Workers fit a temporary 'United Church of Christ' sign over 'Ohio Bell' in 1989. Photo W. Evan Golder

The United Church of Christ is celebrating 20 years in Cleveland as its national headquarters and the denomination's contributions to the economic renewal and vitality of the city's Gateway neighborhood.

Fall of 1989 marked the beginning of the UCC's transition from offices in New York City, eventually bringing 250 jobs, a renovated nine-story office building, hotel, chapel and thousands of visitors to a once-blighted area of downtown Cleveland.

"The UCC was part of the initial renewal of the neighborhood and downtown," says Tom Yablonsky, executive director of Cleveland's Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation. "They've been a good neighbor and an integral partner in the rebirth of Prospect Avenue since the 1990s."

Significant to the UCC's presence in Cleveland was the building of the Radisson at Gateway hotel in 1998. "[The addition of the hotel] was a huge thing," says Yablonsky.

The UCC contributed to the redevelopment of Cleveland's entertainment and sports hub while adding capacity to its location as a denominational meeting center through construction and ownership of the hotel. The hotel is positioned behind the headquarters on land that was previously a parking lot.

An October 7 banquet will be held to commemorate the beginning of a year-long observance of the move, says Hans Holznagel, the UCC's associate for financial development. Those who had roles in the city's selection as headquarters and the move, along with others who have supported UCC ministries in Cleveland, have been invited to participate.

"It is difficult to put an exact date on the move to Cleveland," says Holznagel. "There are many transition points – the acquisition of the building, the beginning of renovations, the first skeleton staff that arrived, the dedication of the building. We decided it was best to celebrate key benchmarks, beginning with the preparation for arrival of staff from New York."

Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones and the UCC's new General Minister and President the Rev. Geoffrey A. Black will attend the event. Black, who began his term as general minister and president October 1, will offer greetings and a reflection.

Staff from the national setting will also engage in the "20 Years in Cleveland All-Staff Community Service Day" October 6. This second annual event places national staff in volunteer settings in and around Cleveland.

"Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU) of Greater Cleveland has supported the UCC in volunteering with non-profit organizations in the area," says Kimberly Whitney, minister for community life and assistant to the Collegium. "Many of our staff have relocated to work here - this day of service is a great way for us to say 'thank you' to our new home city."

The UCC's move to Cleveland was a long process. Initially located in three New York City offices after the Uniting Synod of 1957, the General Synod voted to reassess their location in 1985.

Five candidate cities were soon narrowed to three: New York, St. Louis and Cleveland, with Indianapolis and Chicago being excluded. The location committee initially selected St. Louis but their recommendation was rejected by vote at the 1987 General Synod held in Cleveland.

Another round of recommendations led to the selection of Cleveland, "America's North Coast," as the headquarters city by a decisive vote at the 1989 General Synod in Ft. Worth, Texas.

The UCC purchased the former Ohio Bell building at 700 Prospect Avenue East for $5.25 million in June 1989 and renovations began shortly after. The first staff to arrive in the fall of 1989 were UCC president the Rev. Paul H. Sherry, UCNews editor the Rev. W. Evan Golder and support staff including Charlene J. Smith.

Most offices were opened during January and February of 1990. A building dedication and installation service for Sherry as denominational president and Doris R. Powell as director of finance was held March 23-25. Further renovations to the Church House continued following 1990, culminating with the dedication of the street-level Amistad Chapel in May of 2000.