One way Community United Church of Christ speaks for justice with one voice is through resolutions.
Over the past several decades we have passed resolutions which become touchstones for our work and inspire us to persevere, while other resolutions allow us to join the wider community in speaking prophetically.
Resolutions as touchstones and inspiration
Committed to becoming… a Just Peace Church
The Peace Resolution was passed at a Congregational Meeting on September 27, 1981. The resolution initiated a year of mission focus on peace, with the formation of a Peace task force to lead the work. This preceded the Just Peace Church resolution passed at General Synod in 1985.
On July 16, 1993, CUCC was honored to receive the Just Peace Award from the Office of Church in Society at the 19th General Synod of the United Church of Christ. Community UCC Moderator Cy King’s remarks on accepting that award provide a snapshot of our history and confession of how far we have to go. Later that year (December) the congregation approved a resolution to make official our ongoing commitment to be a Just Peace Church.
Our just peace work is currently guided by the Do Justice Ministry
Committed to becoming… an Open and Affirming Congregation (ONA)
The Fifteenth General Synod (1985) adopted a resolution Calling on UCC Congregations to Covenant as Open and Affirming. By unanimous vote on December 17, 1989, Community UCC adopted a Resolution on Being an Open and Affirming Congregation.
In 2003, the General Synod adopted a resolution Affirming the Participation and Ministry of Transgender People within the United Church of Christ and Supporting their Civil and Human Rights. The UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns shares the commitment of many in our national church setting to inclusion of transgender persons in the UCC. Local ONA churches were strongly encouraged to include transgender gender identity and expression in their statements. On January 9, 2011, Community UCC expanded its original ONA resolution to state, in part:
“We invite and welcome into this Body of Christ all persons who seek to follow Jesus. Persons of every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression are welcome to worship and enter into the full life and ministry of this church. We strive for justice and equality for all of God’s children in our journey of faith.” Full text of the expanded resolution.
Our Open and Affirming work is currently guided by the Community Outreach Ministry.
Committed to becoming… a Multiracial and Multicultural Church
The Nineteenth General Synod (1993) adopted the Statement of Christian Conviction of the Proposed Pronouncement Calling the United Church of Christ to be a Multiracial and Multicultural Church. Sparked by Community UCC member Robert Parrish, who is visually impaired, the Community UCC membership adopted a resolution that “CUCC would work toward inclusion of the disabled in the work and mission of the church” (November 15, 1998). The congregation convened the Multiracial/Multicultural Committee to examine the UCC statement and make recommendations. On February 6, 2000, the congregation adopted a vision statement for our congregation, and charged the Multiracial-Multicultural Committee to help implement it.
Committed to becoming… a Justice in a Changing Climate Church
The congregation resolved on May 20, 2007 to embark on a congregation-wide initiative to seek to address the challenges of global climate change and its impact on those least able to prepare. With a history of advocacy for justice for people with the fewest material resources, we hope to contribute that perspective to the network of faith and community groups engaged with this challenge. A steering committee reporting to the Council with representatives from each Ministry began planning educational events to prepare us for the work. A grant from the bequest of Helen Brown, a Community UCC member and philanthropist, has funded the work of the JCC. This work is currently shepherded by Justice in a Changing Climate.
On June 26, 2022, the congregation adopted a Carbon Covenant for Our Buildings, a next step in our work together to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Committed to becoming… an Economic Justice Church
Responding to a call from the United Church of Christ to covenant to work for economic justice, on June 24, 2012, the congregation passed a resolution called An Economic Justice Covenant. The effect of the covenant was to create an Economic Justice Task Force. The task force offered book studies and lectures, and provided volunteer opportunities with community nonprofits. Through their guidance, economic justice criteria became part of our day to day conversations about large purchases and contractors. In 2018 the task force folded their work into the Do Justice Ministry to improve collaboration.
Resolutions as prophetic proclamation
Generally when a group identifies a need for us to speak publicly on a justice issue, the group will offer a petition or letter which individual members can sign, or the group itself will write a letter. However, sometimes they want the support of the congregation speaking with one prophetic voice. This selection of resolutions gives an indication of the range of our commitments over the past 40 years.
On March 18, 1984 the congregation resolved to support public education in North Carolina. A second education resolution had a local focus, asking the Wake County Board of Education to adopt a pupil assignment plan that would provide diversity and excellent educational opportunity to all children (November 21, 2010).
Community UCC was part of a larger faith movement to call for a moratorium on executions (1999). The resolution was sent to the governor and our legislators of NC, and the president and our legislators in Congress.
On July 10, 2005 the congregation approved the Iraq STEP Resolution: Sensible Transition to an Enduring Peace and resolved to become part of the Progressive Churches network.
Concerned by efforts in North Carolina to encourage the development of the fracking industry, Community UCC brought to the Southern Conference of the UCC a resolution supporting renewable energy and opposing fracking (May 4, 2014).
Spurred by our commitments to economic justice and racial justice, the congregation passed the Cash Bail Bond Reform Resolution (November 17, 2019). We are bringing the resolution through the judicatories of the United Church of Christ, meanwhile connecting with community groups working in North Carolina.