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124-631: Cotuit ( / k ə ˈ t u ɪ t / kə- TOO -it ) is one of the villages of the Town of Barnstable on Cape Cod in Barnstable County , Massachusetts , United States. Located on a peninsula on the south side of Barnstable about midway between Falmouth and Hyannis , Cotuit is bounded by the Santuit River to the west on the Mashpee town line, the villages of Marstons Mills to

248-433: A gaff-rigged mainsail , no jib , and their masts are stepped in the very bow of the boat. They carry a considerable amount of sail and are considered an extremely challenging boat to sail, especially in a brisk breeze. They are fitted with a centerboard and are generally raced by one or two people, with three carried only in high winds. The huge mainsail and its boom overhang the hull's transom by four feet. Since 1906

372-649: A property insurance , liability insurance , and risk management program serving the United Church of Christ, the Presbyterian Church(USA), and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) churches and related entities. United Church Funds (UCF) , formerly known as The United Church Foundation , provides low cost, socially responsible, professionally managed Common Investment Funds (CIFs) and other trustee services to any setting of

496-414: A Northeastern Oak / Pine ( 110 ) vegetation type with a Southern Mixed Forest ( 26 ) vegetation form. As of the census of 2000, there were 47,821 people, 19,626 households, and 13,012 families residing in the town. The population density was 796.5 inhabitants per square mile (307.5/km ). There were 25,018 housing units at an average density of 416.7 per square mile (160.9/km ). The racial makeup of

620-422: A candidate. Members of the congregation vote for or against the committee's recommended candidate for the pastorate, usually immediately after the candidate has preached a "trial sermon;" candidates are usually presented one at a time and not as a field of several to be selected from. Typically the candidate must secure anywhere from 60 to 90 percent affirmative votes from the membership before the congregation issues

744-525: A church from another association or another denomination (this authority is exercised "in cooperation with" the person being ordained/called and the local church that is calling them). Such standing, among other things, permits a minister to participate in the UCC clergy pension and insurance plans. Local churches are usually aided in searching for and calling ordained clergy through a denominationally coordinated "search-and-call" system, usually facilitated by staff at

868-527: A conference is to provide the primary support for the search-and-call process by which churches select ordained leadership; the conference minister and/or his or her associates perform this task in coordination with the congregation's pulpit search committee (see above) and the association to which the congregation belongs (particularly its ministerial committee). Conferences also provide significant programming resources for their constituent churches, such as Christian education resources and support, interpretation of

992-464: A distinct version of the eastern oyster species, unique to Cotuit Bay and remarkable for their flavor. Wild oysters are making a gradual comeback along some shores. "Seed now comes from a hatchery...but unspoiled Cotuit Bay has changed little, and the oysters still have the bright and briny flavor they are famous for." The Cotuit Oyster Company dates back to 1837 and is still cultivating the distinctive Cotuit Oysters with their unique flavor, producing

1116-412: A formal call to the candidate; this depends on the provisions in the congregation's particular constitution and/or by-laws . Local churches have, in addition to the freedom to hire ministers and lay staff, the sole power to dismiss them also. However, unlike purely congregational polities, the association has the main authority to ordain clergy and grant membership, or "standing", to clergy coming to

1240-536: A lawsuit that resulted in a federal court decision that the broadcast air waves are public, not private, property. That led toward the proliferation of people of color in television studios and newsrooms. The UCC national body has been active in numerous traditionally liberal social causes, including support for abortion rights, the United Farm Workers , and the Wilmington Ten . Churches in

1364-436: A license, the use of recently retired clergy on a short-term basis, or ordained ministers serving the church on a half-time (or less) basis while earning their primary income from chaplaincies or other occupations. While this has been occurring to a lesser degree in other mainline denominations as well, the UCC's congregational polity allows for churches to adopt such approaches without ecclesiological restraint, as might happen in

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1488-649: A majority of the Barnstable City Council. He was succeeded by the executive director of the Barnstable Housing Authority, Thomas K. Lynch . Mark Ells has served as the Town Manager since 2016. The town hall is located in the village of Hyannis, and the police station is located on Route 132, closer to the geographic center of the town. There are eight fire stations, seven libraries, and ten post offices located throughout

1612-433: A more hierarchical denominational structure. Local churches are typically gathered together in regional bodies called Associations . Local churches often give financial support to the association to support its activities. The official delegates of an association are all ordained clergy within the bounds of the association together with lay delegates sent from each local church. The association's main ecclesiastical function

1736-796: A non-profit nursery school, several real estate offices, an insurance office, an architect's office and the Cotuit Public Library . To the north on Main Street is a small variety store and a grocery store. Other Cotuit businesses are located along Route 28 in the Santuit-Newtown area of the town, also the location of the Cotuit Center for the Arts and the Cahoon Museum of American Art . The Cahoon Museum of American Art

1860-550: A representation of coastal life in Cotuit in the first half of the 19th century. The northwestern corner of Cotuit is referred to as Santuit and represents a distinct sub-village within Cotuit, marking the intersection of Main Street, Route 28 and Route 130 . It is the westernmost village in the town of Barnstable and is the location of several historically significant buildings, including the Crocker House (formerly site of

