Hello,
I converted from the UCCan to the Catholic Church about five years ago. I had been discerning between a calling to the Catholic church and a call to ordained ministry in the UCCan for several years. I was visiting the church I grew up in (where I was baptized and married), on an Easter Sunday when I finally received my answer and became a Catholic the following Easter Vigil. I still work at a UCCan as a choir director, and my husband is a UCCan member.
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To say that the UCC has no dogma, doctrine of beliefs is wrong. **
The Basis of Union is the formal church document (and an act of Parliament in Canada!) that outlines the church’s doctrine, policy and mission. It remains officially unchanged since 1925, although there is currently a remit taking place that could add three documents to it that would dramatically dilute its theological basis. Clergy, when being ordained, must swear that they are in “essential agreement” with this document.
“
A New Creed” is one of these three documents (and by no means the least offensive of the three). It was never intended to replace the Nicean or Apostle’s Creed. The congregation I work in uses the Apostle’s Creed more often than any other, but the congregation I grew up in used A New Creed almost exclusively.
Many congregations in the UCCan have been infected with the “progressive” Christianity movement which dilutes our faith almost to the point of Unitarianism. Other UCCan congregations or groups tend to be “inclusive” to the point of excluding orthordox Christian beliefs. Others still are more traditional in theology and have generally orthodox mainstream Protestant beliefs. I can worship with them (except participating in their sacraments!) without finding offense.
The UCCan has a long history of active social justice work on a locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. They have done some amazing work, both hands-on and as advocates and lobbyists. They are by no means perfect, though, and they were one of three national churches (the Anglican and Catholic churches being the other two) that ran the
Canadian Indian residential school system - a system that is now widely recognized as having been cultural genocide. The UCCan (and the Anglican and Catholic churches) has struggled to reconcile with and help First Nations people who have suffered greatly as a result of this sick and twisted system.
Part of the UCCan’s social justice work has been aimed at including people of all sexual orientation into all parts of their church life. This includes the ordination of openly homosexual people. Some congregations also perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples. Some congregations have formalized their commitment to inclusivity by becoming an “
Affirming Congregation”.
The UCCan also openly advocates for a “woman’s right to choose” (ie: pro-abortion).
In addition to their work for social justice, UCCan congregations do some things amazingly well. I have not been able to integrate myself into my local parish because the music and fellowship are so strange to me. I’ve yet to attend an uninviting or unwelcoming UCCan congregation or event. There is always fellowship time following worship, and most UCCan congregations have volunteers trained to make newcomers or visitors feel welcome. Music is a huge part of worship, and many congregations dedicate a considerable amount of resources (money and volunteer hours) to their music programs.
UCCan congregations donate a great deal of money to the national church’s Mission and Service Fund and also run their own community outreach programs. Their church buildings often serve as meeting places for a wide variety of non-church-related community groups like Girl Guides, Scouts, AA or NA (who like to meet at UCCans because most have a strict no-alcohol-on-site policy due to their Methodist background), dancers, crafters, seniors’ groups, and Young Life. UCCan church sanctuaries are often used for non-church-related music events, too.
I’m a Catholic, and I’m so glad that I have become a Catholic. I’m also glad that I managed to find a UCCan that is so delightfully orthodox that I can continue to work as a church musician (because the Lord knows none of our local parishes pay musicians) and worship with my husband without offense. There are times that I find myself feeling regretful that I can never be an ordained church leader (that call to lead has never really gone away), but I thank God for the path He has put me on, and I pray for the courage to continue on in faithfulness.
