About Emmanuel United Church of Christ
The History of Emmanuel UCC
Emmanuel United Church of Christ was founded in 1866. In 1866 a small group of German Settlers led by
Reverend Johan Jakob Hotz organized and founded a German Evangelical congregation in St. Charles
county. On February 12, 1867, the German congregation bought a 4.45 acre tract of land which was situated
next to a continuously flowing spring. The land had been originally granted to John Weldon for whom the
township of Weldon Spring was named. The first Church services were held in the school house which is
now a home adjacent to the Church. The first building to be erected on the property was the old parsonage
built in 1867.
The next pastor to serve the congregation was the Rev. Gottfried Doernenberg. It was during his stay at
Weldon Spring that the sanctuary was built and dedicated in 1874. At this time the
membership was at thirty three. During this period the congregation appointed a Church council. This
committee was comprised of four men: two to look after the spiritual needs of the congregation and two to
be responsible for the physical needs. Church to these people was a community responsible for each other
both spiritually and physically. To be a part of a community during this time, provided people with security in
a tough world.
On December 19, 1878 members of the congregation presented a petition to the county court to be
incorporated under the name German Evangelical Emmanuel congregation at Weldon Spring. Emmanuel
meaning, “God is with us”. The name was derived from scripture. The passage of scripture is Matthew 1:23
which says, “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which
means, God is with us.”
One hundred and forty years ago the pioneers of the community of Weldon Spring set out to
create a house of Worship. The property they chose contained a life-sustaining spring. The spring was vital
to the community which eventually grew. All aspects of life in this community centered around the Church.
What is the United Church of Christ?
The United Church of Christ is a denomination. The United Church of Christ came into being in 1957 with
the union of two Protestant denominations: the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational
Christian Churches. Each of these was, in turn, the result of a union of two earlier traditions. The
Congregational Churches were organized when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation (1620) and the Puritans
of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629) acknowledged their essential unity in the Cambridge Platform of
1648. The Reformed Church in the United States traced its beginnings to congregations of German settlers
in Pennsylvania founded from 1725 on. Later, its ranks were swelled by Reformed immigrants from
Switzerland, Hungary and other countries. The Christian Churches sprang up in the late 1700s and early
1800s in reaction to the theological and organizational rigidity of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist
churches of the time. The Evangelical Synod of North America traced its beginnings to an association of
German Evangelical pastors in Missouri. This association, founded in 1841, reflected the 1817 union of
Lutheran and Reformed churches in Germany.
The characteristics of the United Church of Christ can be summarized in part by the key words in the names
that formed our union: Christian, Reformed, Congregational, Evangelical.
Christian
By our very name, the United Church of Christ, we declare ourselves to be part of the Body of
Christ—the Christian church. We continue the witness of the early disciples to the reality and power of the
crucified and risen Christ, Jesus of Nazareth.
Reformed
All four denominations arose from the tradition of the Protestant Reformers: We confess the
authority of one God. We affirm the primacy of the Scriptures, the doctrine of justification by faith,
the priesthood of all believers, and the principle of Christian freedom. We celebrate two sacraments:
baptism and the Lord's Supper (also called Holy Communion or the Eucharist).
Congregational
The basic unit of the United Church of Christ is the congregation. Members of each congregation covenant
with one another and with God as revealed in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. These
congregations, in turn, exist in covenantal relationships with one another to form larger structures for more
effective work. Our covenanting emphasizes trustful relationships rather than legal agreements.
Evangelical
The primary task of the church is the proclamation of the Gospel or (in Greek) evangel. The Gospel literally
means the "Good News" of God's love revealed with power in Jesus Christ. We proclaim this Gospel by word
and deed to individual persons and to society. This proclamation is the heart of the leiturgia—in Greek, the
"work of the people" in daily and Sunday worship. We gather for the worship of God, and through each week,
we engage in the service of humankind.
What we believe at Emmanuel UCC:
We can tell you more about the Emmanuel United Church of Christ with the help of seven phrases from
Scripture and Tradition which express our commitments.
1. That they may all be one.
[John 17:21] This motto of the United Church of Christ reflects the spirit of unity on which it is
based and points toward future efforts to heal the divisions in the body of Christ. We are a uniting church as
well as a united church.
2. In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity, in all things charity.
The unity that we seek requires neither an uncritical acceptance of any point of view, nor rigid
formulation of doctrine. It does require mutual understanding and agreement as to which aspects of the
Christian faith and life are essential.
3. The unity of the church is not of its own making.
It is a gift of God. But expressions of that unity are as diverse as there are individuals. The common thread
that runs through all is love.