1984-704: A sailing instructional program for children between 8 and 18 years of age. CMYC historian Larry Odence published a comprehensive history of the Cotuit Skiff in 2009: Mosquito Boats: The First Hundred Years of the Cotuit Skiff , which was published in a limited edition, but available for loan from the Cotuit Library. The Cotuit Kettleers is an amateur collegiate summer baseball team in the Cape Cod Baseball League . The team plays its home games at Lowell Park , and has been supported by

2108-457: A survey of United Church of Christ beliefs. Among the results of this were findings that in the UCC, 5.6% of the churches responding to the survey described their members as "very liberal or progressive", 3.4% as "very conservative", 22.4% as "somewhat liberal or progressive", and 23.6% as "somewhat conservative". Those results suggested a nearly equal balance between liberal and conservative congregations. The self-described "moderate" group, however,

2232-514: A worship service on a Sunday afternoon) of the entire congregation to elect officers, approve budgets and set congregational policy. Other churches, mainly of Evangelical and Reformed descent, have one central "church council" or " consistory " that handles most or all affairs in a manner somewhat akin to a Presbyterian session , while still holding an annual congregational meeting for the purpose of electing officers and/or ratifying annual budgets. Still others, usually those congregations started after

2356-432: Is -70.4375. According to the 1995 Town of Barnstable Comprehensive Plans, Cotuit is among the smallest of the town's seven villages, having a total area of roughly 5 square miles (13 km). The major part of the village is bounded on three sides by water. Although Cotuit has 12 miles (19 km) of coastline, comparable in length to its 10 miles (16 km) of scenic roadways, the 8 town-owned beaches, landings and ways to

2480-594: Is a socially liberal mainline Protestant Christian denomination based in the United States, with historical and confessional roots in the Congregational , Restorationist , Continental Reformed , and Lutheran traditions, and with approximately 4,600 churches and 712,000 members. The UCC is a historical continuation of the General Council of Congregational Christian churches founded under

2604-694: Is also home to the Academy of Early Learning (Pre-K–6), Veritas Academy (K–8), and the Cape Cod Academy , a private K–12 school. There are also two special education schools (Southeast Alternative & Beacon Point), as well as the Sturgis Charter School , which serves high school-aged students. Additionally, high school students have the option of attending Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich free of charge. Barnstable

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2728-531: Is approximately 30 inches (76 cm). The average snowiest month is February, which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity. According to the United States Department of Agriculture , the plant hardiness zone is 7a, with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 0.3 °F (-17.6 °C). According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. Potential natural vegetation Types, Barnstable, Massachusetts would primarily contain

2852-467: Is approximately 70 miles (110 km) southeast of Boston . The Town of Barnstable contains several villages, which are not legally defined entities. Between seven and eleven are commonly enumerated, listed below with ZIP codes: To the north of Barnstable lie the dunes of Sandy Neck along Barnstable Harbor , tipped by the Sandy Neck Light . The central part of the town is dominated by

2976-585: Is available ashore at the Cotuit Grocery Store on Main Street. A concrete boat ramp for small boats is located at Old Shore Road near Ropes Beach. Car and trailer parking is permitted only with a Town of Barnstable beach parking sticker, available to residents from the town's recreation department. There are several public ways to water, including Cordwood Landing off Old Post Road, Ropes Beach, Town Dock, Riley's Beach, Loop Beach, and Oregon Way to Water. Other public paths exist and are catalogued by

3100-586: Is best expressed in Article III of the 1999 revision of the Bylaws and Constitution of the United Church of Christ. Within the United Church of Christ, the various expressions of the church relate to each other in a covenantal manner. Each expression of the church has responsibilities and rights in relation to the others, to the end that the whole church will seek God's will and be faithful to God's mission. Decisions are made in consultation and collaboration among

3224-599: Is considered " covenantal ". The structure of UCC organization is a mixture of the congregational and presbyterian polities of its predecessor denominations. With ultimate authority given to the local church, many see United Church of Christ polity as closer to congregationalism; however, with ordination and pastoral oversight of licensed, commissioned and ordained ministers conducted by Associations, and General Synod representation given to Conferences instead of congregational delegates, certain similarities to presbyterian polity are also visible. The UCC's "Covenantal Polity"

3348-765: Is in full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America , Presbyterian Church (USA) , and the Reformed Church in America . Internationally, the UCC has been in full communion with the Union Evangelischer Kirchen (Union of Evangelical Churches) in Germany since 1981. The UEK is an organization of 13 Reformed and United Landeskirchen (regional churches) within the federation of Protestant churches known as

3472-598: Is located at the former home of Martha and Ralph Cahoon , who were prominent American painters . A few steps from the village green is the historic Freedom Hall, currently used for various civic gatherings and elections, and Mariners' Hall, currently a Masonic Lodge . A little further down Main Street is the Museum of the Historical Society of Cotuit and Santuit, which includes the Samuel B. Dottridge Homestead,

