The Following paper exemplifies my understanding, in part, of the history and  formation of the United Church of Christ Denomination.

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Events from the four traditions that shaped the UCC

 

 In the history of the United Church of Christ, there is a genesis point, the beginning of a denomination. Yet, unlike the genesis of creation, there is much leading to the beginning of the UCC. The four separate traditions coming together under the call discerned from the prayer of Jesus in the Gospel of John chapter 17, that all should be one as God and Christ are one. The Congregational tradition along with the Christian tradition combined with the Reformed tradition and the Evangelical tradition to become the United Church of Christ. These four traditions first becoming two shortly followed by the two finally becoming one denomination, a denomination that gives light to a world of individualism and divisiveness.

The merger of the Congregationalist and the Christian tradition could be expected due to each's staunch belief that each community or congregation should be led from within and the rejection of Bishops or a hierarchy of clergy. In fact, it was this particular issue that almost thwarted the final merger of the Congregational Christians with the Reformed Evangelicals. The legal action of a few congregations that sought to keep their autonomy as opposed to representatives voting them to become part of something outside of themselves. The issue was giving authority to someone outside of the local congregations that might dictate what went on inside of that congregation. This was a major event in the closure of the merger into a single denomination. It called the capacity and the integrity of the local congregation and its spiritual leaders within having the authority to govern itself. 

Another major undertaking experienced by more than just one tradition was the need for education and unity in the areas of missions and education. Each tradition saw the need for well trained and educated clergy. With the scarcity of places of higher education in the newly forming country of the United States boundaries of denominational lines were slightly blurred or at least somewhat overlooked when it came to receiving an education. In the same fashion, the need for missionaries and the consolidation of missionary societies for the sake of avoiding wasteful redundancies brought the traditions close together. From using the same resources, the ideas of ecumenicalism began to flourish. The thought of each denomination becoming part of the great commission of spreading the gospel to the whole world began to overshadow the staunch holders of denominational differences. 

When the United Church of Christ looks back into its history and even further back into the history of its founding traditions it pulls out the best of these traditions and holds them high as examples of kindom living. People such as Anne Hutchinson of the Congregational tradition showed that women could lead and educate with as much passion and zeal as any man. Yet, the time of women preacher was not then but we remember. The Evangelical tradition had its notables as well. Joseph Rieger a champion of abolition. Isaac Scott was the first ordained missionary sent overseas from the Christian Church denomination. And it was the Reformed Church in the western frontier that sought to bring the gospel to the Native Americans while vigorously championing their cause of seeking justice.