Welcome to volume one of "Hidden Histories in the United Church of Christ"—our first complete book on the UCC Website!

How can you use "Hidden Histories" in your congregation? We think you'll find it useful for book clubs, adult study groups and new-member classes. We encourage you to use your church's newsletter to let folks know that this important series on the rich ethnic and theological history of the United Church of Christ is now online.

Our thanks to Barbara Brown Zikmund, professor at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, and former president of Hartford Seminary, who was editor of this book, and to Virginia Child, who scanned and proofread the text. Thanks also to United Church Press for permission to reproduce this entire text on the web. You can buy the print version of "Hidden Histories" from United Church Press along with other books on UCC history and identity.