3596-505: Is no UCC hierarchy or body that can impose any doctrine or worship format onto the individual congregations within the UCC. While individual congregations are supposed to hold guidance from the general synod "in the highest regard", the UCC's constitution requires that the "autonomy of the Local Church is inherent and modifiable only by its own action". Within this locally focused structure, however, there are central beliefs common to

3720-505: Is no commercial marina in the bay or inner harbor. A private launch service runs from the town dock from May through October, charging a small fee for trips to the mooring field (hail on VHF Channel 68). A free pump-out service for marine heads (toilets) is provided by the town harbormaster (available by hailing on radio or phoning 508-790-6273, facility also located at Crosby Yacht Yard in Osterville). Ice and groceries for visiting boaters

3844-624: Is not supported by some UCC congregations, but it is rapidly gaining ground. Opponents included the Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Puerto Rico ( United Evangelical Church in Puerto Rico ), three fourths of which voted to withdraw from the UCC after the 2005 General Synod vote. The Biblical Witness Fellowship , a small conservative evangelical organization within the denomination, opposes the denomination's growing support for same-sex relationships. The United Church of Christ

Cotuit, Massachusetts - Misplaced Pages Continue

3968-444: Is one of thirteen Massachusetts municipalities that have applied for, and been granted, city forms of government but wish to retain "the town of" in their official names. The first town manager , Warren Rutherford, held office from 1990 to 1997. His successor, James Tinsley, served from 1997 to 1999. He was succeeded by former state representative John C. Klimm . Klimm had his contract bought out in 2011 due to internal disputes among

4092-611: Is only one association within a conference, or where the associations within a conference have agreed to dissolve, the Conference (below) assumes the association's functions. Local churches also are members of larger Conferences , of which there are 36 in the United Church of Christ. Some cover an individual state, for example the Michigan Conference . Some states have more than one conference—for example Pennsylvania has four. Some cover more than one state—for example

4216-579: Is provided by the Massachusetts Coastal Railroad . The Cape Cod Central Railroad operates seasonal tourist excursions from Hyannis to Sandwich and Sagamore , with some scheduled weekend stops at the West Barnstable depot on Route 149 near Route 6A. The town is the site of two airports. Cape Cod Airfield is a smaller airfield, used primarily for private travel, and Barnstable Municipal Airport at Polando Field

4340-617: Is represented by both the General Minister, who serves as President of the denomination, and the Associate General minister). According to the UCC office of communication press release at the time of restructure, "In the new executive arrangement, the five will work together in a Collegium of Officers, meeting as peers. This setting is designed to provide an opportunity for mutual responsibility and reporting, as well as ongoing assessment of UCC programs." The main offices of

4464-728: Is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a part of the Second, Third and Fifth Barnstable districts. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate as a part of the Cape and Islands district, which encompasses most of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. The town is patrolled by the Second (Yarmouth) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police . On

4588-672: Is required for visitors. The bay is shallow and busy with boat traffic during the summer months. It is the site of the Cotuit Oyster Company. There are no commercial marine facilities in Cotuit Bay. The nearest source of fuel (diesel and gasoline) is in Osterville to the east. A number of local boatyards, including the renowned Pecks' Boatyard founded by Captain Leonard Peck, service boats in the harbor, but there

4712-591: Is the General Synod , which meets every two years. The General Synod consists of delegates elected from the Conferences (distributed proportionally by conference size) together with the members of the United Church of Christ Board (see below), the officers of the denomination, and representatives of so-called "Historically Underrepresented Groups", such as the disabled, young adults, racial minorities, and gay and lesbian persons. While General Synod provides

4836-494: Is the home of Cape Cod Community College , a two-year junior college affiliated with Suffolk University in Boston. Both U.S. Route 6 and Massachusetts Route 28 pass through the town from west to east, with Route 6 being a four-lane freeway through the town. Routes 6A , 132 , 149 and a brief, 1/10 mile portion of 130 are also located in town. Route 6A follows an east–west route to the north of Route 6, on its route between

4960-419: Is to provide primary oversight and authorization of ordained and other authorized ministers; it also is the ecclesiastical link between the local congregation and the larger UCC. The association ordains new ministers, holds ministers' standing in covenant with local churches, and is responsible for disciplinary action; typically a specific ministerial committee handles these duties. Also, an association, again with

5084-468: Is used for regional flights, especially between the Cape and the islands. Regional airline Cape Air is headquartered in Barnstable. The nearest national and international air service can be reached at Logan International Airport in Boston. Hyannis is also the site of the main ferry lines to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard . United Church of Christ The United Church of Christ ( UCC )

Cotuit, Massachusetts - Misplaced Pages Continue

5208-619: The Cotuit Mosquito Yacht Club (CMYC) has hosted races during the summer months. Although the yacht club has had more than one fleet—juniors compete in inter-club regatta in 420s - the gaff-rigged skiff has been raced for slightly over the 100 years that the yacht club has existed. The CMYC is supported by the Association of the Cotuit Mosquito Yacht Club , a non-profit organization that manages

