A Heart for Inclusive Discipleship.

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 shaping a welcoming 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.

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. 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 grow and maintain relationships with those who hold opposing world-views.

Following Jesus’ example.

Jesus consistently welcomed people society rejected—the unconventional, the vulnerable, the marginalized. Jesus even embraced people that religious leaders called “untouchable” or “unworthy,” challenging rigid authorities in exclusionary practices. Throughout his ministry, Jesus pushed people toward greater acceptance of differences and treated everyone with dignity and respect—ultimately sacrificing his own life for the sake of all people across all places and times. We desire to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

Our role in God’s work.

Jesus’ teaching consistently emphasized love, justice, mercy, and faithfulness. We want to embody these qualities as well, as we seek to be a nurturing, accountable community where everyone makes Christlike formation their central aim. We believe transforming people into Christ's image is Christ's job. We simply join God in this divine work by fostering environments of acceptance and grace, allowing Christ to transform lives in His perfect timing.

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.

Our roots & story.

Formed in unity.

UCC's theological foundations are rooted in the Restoration Movement, a unity-focused group that emerged in the early 1800s in response to denominational divisions. Their guiding principle was simple: "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love." This vision was a return to the church model we see in Acts 2, rejecting formal creeds and membership requirements while extending Jesus’ Table (The Lord’s Supper) to everyone. This movement's spirit still guides and helps shape us today. We remain committed to adapting our practices in service to the mission, always in submission to Jesus.

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 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 students finished their education, many moved away—returning home, pursuing advanced degrees, or following career opportunities elsewhere. At the same time, many graduates stayed in Cincinnati, choosing to continue pursuing life together at UCC.

Today, as we come together as leaders, newcomers, and longtime participants within the UCC community, we do so seeking to form an imagination for how God might be calling us to love our neighbors in this particular place, at this particular time. Still situated a stone's throw from the University of Cincinnati we believe our primary mission is towards the campus, and trust this work happens in big and small ways, over weeks, months, and years.

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

Our vision for leadership.

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

This team of co-equals express individual gifts in an accountable 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) works together to equip the whole body for ministry.

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.

LEAD TEAM
Made up of church-elected leaders and our co-pastors, this group provides directional oversight for our community. These senior leaders function as a collaborative team, 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 for the work of ministry.

CO-PASTORS
Our co-pastors bear primary responsibility for welcoming, equipping, and instructing our congregation towards Christlikeness. Additionally, our co-pastors handle operational decisions that affect and improve our community’s daily functions. UCC’s co-pastors both presently serve 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. These teams work 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, and/or marital status are not factors we use to evaluate whether God is calling someone to serve in leadership at any level.