Be a Global Mission Church!

Wider Church Ministries is one of four Covenanted Ministries in the United Church of Christ. We support congregations and the other settings of the church in developing relationships with a wider church that is global, multiracial and multicultural. open and affirming, and accessible to all. Our Executive Minister is The Rev. James Moos

Wider Church Ministries is in partnership with the Division of Overseas Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Common Global Ministries—the worldwide mission program of both denominations. Some Wider Church Ministry programs are unique to the United Church of Christ, others are shared with the Disciples of Christ. 

Executive Minister
Office of the Executive Minister

Global Sharing of Resources
National Disaster Ministries
One Great Hour of Sharing
Refugee and Immigration Ministries
Volunteer Ministries

Health and Wholeness Advocacy
HIV/AIDS and Global Health Ministries
Lesbian Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Ministries

Global Ministries
Be a Global Mission Church
Child Sponsorship Program
Global Justice and Advocacy
International Partner Relations
Ministries and Mission Interpreters
Missionary Relationships
People to People Pilgrimages
Special Giving Opportunities

The Rev. James Moos is Executive Minister of the UCC's Wider Church Ministries and Co-executive of UCC/Disciples' Global Ministries.

Following his ordination in 1986, Moos was called to Adams County Parish, UCC, where he served until 1991. Moos then became senior pastor at Bismarck (N.D.) UCC, serving 15 years before accepting the call as executive minister of UCC Wider Church Ministries.

Moos' involvement at the Conference and national levels includes serving as chair of the Northern Plains Conference council (1990-1991), multiple periods of service with the Conference's Church and Ministry Committee and Mission and Outreach Committee; and on the Wider Church Ministries/Common Global Ministries Board of Directors (1999-2005).

A Global Ministries short-term volunteer to East Timor in 2002, Moos has served as president of the East Timor Education Foundation, a funding agency for Global Ministries, from 2004 to the present.
In 2005, Moos began a six-year stint on the UCC Executive Council, including two years as its chair.

Moos enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1976 and was on active duty until 1980. Five years later, he became a reserve chaplain for the Air Force and served for 18 years.

Growing up on a farm near Streeter, North Dakota, Moos went on to earn his bachelor of arts degree at Seattle Pacific University in 1983 before obtaining both his M.Div. (1986) and Ph.D. (1996) from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Moos is married to Sharon Moos, whose career is in the health-care administration field.

Jim has been deeply engaged with Global Ministries in support of its partnership with the Protestant Church in East Timor. He brings experience in administration and finance, a commitment to the prophetic witness of the United Church of Christ, a passion for connecting local churches to the global body of Christ, and an understanding of the collegial and ecumenical nature of serving as Executive Minister of Wider Church Ministries and Co-Executive of the UCC/Disciples' Global Ministries.