5332-547: The Evangelical Church of Germany . In 1982, the World Council of Churches (WCC) published "Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry", a document that has served as a foundation for many ecumenical recognition agreements. As a WCC member church, the United Church of Christ issued a response as part of the process to work toward a statement of common theological perspectives. On October 17, 2015, representatives of

5456-620: The National Register of Historic Places , this home once operated as a bed and breakfast but is now a private residence. The property contained a working farm and a mill on the Santuit River , lending its name to the road which ran nearby, Sampson's Mill Road. A list of Cotuit families with some genealogical information has been compiled by local historian James Gould. In the early 20th century, Cotuit saw more commercial activity, including hotels such as The Pines, one of Cape Cod's earliest summer resorts. During World War II , Cotuit

5580-782: The Sagamore Bridge and the Orleans Rotary. Routes 132 and 149 are both entirely located within the town, and both begin at 6A and end at Route 28. Since 2013, the CapeFlyer passenger rail service has run on weekends between Memorial Day and Columbus Day. The Kingston/Route 3 and Middleborough/Lakeville stations of the MBTA's commuter rail system provide the closest, year-round, direct service to Boston. The nearest inter-city ( Amtrak ) passenger rail stations are Boston's South Station and Providence . Freight rail service

5704-618: The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) of Congregations, created the Our Whole Lives curriculum (commonly known as OWL), which is a lifespan, comprehensive, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate sexuality education program. The Whole Lives includes modules for grades K–1, 4–6, 7–9, and 10–12, and for Young Adults and Adults. The Our Whole Lives curricula are secular. Congregations who use this program often also use "Sexuality and Our Faith" for

5828-635: The divinity of Christ and in the Trinitarian concept of God , but it does not explicitly mention the virgin birth of Jesus . The UCC adopted its constitution and by-laws on July 4, 1961. The Constitution gives autonomy to local churches, and it provides for a representative-type of governance of regional and national church organizations. Prior to the vote, 3,669 out of 4,036 Congregational churches voted to accept it. There were 367 Congregational Christian churches that decided to stay out. Some of those churches challenged it in court, saying that it

5952-553: The "biceps" of the Cape Cod "arm". According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 76.3 square miles (197.7 km ), of which 59.8 square miles (154.9 km ) is land and 16.5 square miles (42.8 km ), or 21.66%, is water. It is bordered by Cape Cod Bay on the north, Nantucket Sound on the south, Sandwich and Mashpee on the west and Yarmouth on the east. Barnstable

6076-464: The 1957 merger, have structures incorporating aspects of both, or other alternative organizational structures entirely. In almost all cases, though, the selection of a minister for the congregation is, in keeping with the Reformed tradition of the "priesthood of all believers", vested in a congregational meeting, held usually after a special ad hoc committee searches on the congregation's behalf for

6200-596: The 20th century to summer in the town was, and remains, the Kennedy family . They still inhabit the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port. This was the summer home of President John F. Kennedy during his administration, and it was likewise the home of Senator Ted Kennedy until his death. Today, tourists come in droves to the town during the summer months. Hyannis has numerous shops. Other attractions include

6324-692: The Barnstable Association of Recreational Shellfishermen. Mooring is regulated by the Town of Barnstable. Cotuit is one of seven villages in the Town of Barnstable in Barnstable County . It is represented on the Barnstable Town Council by a Precinct 7 Town Councilor elected every four years. The Cotuit Fire District was incorporated by an act of the Massachusetts General Court in 1926 which grants

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6448-606: The Board of Fire Commissioners. Each elected official serves a three-year term. An annual district meeting is convened on the last Wednesday of May, preceded by the annual elections where one member of the Prudential, Fire and Water boards is elected by ballot. According to the 1995 Town of Barnstable Comprehensive plans, Cotuit, one of the less densely populated of the villages, has a year-round population of roughly 2,600, with an additional 1,600 summer residents. Cotuit Oysters are

6572-697: The CCT, the United Church of Christ is in communication with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for cooperation towards shared issues, as well as involvement in theological dialogue. The United Church of Christ facilitates bilateral dialogues with many faith groups, including members of the Jewish and Muslim communities. This includes membership in the National Muslim-Christian Initiative. Quoting

6696-674: The Cotuit Athletic Association since 1947. Currently managed by Mike Roberts , the Kettleers have won more Cape League titles than any team in league history, and have featured dozens of players who went on to careers in Major League Baseball , such as Will Clark , Joe Girardi , and Chase Utley . Barnstable, Massachusetts Barnstable takes its name from the English town of Barnstaple , in

6820-516: The Covenanted ministries are at the "Church House", the United Church of Christ national headquarters at 700 Prospect Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio . The Pension Boards of the United Church of Christ (PB-UCC) operates the employee benefits systems for all settings of the United Church of Christ, including health, dental, and optical insurance, retirement annuity/pension systems, disability and life insurance, and ministerial assistance programs. The Pension Boards offices are located in New York City , where

