First Congregational Church of Milton

About Us

Our Statement of Faith

We affirm our faith in Jesus Christ and in the Church that he has called into being which, by his grace and mercy, welcomes all.

We encourage all who join us and confess their faith in Jesus Christ -- regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, social, economic, physical, or mental condition -- to share fully in all aspects of our church life and leadership.

We believe relationships between individuals, groups, and nations must be based on love, justice, commitment, and mutual respect; we strive toward such relationships in our church, homes, and community.

We are especially grateful for the gift of children in our community. We promise to help them grow in faith and to teach them love, respect, and value for themselves and others.

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Being "Congregational" in structure, our local church has a high degree of independence and makes its own decisions in terms of budget goals and allocations, the calling

of clergy, and the overall direction of the church. From the Preamble to the Constitution of the United Church of Christ:

"The United Church of Christ acknowledges as its sole head, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior. It acknowledges as kindred in Christ all who share in this confession. It looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world. It claims as its own, the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers. It affirms the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. In accordance with the teaching of our Lord and the practice prevailing among evangelical Christians, it recognizes two sacraments:Baptism and The Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion."

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We are an "Open and Affirming" Church

From the National United Church of Christ website:

"Reflecting the Open and Affirming action of the General Synod (1985) and the Transgender action of the General Synod (2003), to say that a setting of the UCC...is 'Open and Affirming' means that it has publicly and specifically declared that those of all 'sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions' (or 'lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender' people) are welcome in its full life and ministry (e.g. membership, leadership, employment, etc.) It bespeaks a spirit of hospitality and a willingness to live our that welcome in meaningful ways."

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