Jan. 1, 2020 with the coming together of the historic Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island Conferences. (Read about their historic vote to join together here.)

The Conference is one of 36 regional bodies of the United Church of Christ, a distinct and diverse community of Christians that come together as one church to join faith and action.  The Conference comprises almost 600 churches, 1500 authorized ministers and 110,000 members.

The Conference has been founded under a united covenant to Live the Love and Justice of Jesus with the following Vision statement (also available here as a PDF):
 

Vision Statement

Speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into the one who is the head – into Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love. ~ Ephesians 4:15-16 

Following Jesus’ call to discipleship, and bound by the covenant we share as siblings in Christ, we – the members of the United Church of Christ in Southern New England – declare these values essential to our shared ministry together:

• We understand the local church exists to make disciples of Jesus and we welcome all people unconditionally to share in this calling.
• We commit to making God’s love and justice real by loving our neighbors, children, and all of creation through our collective work, such as seeking racial, economic, environmental, and LGBTQ justice.
• We believe God calls us to bring new life as agents of change and so we embrace and encourage adaptive and transformative leadership wherever the Body of Christ is gathered.
• We encourage local congregations and varied ministry settings, inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit, to form covenant partnerships with all who work for the common good in their local communities and throughout the world.

In union with the entire United Church of Christ, we respond to Jesus' call and strive to live our faith by:

God’s Vision:
United in Christ's love, a just world for all.

The Church’s Mission:
United in Spirit and inspired by God's grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.

Our Purpose:
To love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves.

Our United Covenant:
Living the Love and Justice of Jesus

I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. ~ Isaiah 43:19 ~