The first covenant of our church in DeKalb, Illinois, in 1854 says we are

". . . to treat Christ's friends as our friends, irrespective of color or condition in life and promise to watch over them in all Christian fidelity and tenderness."

Reason and common sense inform us that if we want to be included, known and accepted by both God and others, we need to include, accept and know both God and our neighbors. The Christian Community of faith can help us do that. So may we be blessed. In keeping with that covenant to provide welcome and safe haven for all, First Congregational United Church of Christ is also an Open and Affirming church. We believe that gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation are gifts from God that enable all to fully and freely become the person God created them to be; and that it is not the right nor role of the church to take away a person’s right to full expression of themselves before God. We celebrate fully the gifts that all people bring and are happy to be a church family where all are welcome, and where no one need fear showing up as their whole self before God.

Wherever you are on life's journey, you are always welcome here.

About the UCC

The United Church of Christ is a mainline protestant denomination, formed in 1957 by the merger of five separate faith streams who believed uniting in spite of our differences would help create Christian unity and would speak powerfully about being fully accepting and welcoming. Those five streams are: The Congregational Church, The Christian Church, The German Reformed Church, the German Evangelical Church, and the Afro-Christian Church. Its roots as a denomination can be traced back to the Pilgrims and Puritans, the Reformation, The Great Awakening, and the creation of Black Churches during the time of enslavement. The UCC is known as a united and uniting church with a progressive stance on social issues.

As we are children of blended traditions, the logic of our church structure and governance is confusing to many. There are principles, though, that we emphasize, taking them from "United Church of Christ: Who We Are, What We Believe -- The Priesthood of All Believers." All members of the United Church of Christ are called to minister to others and to participate as equals in the common worship of God, each with direct access to the mercies of God through personal prayer and devotion. Recognition is given to those among us who have received special training in pastoral, priestly, educational, and administrative functions, but these persons are regarded as servants rather than as persons in authority. Their task is to guide, to instruct, and to enable the ministry of all Christians rather than to do the work of ministry for us. Congregations choose their own pastors, and are responsible for organizing their own governance. Members are free to work out their faith in ways that are meaningful to them. While pastors are given the freedom of the pulpit, all members are likewise offered the freedom of their conscience to determine how their faith journey will unfold.

About First Congregational UCC

If you're looking for "the right fit" in a church, you just might find it when you visit First Congregational UCC. To use the metaphor of a recipe, a church can be thought of as a blending of "ingredients." Since everyone's tastes are different, here's a list of a few ingredients that go into the experience of First Congregational . . . DeKalb's "friendly church."

Diverse Congregation We are a medium-sized congregation, drawing members from DeKalb and all across northern Illinois. You'll meet long-time members who helped build our current building more than 50 years ago as well as young families. We are a compassionate and open-minded church -- not judgemental or dogmatic. We welcome into our faith community people of any race, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, economic status, or physical or mental condition.
Meeting your individual needs and interests Want to be more active in your community? You can participate in any of our social outreach programs. Wish to engage in dialogues on spiritual and life issues? Take part in our weekly adult education sessions.
And much more . . .