6944-417: The General Synod, the denomination maintains national offices comprising four "covenanted ministries", one "associated ministry", and one "affiliated ministry". The current system of national governance was adopted in 1999 as a restructure of the national setting, consolidating numerous agencies, boards, and "instrumentalities" that the UCC, in the main, had inherited from the Congregational Christian Churches at

7068-513: The John F. Kennedy Museum and several other museums. Significant sites and renowned historic houses listed on the National Register of Historic Places include the Ancient Burying Ground and Gideon Hawley House , representing the town's colonial history. The town's many beaches are popular tourist destinations as well. Barnstable is located at 41°39′33″N 70°21′11″W  /  41.65917°N 70.35306°W  / 41.65917; -70.35306 (41.659158, –70.353059), about halfway along

7192-423: The Middle East, which can include measures such as government lobbying, selective investment , shareholder lobbying, and selective divestment from companies that profit from the continuing Israel-Palestine conflict. The other resolution, named "Tear Down the Wall", calls upon Israel to remove the separation barrier between Israel and the West Bank. Opponents of the "Tear Down the Wall" resolution have noted that

7316-639: The Red Hawks are Dennis/Yarmouth and Falmouth. Barnstable has played Falmouth in football on Thanksgiving Day nearly every year since 1895, making the annual game one of the longest-standing high school football rivalries in history. In addition to its public schools, there are also several private schools in Barnstable. There are five Christian schools, three of which are not Catholic: Bayberry Christian Academy (K–3), Faith Christian School (Pre-K–12), and Trinity Christian Academy (Pre-K–12). There are two Catholic schools, Saint Francis Xavier Prep (5–8) and Pope John Paul II High School , which opened in 2007. Barnstable

7440-400: The Regatta Restaurant which closed in 2012), the Cahoon Museum of Art, and other colonial-era houses. The former Santuit Post Office still stands on Main Street but is now part of a private residence, though it retains the post office boxes used by Santuit residents. The former home of the EPAC Grotto of Masons is now the site of St. Michael the Archangel Antiochian Orthodox church. Cotuit Bay,

7564-566: The South West Conference covers Arizona and New Mexico. A conference typically contains multiple associations; if no associations exist within its boundaries, the conference exercises the functions of the association as well. Conferences are supported financially through local churches' contribution to "Our Church's Wider Mission" (formerly "Our Christian World Mission"), the United Church of Christ's denominational support system; unlike most associations, they usually have permanent headquarters and professional staff. The primary ecclesiastical function of

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7688-420: The Town's fourth and fifth grade students. The Barnstable Intermediate School (formerly Barnstable Middle School) serves grades six and seven. Barnstable High School serves grades eight through twelve. Barnstable's athletic teams are nicknamed the Red Hawks, and their colors are red and white. Their teams are highly successful because of the large student body from which to choose players. Notable town rivals of

7812-603: The U.S. population self-identified with the United Church of Christ. The UCC maintains full communion with other Protestant denominations. Many of its congregations choose to practice open communion . The denomination emphasizes participation in worldwide interfaith and ecumenical efforts. The national leadership and General Synod of the UCC have historically favored culturally liberal views on social issues, such as civil rights , LGBT rights , women's rights , and abortion . UCC congregations are independent in matters of doctrine and ministry and may not necessarily support

7936-422: The UCC may solemnize same-sex unions. A resolution, "In support of equal marriage rights for all", was supported by an estimated 80 percent of delegates to the church's 2005 General Synod, which made the United Church of Christ the first major Christian deliberative body in the U.S. to endorse "equal marriage rights for all people, regardless of gender". It now is the second-largest Christian denominational entity in

8060-423: The UCC's central beliefs is that it is "called to be a united and uniting church". Because of this, the UCC is involved in Churches Uniting in Christ , an organization seeking to establish full communion among nine Protestant denominations in America. Currently, the UCC has entered into an ecumenical partnership with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and through A Formula of Agreement , signed in 1997,

8184-426: The UCC. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches were themselves the result of earlier unions and had their roots in Congregational, Lutheran, Evangelical, and Reformed denominations. At the end of 2014, the UCC's 5,116 congregations claimed 979,239 members, primarily in the U.S. In 2015, Pew Research estimated that 0.4 percent, or 1 million adult adherents, of

8308-400: The UCC. The UCC often uses four words to describe itself: "Christian, Reformed , Congregational and Evangelical". While the UCC refers to its Evangelical characteristics, it springs from (and is considered part of) mainline Protestantism as opposed to some doctrines in Evangelicalism . The word evangelical in this case more closely corresponds with the original Lutheran origins meaning "of

8432-414: The US to support same-sex marriage , after the Presbyterian Church (USA) . The resolution was one of 32 actions by General Synod and other national bodies, beginning in 1969, which support civil rights for LGBT citizens and urge their full inclusion in the life of the church. The UCC's Open and Affirming movement, funded by the Open and Affirming Coalition, is the largest LGBT-welcoming-church program in

