History of General Synod

Explore the location, leadership, and media of General Synods throughout the United Church of Christ’s history. Have questions about the resolutions passed at each? Visit the UCC Resolutions Website.

general synod website
resolutions
synod highlight videos

General Synod 35

General Synod 35 was held from July 11-15, 2025 in Kansas City, MO. Learn more about the programming and review news coverage on the General Synod Website.

Moderator: The Rev. A. Rushan Sinnaduray
Assistant Moderator: Jean Avison 

2023: General Synod 34

+

Indianapolis, Indiana

Moderator: Robert Sandman

Assistant Moderator: The Rev. A. Rushan Sinnaduray

2021: General Synod 33

+

Held virtually 

Moderator: The Rev. Penny Lowes   

Assistant Moderator: Robert Sandman 

2019: General Synod 32

+

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 

Moderator: Robert Sandman 

Assistant Moderator: The Rev. A. Rushan Sinnaduray

2017: General Synod 31

+

Baltimore, Maryland 

Moderator: The Rev. Susan E. Artt 

Assistant Moderator: Norman Williams

2007 – General Synod 26 (Celebrating the UCC’s 50th Anniversary): Lighting the Candle
2007 – General Synod 26 (Celebrating the UCC’s 50th Anniversary): Senator Barrack Obama
2007 – General Synod 26 (Celebrating the UCC’s 50th Anniversary): Happy Birthday Song!

2015: General Synod 30

+

Cleveland, Ohio 

Moderator: The Hon. Brian Holeman 

Assistant Moderator: The Rev. Susan E. Artt

2013: General Synod 29

+

Long Beach, California 

Moderator: The Rev. Elizabeth J. Tigner 

Assistant Moderators: Dale Bonds and the Hon. Brian Holeman

2011: General Synod 28

+

Tampa, Florida 

Moderator: James K. Robertson, Jr. 

Assistant Moderators: Caroline Belsom and Patricia Aurand

2009: General Synod 27

+

Grand Rapids, Michigan 

Moderator: The Rev. Marvin L. Morgan 

Assistant Moderators: John Humphrey and Jane Tedder

2007: General Synod 26

+

Hartford, Connecticut  

Moderator: Merlyn Lawrence 

Assistant Moderators: The Rev. Elizabeth King and Kevin Manz

2005: General Synod 25

+

Atlanta, Georgia 

Moderator: The Rev. Norman W. Jackson 

Assistant Moderators: Annie Wynn Neal and Eric C. Smith

2003: General Synod 24

+

Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Moderator: Nathaniel A. Lewis, Jr. 

Assistant Moderators: The Rev. Chris Smith and Carol Wassmuth

2001: General Synod 23

+

Kansas City, Missouri 

Moderator: The Rev. Nancy S. Taylor 

Assistant Moderators: Richard M. Harter and Linda M. Jaramillo

1999: General Synod 22

+

General Synod 22: Providence, Rhode Island 

Moderator: The Hon. Denise Page Hood 

Assistant Moderators: The Rev. Jana Norman-Richardson and Robert B. Frieberg

1997: General Synod 21

+

Cleveland, Ohio 

Moderator: The Rev. David Dean 

Assistant Moderators: Margaret MacDonald and Frank Thomas

1993 – General Synod 19: Archbishop Desmond Tutu
2001 – General Synod 23: The Giant Puppets
2005 – General Synod 25: Edith Guffey and the Bouncers

1995: General Synod 20

+

Oakland, California 

Moderator: Victor Melendez 

Assistant Moderators: The Rev. Anthony L. Taylor and Donna J. Debney

1993: General Synod 19

+

St. Louis, Missouri 

Moderator: The Rev. David Ruhe 

Assistant Moderators: Lilia L. Enriquez and William A. Malaski, Sr.

1991: General Synod 18

+

Norfolk, Virginia  

Moderator: Charlotte Penfield Gosselink 

Assistant Moderators: Franklin W. Thomas and the Rev. John Rogers

1989: General Synod 17

+

Forth Worth, Texas 

Moderator: The Rev. Robert D. Sherard 

Assistant Moderators: David P. Gerth and Alida I. Millham 

1987: General Synod 16

+

Cleveland, Ohio 

Moderator: Kenneth P. Stewart 

Assistant Moderators: The Rev. G. Melvin Palmer and Aletha Kaohi

1985: General Synod 15

+

Ames, Iowa 

Moderator: The Rev. John H. Krueger 

Assistant Moderators: Guy T. Outlaw and Janeece L. Dent

1983: General Synod 14

+

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

Moderator: Helen I. Barnhill 

Assistant Moderators: Richard F. Boyer and the Rev. Carl F. Schroer

1981: General Synod 13

+

Rochester, New York 

Moderator: The Rev. Nathaniel M. Guptill 

Assistant Moderators: The Hon. William Cousins, Jr. and Virginia Held

1979: General Synod 12

+

Indianapolis, Indiana 

Moderator: Milton S. Hurst 

Assistant Moderators: The Rev. Donna Schaper and Dorothy B. Shimer 

1977: General Synod 11

+

Washington, D.C. 