4. Testimonies of faith rather than tests of faith.
Because faith can be expressed in many different ways, the United Church of Christ has no formula that is a
test of faith. Down through the centuries, however, Christians have shared their faith with one another
through creeds, confessions, catechisms and other statements of faith. Historic statements such as the
Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Evangelical Catechism, the Augsburg
Confession, the Cambridge Platform and the Kansas City Statement of Faith are valued in our church as
authentic testimonies of faith. [See Faith for the complete texts of some of these testimonies.] In 1959, the
General Synod of the United Church of Christ adopted a Statement of Faith prepared especially for
congregations of the United Church. Many of us use this statement as a common affirmation of faith in
worship and as a basis for study.
5. There is yet more light and truth to break forth from God's holy word.
This affirmation by one of the founders of the Congregational tradition assumes the primacy of the Bible as a
source for understanding the Good News and as a foundation for all statements of faith. It recognizes that
the Bible, though written in specific historical times and places, still speaks to us in our present condition. It
declares that the study of the scriptures is not limited by past interpretations, but it is pursued with the
expectation of new insights and God's help for living today.
6. 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, to enable the ministry of all Christians
rather than to do the work of ministry for us.
7. Responsible Freedom.
As individual members of the Body of Christ, we are free to believe and act in accordance with our perception
of God's will for our lives. But we are called to live in a loving, covenantal relationship with one another—
gathering in communities of faith, congregations of believers, local churches. Each congregation or local
church is free to act in accordance with the collective decision of its members, guided by the working of the
Spirit in the light of the scriptures. But it also is called to live in a covenantal relationship with other
congregations for the sharing of insights and for cooperative action under the authority of Christ.
Likewise, associations of churches, conferences, the General Synod and the church wide "covenanted
ministries" of the United Church of Christ are free to act in their particular spheres of responsibility. Yet all are
constrained by love to live in a covenantal relationship with one another and with the local churches in order
to make manifest the unity of the body of Christ and thus to carry out God's mission in the world more
effectively.
The members, congregations, associations, conferences, General Synod, and covenanted ministries are
free in relation to the world. We affirm that the authority of God as revealed in Jesus Christ and interpreted
with the aid of the Holy Spirit stands above and judges all human culture, institutions and laws. But we
recognize our calling both as individuals and as the church to live in the world:
To proclaim in word and action the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
To work for reconciliation and the unity of the broken Body of Christ.
To seek justice and liberation for all.
This is the challenge of the United Church of Christ.
Links that may interest you further:
United Church of Christ
God is Still Speaking Site
UCC Missouri Mid-south Conference
Eden Seminary
Emmanuel United Church of Christ was founded in 1866. In 1866 a small group of German Settlers led by
Reverend Johan Jakob Hotz organized and founded a German Evangelical congregation in St. Charles
county. On February 12, 1867, the German congregation bought a 4.45 acre tract of land which was situated
next to a continuously flowing spring. The land had been originally granted to John Weldon for whom the
township of Weldon Spring was named. The first Church services were held in the school house which is
now a home adjacent to the Church. The first building to be erected on the property was the old parsonage
built in 1867.
The next pastor to serve the congregation was the Rev. Gottfried Doernenberg. It was during his stay at
Weldon Spring that the sanctuary was built and dedicated in 1874. At this time the
membership was at thirty three. During this period the congregation appointed a Church council. This
committee was comprised of four men: two to look after the spiritual needs of the congregation and two to
be responsible for the physical needs. Church to these people was a community responsible for each other
both spiritually and physically. To be a part of a community during this time, provided people with security in
a tough world.
On December 19, 1878 members of the congregation presented a petition to the county court to be
incorporated under the name German Evangelical Emmanuel congregation at Weldon Spring. Emmanuel
meaning, “God is with us”. The name was derived from scripture. The passage of scripture is Matthew 1:23
which says, “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which
means, God is with us.”
One hundred and forty years ago the pioneers of the community of Weldon Spring set out to
create a house of Worship. The property they chose contained a life-sustaining spring. The spring was vital
to the community which eventually grew. All aspects of life in this community centered around the Church.
What is the United Church of Christ?
The United Church of Christ is a denomination. The United Church of Christ came into being in 1957 with
the union of two Protestant denominations: the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational
Christian Churches. Each of these was, in turn, the result of a union of two earlier traditions. The
Congregational Churches were organized when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation (1620) and the Puritans
of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (1629) acknowledged their essential unity in the Cambridge Platform of
1648. The Reformed Church in the United States traced its beginnings to congregations of German settlers
in Pennsylvania founded from 1725 on. Later, its ranks were swelled by Reformed immigrants from
Switzerland, Hungary and other countries. The Christian Churches sprang up in the late 1700s and early
1800s in reaction to the theological and organizational rigidity of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist
churches of the time. The Evangelical Synod of North America traced its beginnings to an association of
German Evangelical pastors in Missouri. This association, founded in 1841, reflected the 1817 union of
Lutheran and Reformed churches in Germany.
