Cleveland Rocks! General Synod 36 will return to ‘The Land’ in 2028

The 30th General Synod of the United Church of Christ was a memorable one for many. Five years earlier at the 25th General Synod, the voting body overwhelmingly passed a resolution in support of equal marriage rights for all people, regardless of gender. It was the first time a mainline United States denomination expressed support of same sex marriage. In 2015, when the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage the law of the land, the UCC set up a tent where ministers could perform unions. 

All of this took place in Cleveland, Ohio, the home base for the National Ministries. In 2028, the 36th General Synod will return to the site where the United Church of Christ was formed in 1957, after the mergers of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches, and the Afro-Christian Convention. ‘The Land,’ as the city is affectionately known, will host Synod July 21-25, 2028. 

This homecoming will mark the fifth time Cleveland has hosted a General Synod and the first of the new triennial system, with previous gatherings in 2015, 1987, 1960, and 1957, the first Synod after the UCC was formed. 

The Rev. David Long-Higgins, conference minister for the Heartland Conference, the host conference for General Synod 36, and the Rev. Daniel Doty, senior minister of First Congregational Church of Tallmadge, Ohio led a colorful and pumped delegation on the Synod stage, to the song ‘Cleveland Rocks,’ by the Presidents of the United States of America band made popular by the hit 1990s sitcom, ‘The Drew Carey Show.’ 

“On behalf of the 309 congregations of the Heartland Conference, it is our delight and honor to invite you to Cleveland, Ohio in 2028 for General Synod 36. Together, we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the United Church of Christ,” said Long-Higgins.

“We return to our birthplace, Cleveland, where our roots were first planted at Public Auditorium and where our National Ministries continue to covenant with all of us,” said Doty. 

A thank you to Kansas City

During the last plenary, the hosts of General Synod 35 were also celebrated. The Rev. Joshua Baird, UCC Chief of Staff and Synod Administrator invited both the Rev. Mary Nelson, transitional conference minister of the Missouri Mid-South Conference, and the Rev. Lorraine Ceniceros, conference minister of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference and members of the Conferences local arrangements committee to the stage to receive the gracious appreciation of the UCC for the extravagant welcome received throughout the week. 

“As you can imagine, it takes a lot of people to make General Synod happen,” said Baird. “It’s not just a team that pulls all this together, but a team of teams. They oriented us into their neighborhoods, and welcomed us into our hotels and the convention center. These amazing volunteers provided more than 2000 hours of service over the last five days to make this all possible.” 

Passing the Gavel

This last plenary also signaled a change in leadership as the Rev. Rushan Sinnaduray handed the gavel over to Jean Avison of Bethel Congregational Church in Beaverton, Oregon, and the Rev. Susan Cartmell of Amherst, Massachusetts, who will serve as the next Moderator and Vice Moderator, respectively for General Synod 36. 

Sinnaduray, and outgoing UCC Board chair, Julia Gaughan, installed Avison and Cartmell into their positions. 

Avison also took the opportunity to thank Sinnaduray for his service guiding Synod business and commitment to the UCC.

“Over the last two years, we have had a wonderful partnership. I have so appreciated his mentorship, his calm demeanor, and how he lives ‘aloha,’ said Avison. “We have shared much, we’ve laughed often, and he has made a memorable journey to today, the final day of General Synod 35.”

Avison then presented Sinnaduray with a parting gift, his own gavel. 

This General Synod marks the last time the body will meet in its current biennial system. At General Synod 34 in Indianapolis, delegates narrowly voted to change the UCC Bylaws so that Synod gatherings will occur every three years instead of two.

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