General Synod 35 Highlights

The 35th General Synod of the United Church of Christ was a memorable one for sure.

From the election of a new Associate General Minister, to the motion to form a new conference, and giving witness to urgent issues of our times, while fellowshipping and worshipping as a church, and resolutions that continue to call us to be a church for all, memories were made for a lifetime in Kansas City.

Check out all the stories the UCC News Team produced over the course of the week. You can also view all the plenaries and other videos via the UCC’s Vimeo page.

Explore Our Coverage

Business Highlights

  1. Raising alarm about a consolidation of power, Delegates reject Bylaw change
  2. General Synod Elects At Large Members to United Church of Christ Board
  3. General Synod 36 Moderator, Asst. Moderator elected
  4. Nominee says society needs church to counter ‘alarming’ trends
  5. “Meet the Candidate” AGM Hearing Offers Further Insight with Q&A
  6. Shari Prestemon elected to serve full term as Associate General Minister, Co-Executive of Global Ministries
  7. Cleveland Rocks! General Synod 36 will return to ‘The Land’ in 2028

Resolutions and Results

  1. Committee 1:
    ‘Awesome’ Vote Positions UCC to Strengthen Ties with German Partner
  2. Committee 2: Healing continues as Synod declares ‘full communion’ with Puerto Rican partner
  3. Committee 3: Small Town and Rural Coalition resolution adopted by General Synod
  4. Committee 4: A Declaration of Support for Philippine Human Rights Overwhelmingly Passes at GS35
  5. Committee 5: ‘The world needs OWL’: Synod affirms ongoing work of Our Whole Lives and comprehensive sexuality education
  6. Committee 6: Resolution of the Continually-Evolving Language of Mental Health Passes
  7. Committee 7: Synod seeks U.S. pressure to end violence against religious minorities in India
  8. Committee 8: General Synod Reaffirms Commitment to Justice: Voting in favor of Resolution 8
  9. Committee 9: Resolution Opposing Immigration Policies Passes
  10. Committee 10: Resolutions on restoring full funding to USAID and VOA pass at last plenary of Synod
  11. Committee 11: General Synod Passes Declaration for an End to Genocide in Palestine
  12. Motion: Synod Approves Formation of New Keystone Conference

Speakers

  1. Keynoter: Bible is a Handbook for Resisting Tyranny
  2. Beyond Lament, Big, Joyful Service calls UCC Worshipers to go ‘Deeper’
  3. Living Beyond the Numbers: A Call to the UCC’s Embodied Future
  4. Turf, truth, and the Spirit: A radical rewilding of faith at closing worship at Synod

Public Witness

  1. Advocates hold emotional ‘No ICE Raids’ prayer service and rally during General Synod 35

Worship

  1. Beyond Lament, Big, Joyful Service calls UCC Worshipers to go ‘Deeper’
  2. Living Beyond the Numbers: A Call to the UCC’s Embodied Future
  3. 20-voice Synod choir will ‘put some spice on it’ at closing worship
  4. Turf, truth, and the Spirit: A radical rewilding of faith at closing worship at Synod

Opening Worship Sermon

Rev. Marilyn Pagán-Banks

Community Worship Sermon

Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson

Closing Worship Sermon

Rev. Antony Coleman

Youth @ Synod

  1. Casting nets and building faith: Children/youth kick off Synod with welcome party
  2. Photos: Youth @ Synod- Communion Service Ends with Inspiring Dialogue with UCC GMP, Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson
  3. Photos: Synod workshops create intimate spaces to build knowledge, connection, joy
  4. 10-year-old scores at Plenary SpeakOut!

Other Highlights

  1. General Synod 35 opens to visitors as well as delegates
  2. Delegates line up to speak out
  3. General Synod recognizes honored guests, Mission Co-Workers
  4. ‘Home for me now’: UCC celebrates its new and renewing churches, CASA Grant Awardees
  5. UCC starts looking toward its 70th birthday
  6. Progressive faith on the airwaves: Missouri Mid-South Conference launches radio station
  7. General Synod talk show welcomes first guest: Ceniceros shares the big God picture and how she keeps cool in the Kansas City heat
  8. Making covenantal living sexy — again? Central Atlantic exec unpacks the power of relational ministry on GS LIVE
  9. Mission partners to the U.S., ‘How can we pray for you?’ Global Ministries execs join GS LIVE to discuss a shifting global conversation
  10. Rewriting the ‘we need more children’ narrative: Focus on building and nurturing relationships with kids, say Love of Children execs

You can also rewatch all the plenaries in their entirety via the UCC’s Vimeo page. CLICK HERE to view the plenaries, and other General Synod 35 videos.

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