Our tower is obvious in pictures of the church building and when approaching the church physically. It is designed to be inspiring – open, inviting and uplifting – symbolic of the movement of the Holy Spirit in and through our fellowship. At the top of the tower is the cross and orb, part of the United Church of Christ logo that witnesses to Jesus’ command, “You shall be my witness in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The concrete base includes the engraved words of the motto of the United Church of Christ “…that they may all be one…” (John 17:21). This affirms the foundational, ecumenical commitment of the UCC.
The tower itself has five screens soaring upward and outward which reflect six core affirmations of the United Church of Christ from scripture and tradition.
- That they may all be one (John 17:21). This motto of the United Church of Christ reflects the spirit of unity on which the church is based and points toward future efforts to heal division in the body of Christ. We are a uniting church as well as a united church.
- In essentials unity, in nonessentials diversity, in all things love. The unity we seek requires neither an uncritical acceptance of any point of view nor a rigid formulation of doctrine. It does require mutual understanding and agreement as to which aspects of the Christian faith and life are essential. 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.
- 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. While these statements (Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed, Evangelical Catechism, etc.), including the UCC Statement of Faith, are valued as authentic testimonies of faith, they are not tests of faith, only meaning-filled expressions of faith.
- There is yet more light and truth to break forth from God’s Holy Word. This classic statement assumes the primacy of the Bible as a source of 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 is to be pursued with expectancy for new insights and help for living today.
- The priesthood of all believers. All members of the United Church of Christ are called to minister to others and participate as equals in the common worship 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 ministers – servants – rather than as persons in authority. Their task is to guide, to instruct, and to enable all Christians to do the work of ministry rather than to do the work of ministry for us.
- Responsible Freedom. As individual members, 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, and local churches.
The Tower was built as part of the 2012 church renovations designed to make the building more open and welcoming, increase the size of the sanctuary, sensitive to those with special needs and environmentally sustainable.
