The United Church of Christ was formed in 1957, combining four historic traditions: Congregational, Christian, Evangelical, and Reformed. Since the 1600s, the UCC and its ancestors have been at the forefront of many historical movements, including:

• democratic self-government
• freedom of the press
• abolitionism
• civil disobedience
• social conscience
• opposition to "environmental racism"
• marriage equality

Some of the "firsts" achieved by the churches of the UCC:

• the first bible printed in North America
• the first published African-American poet
• the first ordained African-American pastor
• the first Protestant seminary in America
• the first school for the deaf community in America
• the first integrated anti-slavery society
• the first woman pastor
• the first theological school to admit women
• the first openly gay minister
• the first African-American leader of an integrated denomination

For further background on the history of the United Church of Christ, visit www.ucc.org. The UCC has also published a 38-page PDF, Short Course in the History of the United Church of Christ, which may be downloaded by clicking this link: http://www.ucc.org/about-us/short-course/shortcourse.pdf

A vivid graphical representation of the origins of the United Church of Christ is located here.