Our Mission
“The Barrington Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, is a Christian community that worships God, embraces all people, ministers to one another, works for justice and peace, and renders loving service to God’s world.”
Affirmation of Welcome
We believe that all people are blessed and loved equally by God. Following the teachings of Jesus we heartily welcome everyone into God’s covenantal community. Whatever your race, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic or marital status, variety of thoughts and beliefs, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression – whoever you are and wherever you come from you are welcome into the full life and ministry of our church.
Who We Are
Our church building has stood at a busy intersection in town for over 200 years trying to offer people encouragement and empowerment at the many crossroads in their lives. We are a vibrant and forward-looking Christian community committed to being open and affirming to all. We have a deep commitment to serving God in the greater community and a high priority placed on educating our children and youth.
We consider all God’s people to be on an equally valid journey of faith. We seek to work with other faith communities to share resources and opportunities beneficial to all. We center our worship on the life and teachings of Jesus as a model to follow, seeking always to better the human condition. We are all on unique paths in life, from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, worshipping and working as one.
About the United Church of Christ (UCC)
The UCC was founded in 1957 as the union of several different Christian traditions: from the beginning of our history, we were a church that affirmed the ideal that Christians did not always have to agree to live together in communion. Our motto—”that they may all be one”—is Jesus’ prayer for the unity of the church. The UCC is one of the most diverse Christian churches in the United States.
The United Church of Christ embraces a theological heritage that affirms the Bible as the authoritative witness to the Word of God, the creeds of the ecumenical councils, and the confessions of the Reformation. The UCC has roots in the “covenantal” tradition—meaning there is no centralized authority or hierarchy that can impose any doctrine or form of worship on its members. Christ alone is Head of the church. We seek a balance between freedom of conscience and accountability to the apostolic faith. The UCC therefore receives the historic creeds and confessions of our ancestors as testimonies, but not tests of the faith.
At the local level, Barrington Congregational Church, UCC, is one of 34 churches in the Rhode Island Association of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ.