Our Beliefs

We are part of the United Church of Christ (UCC). The UCC has over 4,600 member churches in the U.S. organized into conferences and associations at the regional and local levels, but its congregational mode of governance means that there is no top-down governing body that tells all UCC churches how to worship or what to believe. Instead, as a denomination the UCC is bound together in a covenantal, familial mode: West End is at the table and part of a conversation among trusted friends, but free to act according to the needs of its members. Well-known UCC churches in New York include Riverside Church, Park Avenue Christian Church, Judson Memorial Church, and Middle Church.

So, what do we believe here?

We believe in a still-speaking and triune God who is beyond our comprehension and imagining. We celebrate the mystery at the heart of our Christian faith, and we resist attempts to limit God or put them in a box.

We believe that every person was made with intention using God’s immense imagination and skill. Each of us is sacred and made with unique identities, talents, and stories to share. Every person has inherent dignity and worth.

We listen for God’s voice in Scripture, but we also learn from history and those on the margins. We filter our understanding of the world through Jesus’ greatest commandments: to love our God with our hearts, souls, and minds, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. 

We believe that Jesus calls us to kindness and justice. We seek ways to live our faith daily as good citizens, friends, parents, children, coworkers, and neighbors. We advocate for those who need support and take our charge to clothe and feed those in need seriously. 

We believe that God speaks in many ways. We welcome interfaith relationships and dialogue. We learn from faith practices that are not our own and learn more about God by noticing what we have in common.

We believe that it is normal to doubt. Wrestling with our faith makes it stronger; our learning programs are safe spaces for questioning, critical thinking, and vulnerability.

We believe that ritual is important to meaning-making. We seek to learn new things and ways of being in continuity with those who have come before us. Our services connect people to meaningful traditions and practices that help mark the seasons of life. 

We believe that human connection is fundamental to a life well-lived. We program events that encourage community-building, friendship, and laughter. Whatever your reason for being with us, it is enough to be together.

For the UCC’s guiding denominational beliefs, please see here.

Our Values

Above all, we value hospitality, equity, and belonging:

  • Hospitality: We want you to feel welcome here! We’ll greet you at the door and would love to sit and chat with you after service…but we try to give folks space so they don’t feel overwhelmed. We program music that references multiple cultural traditions while holding fast to those rituals that feel familiar and comforting. We take the idea of being a church family seriously.

  • Equity: Unfortunately, church isn’t always a space that has been welcoming, particularly for LGBTQ+ folks. In our quest to make people feel comfortable and at home, we know that we have special work to do to welcome all our neighbors. That’s why we hang rainbow flags on our doors–to let people know that this is a safe space.

  • Belonging: Belonging is more than joining–it’s knowing that your voice is equal in worth and valued by others. When you become part of our community, we’re eager to hear your ideas and have you put your imprint on our shared life together. We’re not about conformity–we’re about expanding the circle. 

Other values? We love being an intergenerational space where we learn from various values and ways of doing things. And maybe it’s that influence of our elders, but we’re practical, too! West Enders are known for being level-headed and more interested in doing things than talking about them. Underneath everything is a sincere warmth and desire to be there for each other–we are a sanctuary in a world that feels increasingly disconnected and unkind.