8556-438: The United Church of Christ Constitution, "The basic unit of the life and organization of the United Church of Christ is the local church." An interplay of wider interdependence with local autonomy characterizes the organization of the UCC. Each "setting" of the United Church of Christ relates covenantally with other settings, their actions speaking "to but not for" each other. The ethos of United Church of Christ organization

8680-447: The United Church of Christ and the United Church of Canada came together in Niagara Falls, Ontario , to sign a historic full communion agreement. This agreement had been approved at the 30th General Synod of the UCC and the 42nd General Council of the United Church of Canada in the summer of 2015 and signifies the mutual desire of both denominations to work in cooperation and openness in the areas of worship, mission, witness, ministry and

8804-532: The United Church of Christ is the local church (also often called the congregation ). Local churches have the freedom to govern themselves, establishing their own internal organizational structures and theological positions. Thus, local church governance varies widely throughout the denomination. Some congregations, mainly of Congregational or Christian Connection origin, have numerous relatively independent "boards" that oversee different aspects of church life, with annual or more frequent meetings (often conducted after

8928-516: The United Church of Christ, creeds , confessions, and affirmations of faith function as "testimonies of faith" around which the church gathers rather than as "tests of faith" rigidly prescribing required doctrinal consent. As expressed in the United Church of Christ constitution: The United Church of Christ acknowledges as its sole Head, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior. It acknowledges as kindred in Christ all who share in this confession. It looks to

9052-671: The United Church of Christ. United Church Funds' offices are also located in New York City . Everett Parker of the UCC Office of Communication, at the request of Martin Luther King Jr. , organized UCC churches during 1959 against television stations in the Southern United States that were imposing news blackouts of information pertaining to the then growing Civil Rights Movement . The UCC later won

9176-793: The Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world. It claims as its own the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers. It affirms the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. In accordance with

9300-645: The age level they are offering. Sexuality and Our Faith are separate manuals that bring in the UUA principles and scripture used in the UCC to support its teachings. The curriculum is based on guidelines provided by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States . In 2021, the UCC and the UUA presented "a study on polyamory by the Canadian Unitarian Council " as a part of its sexual education programs. Prior to

9424-418: The age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.88. In the town the population was spread out, with 22.0% under

9548-460: The age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $ 46,811, and the median income for a family was $ 54,026. Males had a median income of $ 41,494 versus $ 30,442 for females. The per capita income for

9672-412: The assistance of the ministerial committee, admits and removes local congregations from membership in the UCC. Associations meet at least once annually to elect officers and board members and set budgets for the association's work; fellowship and informational workshops are often conducted during those meetings, which may take place more frequently according to local custom. In a few instances where there

9796-466: The call of a pastor be approved by the association committee on ministry. Participation in the search and call process is usually considered a sign of the congregation's loyalty to the larger denomination and its work. At the end of 2008, 5,320 churches were reported to be within the UCC, averaging 210 members. Sixteen churches were reported to have over 2,000 members, but 64% had fewer than 200 members. The latter statistic probably indicates where most of

9920-415: The conference level. However, the local church may, for various reasons, opt not to avail itself of the conference placement system, and is free to do so without fear of retaliation, which would likely occur in synodical or presbyterian polities. However, many UCC congregations have constitutions that mandate that their called pastor be an ordained minister approved by the association, while others require that

10044-551: The county of Devon . The first European to explore the area was Bartholomew Gosnold in 1602. It was settled in 1638, as one of the first towns in the Plymouth Colony , one year behind Sandwich further south in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. It was incorporated on September 4, 1639, the same day as the towns of Sandwich, and Yarmouth . On the first Tuesday of December, the same year, its deputies took their seats in

10168-492: The delegates gathered. This union adopted an earlier general statement of unity between the two denominations, the 1943 "Basis of Union". At the time, the UCC claimed about two   million members. On January 23, 1959, 30 theologians, pastors, and laymen finished writing the UCC's Statement of Faith. The Statement of Faith was written with the intention of including the essential principles while being "broad enough for persons of varying points of view". It affirms belief in

10292-412: The denomination's declining membership has occurred, in formerly mid-sized congregations between 200 and 500 members or so. The reduction in a typical church's size has also meant that, increasingly, many congregations are no longer able, as they once were, to afford a full-time, seminary-educated pastor, and that some of them have to rely on alternatives such as one of their members serving the church under

10416-495: The district the authority to establish public safety services, including a fire department and rescue personnel; a water department to provide the village with drinking water; and a Prudential Committee to oversee the budgets and infrastructure of the district. There are ten elected officials: a Moderator; three members of the Prudential Committee; three members of the Board of Water Commissioners; and three members of

10540-476: The end of the 19th century, there were some 804 ships harbored in the town. But the role of sailing ships declined with the rise of ocean-going steamships and the railroad, which had arrived in 1854. By the late 19th century, Barnstable was becoming world-renowned as the tourist destination it still is to this day. Many prominent Bostonians spent their summers on the Cape shores, as did presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Grover Cleveland . The most well-known family of

