What We Believe

We are in covenant and connection with the people of the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church. Each denomination brings a rich tradition, each with a slightly different perspective. To learn more, see the links below.

About the United Church of Christ (UCC)

About the United Methodist Church (UMC)

Open and Affirming
Reconciling Covenant
of the United Church of Underhill

adopted January 2019

We, the United Church of Underhill, are an Open and Affirming and Reconciling church.

We welcome those who have been marginalized by the church, including, but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, and other sexual orientations, those questioning, and those of various gender identities and expressions.

We welcome persons of any race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, marital status, socioeconomic standing, immigration status, education level, ability, and age. Everyone.

We acknowledge and repent the history of discrimination in the church. We sincerely welcome all those seeking a spiritual community to deepen their connection to God.

We work to ensure the full participation of all in the life, leadership, ministry, sacraments, and missions of this church.

We will respect each individual's beliefs, as we believe that diversity of thought grows a stronger faith community grounded in love.

Our vision is to be a community in which our spiritual growth reflects compassion towards all of God's children.

Inclusiveness Statement

adopted January 2019

The people of the United Church of Underhill have long been guided by this mission statement:

The mission of the United Church of Underhill is to be a Christian community offering spiritual growth to all and responding to the needs of people according to the teachings of Christ. Our country, the state of Vermont and the towns of Jericho and Underhill have been experiencing broken relationships, division, fear, an increase in the rhetoric of exclusion and an increase of bullying and expressions of hate. Right now, right here, there are some who are especially vulnerable to this increase in rhetoric, including but not limited to people of color, people with disabilities, people struggling against the ravages of poverty, immigrants, Muslims and Jews, and people with various sexual identities. Oppression hurts us all.

1. We speak to express our sorrow about the divisions of fear, exclusion, and hate.

2. We speak to acknowledge our own failure to always live by Christ's wishes to love and protect those in need.

3. We speak to articulate our support for all of God's people, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, what gender they identify with, what religion they profess or who they love.

4. We speak to call all people to stand with those at risk, especially when they are feeling most threatened, to assure them we are a community of caring and support and to share the burden with them.

5. We speak to teach our children how to demonstrate respect for all and reject expressions of hate and exclusion.

6. We speak to seek understanding of those who would threaten others and to bring them back into the community of caring.

7. We speak to attract partners who we might join together in this work.

8. We speak from our own diversity but united in our mission as a Christian community to offer spiritual growth to all and respond to the needs of people according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

9. We speak the truth in love for the transformation of the world.

   These are difficult times in our country and in our local communities. As difficult as they are, though, we move forward together, as the United Church of Underhill, and with the good people of Jericho, Underhill and beyond, believing that darkness will give way to light, and that love will win. This is our faith. This is our hope. These principles guide our actions to bring about the transformation of the world.