News and Photos from the 2008 FWC National Gathering 
Click here to learn more about the 2008 National Gathering held in Cleveland, Ohio, July 10 - 12!
A Renewal Movement of Pastors, Laity and Churches within the United Church of Christ
Are you concerned about the UCC? You're not alone! Faithful and Welcoming Churches (FWC) came into existence to call the UCC back to its founding vision.
FWC incorporated January 19, 2006:
"To operate, in its capacity as a charitable corporation, as an auxiliary organization among pastors, laity, and congregations of the United Church of Christ, providing for gatherings, communication, and dissemination of resources with the purpose of restoring the founding vision of the United Church of Christ."
In order to accomplish this purpose, UCC members are encouraged to identify and connect with FWC in many ways.
What are FWChurches?
The primary unit of FWC is a Faithful and Welcoming Church, which affirms:
The relevant points of these documents are summarized in the principles of the Faithful and Welcoming Churches.
Why should a Church identify itself as Faithful and Welcoming?
The primary reason for a church to identify itself as Faithful and Welcoming is to distance the local church from the controversial resolutions and marketing of the national and regional settings of the church. A secondary reason is to preserve unity in the local church by offering a positive but proactive alternative to withdrawal from the UCC. A third reason to declare the church FWC is to connect with likeminded churches for resources, support, and encouragement. A fourth reason is to make a greater impact on the regional and national church through a collective voice. A fifth reason is to assist UCC members who travel or relocate to find other UCC churches committed to FWC principles.
How does a Church decide to becoming a Faithful and Welcoming Church?
A vote of the congregation or official board, according to local church polity, should precede a decision to list the congregation as an FWC church on our web site. Listing the church requires an official contact for the church -- either the pastor or a key lay leader. That individual creates a user id and password, which is necessary to make changes to the church's listing. FWChurches seeking a pastor committed to FWC principles should review our statement on clergy call and placement.
What are FWClusters?
In congregations that are Open and Affirming or are otherwise unlikely to find unity through consensus on becoming a Faithful and Welcoming Church, we suggest that members of the congregation who support FWC gather regularly for support, Bible study, and prayer. A Sunday School class, men's or women's group, or home-based small group may identify itself as a FWCluster. These groups should meet regularly and openly.
Why register as a Cluster?
Many UCC members are lifelong or longtime members of their congregations with deep roots or family connections. When the congregation or its current pastor follows a contemporary theological trend that varies from the historic Christian faith or the local church's history, some church members simply leave while others look for alternatives to separation from the roots and relationships they have come to cherish. An FWCluster is a positive way to sustain oneself spiritually, give and receive encouragement, work for local church renewal, and help the church retain its members who otherwise may leave.
How do FWClusters register?
We encourage FWClusters to list the cluster on the FWC web site to encourage and network with other clusters in non-FWC UCC churches across the nation. We at FWC will provide and recommend an increasing array of resources for FWClusters to use in their small group gatherings. These resources may also be helpful for small groups in FWChurches.
Who are FWClergy?
FWClergy are local church pastors and licensed ministers, retired clergy, and ministers who serve in other settings such as chaplaincy. FWClergy serve UCC churches and/or have or are seeking UCC standing. They also affirm the principles of the Faithful and Welcoming Churches.
Why take the step to identify oneself as FWClergy?
Clergy in the UCC who identify themselves variously as orthodox, traditional, evangelical, or conservative often feel lonely among their colleagues and tend to isolate themselves in local church endeavor. Some are called to the UCC from other traditions, while others grow up in UCC churches or go through the UCC's formal processes of in care or privilege of call. The UCC's polity allows congregations to call a pastor of their own choosing, but pastors in sympathy with FWC principles need one another to sustain them in a religious environment that ranges from supportive to condescending to hostile. FWC wants to assist clergy who are victims of theological discrimination or intimidation in the UCC. Another benefit of self-identification as FWC is to enable FWChurches and FWClergy to find one another.
How do Clergy register?
FWClergy should register on the FWC web site and may also indicate if they are openly seeking a new call to a UCC church and whether they have UCC standing (standing in an Association). See also our statement on call and placement of UCC clergy. The FWClergy chat room is available for registered FWClergy to share insights and discuss issues related to UCC clergy.
Who are FWLaity?
FWLaity are individuals in UCC churches who may or may not be in FWChurches. They provide a significant bloc of spiritual, moral and practical support to one another and the FWC as they network in person and over the Internet. FWLaity offers a prayer ministry and network for FWC.
Why should the laity get involved?
The UCC is a collection of autonomous churches, regional bodies, and national ministries connected by a voluntary covenant. The boundaries of those autonomous bodies sometimes create questions related to power and privilege. FWC believes that laity have the right to access information from any source in a free society and free church. Clergy, however, can open themselves to charges of interference when initiating first contact with laity from other churches. We need FWLaity to contact supportive laity across the UCC to strengthen our ties.
How do I get connected?
It is not necessary for FWLaity to register as individuals on the web site, but the FWChurches chat room offers a place for laity to share concerns and ideas.
What are FWChapters?
An FWChapter is a regional association of laity and clergy who affirm the principles of Faithful and Welcoming Churches (FWC) of the United Church of Christ. These individuals may individually be identified as FWClergy or FWLaity, or they may be part of FWChurches or FWClusters. The geographical of the reach is up to the chapter -- it could be a city or county, or a UCC-defined district, association, conference, or region.
Why should Chapters organize?
The primary purpose of an FWChapter is for fellowship and support. UCC members who consider themselves evangelical, conservative, orthodox, or traditional (ECOT) often feel isolated, discouraged, or even intimidated in their local churches, associations, conferences, or the denomination. FWChapters encourage these individuals to remain in the denomination, to remain faithful to Christ and the Bible, and to remain positive, persistent, and prayerful.
How do I get a FWChapter organized?
- All it takes to get an FWChapter started is for one person (pastor or layperson) to take initiative. Choose a date, time, and place, and invite others to join you for prayer, fellowship, and planning.
- To get the word out concerning your chapter, start with your conference contact. Ask that individual to forward an e-mail to his/her contacts. Be sure your invitation e-mail for the first gathering asks those in your area to invite others they know who may be ECOT or supportive of FWC principles.
- Other sources of contacts would include FWChurches in your area or FWClergy in your area. You may also ask the FWC President to announce your gathering in the next monthly FWC e-mail update.
- Spend time at your first gathering getting acquainted, sharing stories, gathering contact information for future meetings, and talking about future possibilities.
- Choose or affirm chapter leadership at your first gathering -- at the least a facilitator or chair who will coordinate and plan the next meeting, a communicator who will let everyone know of the next meeting, and a recorder who will keep notes on the meetings.
- Register your FWChapter so that others in your area know you exist and how to reach you.
- See our more ideas for FWChapters page.