10664-488: The general court. The early settlers were farmers, led by the Reverend Joseph Hull , the founder of Barnstable. A memorial tablet was dedicated there in 1939 (the 300th anniversary of the town's founding) marking the site of his home, and the rock from which he preached still stands along the highway there. Soon after the town's founding, agriculture, fishing and salt works became its major industries. By

10788-459: The geographical alignments, with its churches scattered from Connecticut westward to California and southward to Florida . Only one conference has ever withdrawn completely from the denomination: Puerto Rico , expressing disapproval of national UCC tolerance of homosexuality (as well as that of a large number of mainland congregations), departed the denomination in 2006, taking all of its churches. The denomination's churchwide deliberative body

10912-554: The gospel" as opposed to the Evangelical use of the word. UCC is generally theologically liberal , and the denomination notes that the "Bible, though written in specific historical times and places, still speaks to us in our present condition". The motto of the United Church of Christ comes from John 17:21 : "That they may all be one". The denomination's official literature uses broad doctrinal parameters, emphasizing freedom of individual conscience and local church autonomy. In

11036-474: The headquarters of all UCC national bodies had been located prior to their move to Ohio in the early 1990s. The Insurance Board is a nonprofit corporation collectively "owned" by the Conferences of the United Church of Christ . It is run by a president/CEO and a 19-member Board, with the full corporate board consisting of Conference, Region and Presbytery ministers as well as laypeople. The IB administers

11160-673: The influence of New England Puritanism . Moreover, it also subsumed the third largest Calvinist group in the country, the German Reformed . Notably, its modern members' theological and socio-political stances are often very different from those of its predecessors. The Evangelical and Reformed Church , General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches , and the Afro-Christian Convention, united on June 25, 1957, to form

11284-492: The island known today as Oyster Harbors , or Grand Island. That transaction, which occurred on May 17, 1648, was made by Paupmunnuck and his brother, and "sold" about "twenty square miles of land in what is now the southwestern section of Barnstable." The purchase price was two kettles, a bushel of Indian corn, and the agreement to fence off 30 acres (120,000 m) of land comprising the Cotachessett village. However this

11408-399: The larger UCC's mission work, and church extension within their bounds (the latter usually conducted in conjunction with the national Local Church Ministries division). Conferences, like associations, are congregationally representative bodies, with each local church sending ordained and lay delegates. Most current UCC conferences were formed in the several years following the consummation of

11532-529: The main body of water in town, is bounded by Cotuit to the west, Grand Island/Oyster Harbors to the east (part of the village of Osterville ) and Dead Neck/Sampson's Island to the south, making the bay a quiet harbor and part of the so-called Three Bays system which includes North and West Bays. Sampson's Island is an Audubon bird sanctuary, jointly managed by the Three Bays Preservation organization, that can only be reached by boat. A permit

11656-489: The meaning that they thought their entire church emphasized. Baptism as an "entry into the Church Universal" was the most frequent response. Clergy and laity were invited to identify two meanings of Holy Communion that they emphasize. While clergy emphasized Holy Communion as "a meal in which we encounter God's living presence", laity emphasized "a remembrance of Jesus' last supper, death, and resurrection". One of

11780-636: The merits of the "economic leverage" resolution, additional concerns were raised about the process in which the General Synod approved the resolution. Michael Downs of the United Church of Christ Pension Boards (who would be charged with implementing any divestment of the UCC's Pension Board investments) wrote a letter to UCC President John H. Thomas expressing concern "with the precedent-setting implications of voted actions, integrity of process and trust". The United Church of Christ, along with

11904-423: The most visible voice of the "stance of the denomination" on any particular issue, the covenantal polity of the denomination means that General Synod speaks to local churches, associations, and conferences, but not for them. Thus, the other settings of the church are allowed to hold differing views and practices on all non-constitutional matters. General Synod considers three kinds of resolutions: As agents of

12028-494: The national body's theological or moral stances. It self-describes as "an extremely pluralistic and diverse denomination". The United Church of Christ was formed when three Protestant churches, the Evangelical and Reformed Church , the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Afro Christian Convention united on June 25, 1957. The vote on the resolution had no dissenting votes from

12152-490: The national level, Barnstable is a part of Massachusetts's 9th congressional district , and is currently represented by William R. Keating . The state's senior (Class II) member of the United States Senate , is Elizabeth Warren . The junior senator from Massachusetts is Ed Markey , elected in 2013. Barnstable has the largest public school enrollment of any town on Cape Cod, with over 5,000 students. In 2010,

12276-472: The national merger in 1961, and in some instances were the unions of former Congregational Christian conferences (led by superintendents) and Evangelical and Reformed synods (led by presidents, some of whom served on only a part-time basis). A few have had territorial adjustments since then; only one conference, the Calvin Synod, composed of Hungarian-heritage Reformed congregations, received exemption from

12400-399: The north and Osterville to the east, and Nantucket Sound to the south. Cotuit is primarily residential with several small beaches including Ropes Beach, Riley's Beach, The Loop Beach and Oregon Beach. Cotuit was part of a major land purchase negotiated by Myles Standish of the Plymouth Colony with Paupmunnuck, Wampanoag headman of the Cotachessett village allegedly located on or near

