- Nurturing UCC Identity
- Acknowledging Jesus Christ as the sole Head of the Church.
- Communicating passion for the oneness of the Body of Christ (John 17:21).
- Holding active membership in a Local Church of the United Church of Christ.
- Participating in the various settings of the United Church of Christ, including Local Churches, Associations, Conferences, General Synod, and global ministries.
- Knowing and appreciating UCC history, polity, and theology.
- Exhibiting a commitment to the core values of the United Church of Christ: continuing testament, extravagant welcome, and changing lives.
1. Acknowledging Jesus Christ as the sole Head of the Church.
I believe a component of this mark is that it asks me to place Christ- not my personal preferences, historical traditions, or institutional power- at the center of the Church’s life. When considering a new ministry or a difficult congregational decision, I believe it is important to ask whether the proposed action reflects Jesus’ teachings about love, justice, service, and welcome. I have learned that ministry leadership is a form of stewardship. It is not a form of ownership, as some would like to believe, and a congregation must continually examine its practices in light of the Gospel. One growing edge here is that I need to be mindful that I do not to equate my own interpretation of Jesus with the only faithful interpretation, and I seek to grow through theological study, prayer, and conversation with others.
2. Communicating passion for the oneness of the Body of Christ (John 17:21).
This mark is one that has, at times, been one I have reflected on and thought about the most. It has pushed me to consider the question, “Who is at the Table and who is missing?” This mark asks me to value Christian unity, but it is a unity that does not require every Christian to agree on all of the theological concepts and doctrines or social questions. It has been through participating in conversations with Christians from different traditions and beliefs that I have learned to recognize shared commitments to compassion, service, and the dignity of human life. I have learned that unity is completely different from uniformity. I have learned that genuine relationships can exist across significant differences, whether spiritually, politically, racially, or other differences. I need to keep growing in my ability to remain in conversation with people whose beliefs challenge me while maintaining clear convictions about inclusion and justice.
3. Holding active membership in a local UCC church.
This mark asks me to participate in the life of a local congregation as a member of the community rather than functioning only as a leader or ministry provider. Since January 2026, I have maintained membership at Penbrook United Church of Christ. Prior to that, I was a member of First Christian Church of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, a dually affiliated congregation of the United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ. Through my membership at Penbrook, I have had the blessed opportunity to participate in worship, congregational activities, service, and relationships with other members, I have contributed to the shared life of the Church and receive spiritual nourishment from it. Through my membership with this community of faith, I have discovered that ministry is a mutual practice: I have gifts to offer, but I also need the wisdom, care, and accountability of the congregation. I need to keep making space for relationships in which I am not responsible for leading or solving problems, so that I can experience the Church as a community to which I also belong.
4. Participating in the various settings of the UCC, including local churches, Associations, Conferences, General Synod, and global ministries.
This mark asks me to understand that my local congregation belongs to a wider covenantal community. Participating in Conference events has resulted in learning more about the ministry of others. I have attended the final annual meeting of the Penn Central Conference and the inaugural meeting of the Keystone Conference. It was during the Keystone Conference Annual meeting where I was elected to the conference’s nominating committee where I was subsequently elected the committee’s chairperson. I have attended three Harrisburg Association meetings. It has been through the Harrisburg Association that I served on an ad hoc committee to revise the association’s bylaws. I have participated in wider UCC initiatives through the DC office and their many vigils in Washington DC.
It is through these experiences that I have learned from other congregations and pastors about how to participate and contribute to shared ministries in a variety of contexts. I have also learned about the challenges facing one church often connect with larger denominational questions about justice, leadership, and mission. I need to deepen my knowledge of the Conference and Association structures and become more intentional about participating beyond my local congregation, looking for ways to support other pastors’ in their congregations endeavors.
5. Knowing and appreciating UCC history, polity, and theology.
Exploring this mark has provided me with great joy because it asks me to understand the traditions, governance, and theological commitments that shape the United Church of Christ. It has been through my UCC polity course that I have discovered the rich and beautiful history of the United Church of Christ. In addition to the UCC polity, traditions and history course that I participated in, the process of discernment for authorized ministry has helped me appreciate the relationship between local autonomy and covenantal accountability. I have learned that congregational freedom does not mean the congregation experiences isolation. I have also discovered that the United Church of Christ’s history includes both a faithful prophetic witness as well as areas requiring repentance and growth. One area of growth I have identified is that I need to continue learning how UCC governance operates in practice, particularly how Associations and Conferences support both congregations and authorized ministers.
6. Exhibiting a commitment to the UCC’s core values: continuing testament, extravagant welcome, and changing lives.
I believe that this mark asks me to put the United Church of Christ’s values into practice rather than treating them as denominational slogans that belong on the denomination’s stationery. In congregational ministry, I can work to ensure that LGBTQ+ people, people experiencing poverty, newcomers, and those who have been wounded by religion are welcomed as full participants- regardless of their differences. In practicing extravagant welcome, I can ensure that those who feel as if they don’t have a place in the church, that they can find a home with the Unitd Church of Christ. Through my internship at Penbrook United Church of Christ, I have learned that welcome involves more than opening the church’s front door on Sunday morning. I have found through meeting with parishioners as well as first time attendees that it requires examining the practices and attitudes that determine who truly belongs. I need to grow in helping congregations move from affirming statements to measurable changes in participation, leadership, accessibility, and community engagement.
Nurturing UCC Identity
One component of nurturing UCC identity is attending congregational, association, and conference meetings, but it is also more than that. I believe that nurturing my UCC identity is best seen by my belief that the Church is called to welcome people whom religious institutions have historically excluded. My understanding of extravagant welcome requires creating a community where people can participate fully, experience dignity, and encounter God’s grace without having to conceal who they are.
Current Activities
I have had the privilege of attending…
- the twice yearly meetings for the Harrisburg Association
- the last meeting of the Penn Central Conference
- the First Annual Meeting of the Keystone Conference
- Interned and atended congregation Meetings at Penbrook United Church of Christ
During the inaugural annual meeting of the Keystone Conference in 2026, I was elected to the nominating committee. I am the current chairperson of the nominating committee.
