A Heart for Inclusive Discipleship.

A LITTLE ABOUT US

We call this approach "Inclusive Discipleship," and it starts with recognizing something pretty obvious: people have always interpreted Christian Scriptures in different ways, creating a rich diversity of belief systems. Consider how many Christian denominations exist today—this shows us how beautifully diverse Jesus followers can be.

We're intentionally building a welcoming, non-judgmental faith community centered on Jesus.

A young man with glasses is receiving an award from a women in a red shirt in a room with large windows and a chalkboard in the background.

A group of women talking outside a brick building with stained glass windows.

Meeting people where they are.

We know our community includes people at many different stages of faith, and we trust that Jesus meets each person exactly where they are—because we've seen it happen. We celebrate that our community spans a wide range of perspectives and experiences. Just like Jesus invited both a zealot and a tax collector into his inner circle, we want to welcome that same kind of diversity—even when that requires us to become people who build, grow, and maintain relationships with those who hold opposing world-views.

Following Jesus’ example.

We want to become more like Jesus. Jesus consistently welcomed the people society rejected—the unconventional, the vulnerable, the marginalized. Jesus even embraced people that religious leaders called “untouchable” or “unworthy,” challenging rigid authorities who had gotten stuck in exclusionary practices. Throughout his ministry, Jesus pushed people toward greater acceptance of differences and treated everyone with dignity and respect—ultimately sacrificing himself for all people across all places and times.

Our role in God’s work.

Jesus’ teaching consistently emphasized the fundamental principles of love, justice, mercy, and faithfulness. We want to embody these qualities as well, seeking to be a nurturing, accountable community where everyone makes Christ their central aim. We believe transforming people into Christ's image is Christ's job, not ours. We simply recognize that He approaches everyone according to their unique circumstances and needs, and He invites us to work alongside Him. Our calling is to create an environment that helps facilitate this divine work—fostering an atmosphere of acceptance and grace that allows Christ to transform lives in His perfect timing and understanding.

A chalkboard sign on an easel with the message 'May your kingdom come' written on it in white chalk, positioned indoors near a wooden door.

A LITTLE ABOUT WHERE WE’VE COME

Our roots and story.

Formed in unity.

UCC's theological foundations are planted in the Restoration Movement, a unity-focused group that emerged in the early 1800s in response to increasing denominational divisions. Their guiding principle was simple: "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love." The vision was a return to the church model we see in Acts 2, rejecting formal creeds and membership requirements while extending open communion to everyone.

This movement's spirit still shapes us today.

We remain committed to adapting our practices to serve our mission in contextually appropriate ways, always in submission to Jesus. Because we were birthed from this movement—rather than being launched by a formal denomination—UCC operates as an independent congregation, with no formal membership requirements, and is led by a collaborative team of lay leaders working alongside paid staff.

A campus-focused church.

In November 1989, UCC emerged from a vision to expand an existing campus ministry, called Challenge Unlimited, into a church community. The goal was to create broader opportunities for spiritual growth and authentic discipleship among college students that would help encourage them to pursue broader ministry opportunities as they moved beyond the university setting. While the University of Cincinnati was our primary connection, students from other local campuses joined us in those early days too.

Over the years, as graduates finished their education, many moved away—going home, pursuing advanced degrees, or following career opportunities. This natural spread led to UCC being called a "dandelion church"—a place where people's faith takes root, flourishes, and then spreads seeds of influence throughout the world as they plant themselves in new communities. At the same time, many graduates chose to stay in Cincinnati and continue life together as part of the UCC community. Today, we see ourselves as part of Christ's work to reconcile the world, connected to the global Christian community.

At UCC, we represent a diverse spectrum of ages and backgrounds, reflecting the natural growth of a living faith community.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HERE

Our vision for leadership.

Our church leaders are shepherds who encourage networks of care to form throughout the community.

This team of co-equals expresses individual gifts in a mutually submissive environment, all pointing to our central model—Christ.

Here’s how we’re organized.

Scripture gives us a beautiful picture of leadership plurality. Ephesians 4 invites us to consider what’s possible when a team with diverse gifts (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers) work together to equip the whole body for ministry.

LEAD TEAM
Made up of church-elected leaders and our two, full-time co-pastors, this group provides broad, directional oversight for our community. These senior leaders function as a collaborative team and function similarly to what some churches call "elders." This way of leading places a diverse team of mature disciples together who work cooperatively to equip the entire body. Our Lead Team models mutual submission as they learn to listen to the Spirit, as part of the congregation, for the sake of UCC.

CO-PASTORS
Our co-pastors bear primary responsibility for welcoming, equipping, and instructing our congregation towards Christlikeness. Additionally, this team handles operational decisions that affect and improve our community’s daily functions. Our co-pastors are both full-time and operate as equals—no hierarchy here.

STAFF TEAM
Our staff members make operational decisions for individual ministries, serving specific demographic groups or areas of focus like: children's ministry, student ministry, worship coordination, or financial oversight.

COMMISSIONS
Commission leaders work alongside the Lead Team and staff to help UCC live on mission. Commission teams form when they’re needed, at which time the church nominates and appoints 1-3 leaders from within the body to join at least 1 Lead Team or staff team member. This team works together to carry out a specific area of the ministry, inviting others from within the church to fold into the work as well.

Note: Gender, sexual orientation, sexual attraction, and/or marital status are not factors we use to evaluate whether God is calling someone to serve in leadership at any level.

2025–2026 LEADERSHIP