The characteristics of the United Church of Christ can be summarized in part by the key words in the names
that formed our union: Christian, Reformed, Congregational, Evangelical.
Christian
By our very name, the United Church of Christ, we declare ourselves to be part of the Body of
Christ—the Christian church. We continue the witness of the early disciples to the reality and power of the
crucified and risen Christ, Jesus of Nazareth.
Reformed
All four denominations arose from the tradition of the Protestant Reformers: We confess the
authority of one God. We affirm the primacy of the Scriptures, the doctrine of justification by faith,
the priesthood of all believers, and the principle of Christian freedom. We celebrate two sacraments:
baptism and the Lord's Supper (also called Holy Communion or the Eucharist).
Congregational
The basic unit of the United Church of Christ is the congregation. Members of each congregation covenant
with one another and with God as revealed in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. These
congregations, in turn, exist in covenantal relationships with one another to form larger structures for more
effective work. Our covenanting emphasizes trustful relationships rather than legal agreements.
Evangelical
The primary task of the church is the proclamation of the Gospel or (in Greek) evangel. The Gospel literally
means the "Good News" of God's love revealed with power in Jesus Christ. We proclaim this Gospel by word
and deed to individual persons and to society. This proclamation is the heart of the leiturgia—in Greek, the
"work of the people" in daily and Sunday worship. We gather for the worship of God, and through each week,
we engage in the service of humankind.
What we believe at Emmanuel UCC:
We can tell you more about the Emmanuel United Church of Christ with the help of seven phrases from
Scripture and Tradition which express our commitments.
1. That they may all be one.
[John 17:21] This motto of the United Church of Christ reflects the spirit of unity on which it is
based and points toward future efforts to heal the divisions in the body of Christ. We are a uniting church as
well as a united church.
2. In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity, in all things charity.
The unity that we seek requires neither an uncritical acceptance of any point of view, nor rigid
formulation of doctrine. It does require mutual understanding and agreement as to which aspects of the
Christian faith and life are essential.
3. The unity of the church is not of its own making.
It is a gift of God. But expressions of that unity are as diverse as there are individuals. The common thread
that runs through all is love.
4. Testimonies of faith rather than tests of faith.
Because faith can be expressed in many different ways, the United Church of Christ has no formula that is a
test of faith. Down through the centuries, however, Christians have shared their faith with one another
through creeds, confessions, catechisms and other statements of faith. Historic statements such as the
Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Evangelical Catechism, the Augsburg
Confession, the Cambridge Platform and the Kansas City Statement of Faith are valued in our church as
authentic testimonies of faith. [See Faith for the complete texts of some of these testimonies.] In 1959, the
General Synod of the United Church of Christ adopted a Statement of Faith prepared especially for
congregations of the United Church. Many of us use this statement as a common affirmation of faith in
worship and as a basis for study.
5. There is yet more light and truth to break forth from God's holy word.
This affirmation by one of the founders of the Congregational tradition assumes the primacy of the Bible as a
source for understanding the Good News and as a foundation for all statements of faith. It recognizes that
the Bible, though written in specific historical times and places, still speaks to us in our present condition. It
declares that the study of the scriptures is not limited by past interpretations, but it is pursued with the
expectation of new insights and God's help for living today.
6. 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, to enable the ministry of all Christians
rather than to do the work of ministry for us.
7. Responsible Freedom.
As individual members of the Body of Christ, we are free to believe and act in accordance with our perception
of God's will for our lives. But we are called to live in a loving, covenantal relationship with one another—
gathering in communities of faith, congregations of believers, local churches. Each congregation or local
church is free to act in accordance with the collective decision of its members, guided by the working of the
Spirit in the light of the scriptures. But it also is called to live in a covenantal relationship with other
congregations for the sharing of insights and for cooperative action under the authority of Christ.
Likewise, associations of churches, conferences, the General Synod and the church wide "covenanted
ministries" of the United Church of Christ are free to act in their particular spheres of responsibility. Yet all are
constrained by love to live in a covenantal relationship with one another and with the local churches in order
to make manifest the unity of the body of Christ and thus to carry out God's mission in the world more
effectively.
The members, congregations, associations, conferences, General Synod, and covenanted ministries are
free in relation to the world. We affirm that the authority of God as revealed in Jesus Christ and interpreted
with the aid of the Holy Spirit stands above and judges all human culture, institutions and laws. But we
recognize our calling both as individuals and as the church to live in the world:
To proclaim in word and action the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
To work for reconciliation and the unity of the broken Body of Christ.
To seek justice and liberation for all.
This is the challenge of the United Church of Christ.
Links that may interest you further:
United Church of Christ
God is Still Speaking Site
UCC Missouri Mid-south Conference
Eden Seminary
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