Moderator: The Rev. Robert K. Nace 

Assistant Moderators: Erna Ballantine Bryant and Gary E. Mistlin

Attendee at General Synod 16 (1987) bears a sign reading “My God is Accessible. My Church is not!!”
Avery Post at General Synod 15 (1985) with James Hargett, Jesse Jackson, and Charles Cobb
General Synod 10 (1977) Moderators (L to R) Moderator: Gary E. Mistlin, Erna Ballantine Bryant, and the Rev. Robert K. Nace

1975: General Synod 10

+

Minneapolis, Minnesota  

Moderator: The Hon. Margaret A. Haywood 

Assistant Moderators: Charles W. Elicker and the Rev. Louis H. Gunnemann

1973: General Synod 9

+

St. Louis, Missouri 

Moderator: The Rev. David G. Colwell 

Assistant Moderators: Manford Byrd, Jr. and Velma M. Shotwell

1971: General Synod 8

+

Grand Rapids, Michigan 

Moderator: Richard C. Pfeiffer 

Assistant Moderators: Mrs. Frances W. Wagner and the Rev. Theodore S. Ledbetter

1969: General Synod 7

+

Boston, Massachusetts  

Moderator: The Rev. Gibson I. Daniels 

Assistant Moderators: Mrs. Gladys E. Hefty and Horace G. Ports

1967: General Synod 6

+

Cincinnati, Ohio  

Moderator: Hollis F. Price 

Assistant Moderators: The Rev. George G. Parker and Mrs. Martin Burger*

1965: General Synod 5

+

Chicago, Illinois  

Moderator: The Rev. Gerhard W. Grauer 

Assistant Moderators: Elmo L. Fischer and Mrs. Robert C. Johnson*

1963: General Synod 4

+

Denver, Colorado 

Moderator: The Hon. Donald Webber 

Assistant Moderators: The Rev. Stuart LeRoy Anderson and Joyce Bartholomew (listed as Mrs. Alfred C. Bartholomew in some records)

1961: General Synod 3

+

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

Moderators: Mrs. George Kahlenberg* and the Rev. Ernst Press

1960: General Synod 2 (adjourned)

+

Cleveland, Ohio 

Moderators: Frances Kapitzky and the Rev. Ray E. Phillips

1960: General Synod 2

+

Oberlin, Ohio 

Moderators: Frances Kapitzky and the Rev. Ray E. Phillips

Moderator Mrs. Gladys E. Hefty
Moderator Frances Kapitzky
(L to R): Moderators Hollis F. Price and Rev. Gerhard W. Grauer

General Synod 1

The 1st General Synod of the United Church of Christ was held in 1959 in Cleveland, Ohio. This was two years after the denomination’s formation in 1957.

Moderators: The Rev. Louis W. Goebel and George B. Hastings

Explore more ucc history

*At the time these women served, if married, it was common practice to cite them with their husband’s first and last name accompanied by “Mrs.”. They are listed as such in the historical records, but will be updated in this listing if more information on their given first names becomes available. If you have information to share, please contact the Web Team.

Rev. Robert D. Sherard
Rev. David G. Colwell
Dorothy B. Shimer
Hon. Margaret A. Haywood
David P. Gerth
Erna Ballantine Bryant
General Synod 31 - 2017 Logo. The text "Make it glad!" appears around colorful swirls.
General Synod 33 - 2021 Logo. The text "Rooted in Love" appears next to a rainbow tree with the leaves in the shape of a heart.
General Synod 29 - 2013 Logo. The text "God's Vision" in listed in white on black background with the apostrophe in red like the UCC comma logo of the time.
General Synod 32 - 2019 Logo. The text "Shine!" is printed in colorful text with a UCC blue comma and lighthouse to form the exclamation point.
General Synod 28 - 2011 Logo. The text "Imagine What's Possible. God Is Still Speaking," appears above a glowing horizon.
General Synod 34 - 2023 Logo. The text "Making All Things New" appears next to a bright yellow sun shining above water and land.
Rev. Donna Schaper
Elmo L. Fischer
Rev. Ernst Press
Franklin W. Thomas
Frances Kapitzky
Rev. George G. Parker
Dale Bonds
Hon. Donald Webber
(L to R): Robert Sandman and Rev. Penny Lowes
Hon. Brian Holeman
Guy T. Outlaw
Linda M. Jaramillo
Mrs. Gladys E. Hefty
Rev. Gibson I. Daniels
(L to R): Unknown and Helen I. Barnhill
Rev. John Rogers
Hollis F. Price
Janeece L. Dent
Rev. Elizabeth J. Tigner
Rev. Stuart LeRoy Anderson and Family
Norman Williams
Robert Sandman
Rev. Theodore S. Ledbetter
Rev. Rushan Sinnaduray
Joyce Bartholomew
Kenneth P. Stewart
Manford Byrd, Jr.
Rev. Louis H. Gunnemann
Milton S. Hurst
Velma M. Shotwell
General Synod 25 - 2005 Logo. The text "Come listen, go serve, God is still speaking" is incorporated into two hands and a black comma over a red background.
General Synod 23 - 2001 Logo. The text "Gather at the Welcome Table" appears below a rainbow watercolored hand with a cross symbol through it and a bird rising above.
General Synod 35 - 2025 Logo. The text "Into the Deep, Luke 5:4" appears over the top of a blue sky, prairie, and roots.
General Synod 27 - 2009 Logo. The text "Immerse Yourself" appears in black and white over a bright red background with white swirls.
General Synod 24 - 2003 Logo. A figure with long black hair and a purple outfit cradles a basket of other small figures, mimicking fruit. The large figure's arms and head are positioned
General Synod 30 – 2015 Logo
Rev. Nathaniel M. Guptill
(L to R): Rev. Ray E. Phillips and George B. Hastings
Caroline Belsom
Rev. Ray E. Phillips
Richard C. Pfeiffer
Rev. Robert K. Nace
Rev. Louis W. Goebel
Charlotte Penfield Gosselink
George B. Hastings

Photographs are published pursuant to the National Setting’s license agreements with the copyright owners and should not be published elsewhere without seeking permission from the copyright owners.