12524-477: The oldest brand name of oyster in the United States. Cotuit is world-famous for its oysters, and in years past they rivaled Wellfleet oysters and could be found on menus in restaurants from San Francisco to Paris . In the 1980s, however, many of the Cotuit oyster beds were significantly diminished. Today, Cotuit Oysters are re-appearing on the menus of many fine-dining establishments on Cape Cod and in Boston , and

12648-780: The pines and oaks around Wequaquet Lake . The south is where the bulk of the population lives, many along the beaches of Centerville and Hyannis Harbors. Hyannis is the biggest village in Barnstable by size and population. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Barnstable has a humid continental climate ( Dfb ). Dfb climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F (≤ 0.0 °C), at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (≥ 10.0 °C), all months with an average mean temperature ≤ 71.6 °F (≤ 22.0 °C), and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total

12772-469: The proclamation of a common faith. This agreement will allow the two denominations to recognize the validity of each other's sacraments and ordination of ministers and opens up the possibility of ministers being called to serve in congregations of either denomination. The UCC is a member of Christian Churches Together (CCT), an interdenominational fellowship in the United States aimed at strengthening ties between different branches of Christianity. Through

12896-758: The public school system underwent major changes due to budgetary constraints. The presently operational schools include: the Enoch Cobb Early Learning Center for pre-school students and five elementary schools serving various grades, including: Centerville Elementary School (K–3), Barnstable Community Horace Mann Public Charter School (formerly Hyannis East Elementary School) (K–3), West Villages Elementary School (formerly Marstons Mills East Elementary School) (K–3), Hyannis West Elementary School (K–3), and Barnstable-West Barnstable Elementary School (K–3). The Barnstable United Elementary School (formerly Barnstable Horace Mann Charter School ) serves

13020-551: The teaching of our Lord and the practice prevailing among evangelical Christians, it recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion. The denomination, therefore, looks to a number of historic confessions as expressing the common faith around which the church gathers, including: In 2001, the Hartford Institute for Religion Research conducted a "Faith Communities Today" (FACT) study that included

13144-404: The time of merger, along with several created during the denomination's earlier years. These structures carry out the work of the General Synod and support the local churches, associations, and conferences. The head executives of these ministries comprise the five member Collegium of Officers , which are the non-hierarchical official officers of the denomination. (The Office of General Ministries

13268-426: The town was $ 25,554. About 6.3% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over. Barnstable has a council–manager government . It was created in 1989, when the Town rewrote its charter and changed from a selectmen-town meeting form of government to adopt a council-manager system. The council hires the town manager. Barnstable

13392-528: The town was 91.85% White , 2.74% Black or African American , 0.59% Native American , 0.81% Asian , 0.04% Pacific Islander , 1.67% from other races , and 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70% of the population. 24.2% were of Irish, 13.3% English, 9.3% Italian and 5.5% American ancestry according to Census 2000 . 92.1% spoke English, 3.4% Portuguese , 1.6% Spanish and 1.0% French as their first language. There were 19,626 households, out of which 26.9% had children under

13516-526: The town. The largest, or central branches, are usually located in the downtown Hyannis area. Hyannis also is the site of the Cape Cod Hospital, which serves the central Cape region. As the county seat of Barnstable County, the town is the site of the county courthouse and juvenile lockup at the old House of Corrections, as well as the Offices of the Cape and Islands District Attorney . Barnstable

13640-400: The turn of the 20th century and were modeled after the flat-bottomed skiffs used in the oyster and commercial clam trade. Those boats were built with hard chines and low gunwales to provide a stable platform from which to clam from. The design was altered many times until 1926 when the design was standardized. Cotuit Skiffs are rigged like classic Cape Cod catboats —that is they carry only

13764-471: The various parts of the structure. As members of the Body of Christ, each expression of the church is called to honor and respect the work and ministry of each other part. Each expression of the church listens, hears, and carefully considers the advice, counsel and requests of others. In this covenant, the various expressions of the United Church of Christ seek to walk together in all God's ways. The basic unit of

13888-454: The views in the pews but that its governing structure is set up to allow such disagreements. Starting in 2003, a task force commissioned by General Synod 24 studied the diverse worship habits of UCC churches. The study can be found online and reflects statistics on attitudes toward worship, baptism, and communion, such as "Laity (70%) and clergy (90%) alike overwhelmingly describe worship 'as an encounter with God that leads to doing God's work in

14012-469: The wall's purpose is to prevent terrorist attacks, and that the resolution does not call for a stop to these attacks. The Simon Wiesenthal Center stated that the July 2005 UCC resolutions on divestment from Israel were "functionally anti-Semitic ". The Anti-Defamation League stated that those same resolutions are "disappointing and disturbing" and "deeply troubling". In addition to the concerns raised about

14136-433: The water in the village combine to occupy only 3.16 acres (12,800 m). The commercial zone is small, with only a few businesses located in the center of the village: a small restaurant and bar called The Kettle-Ho (named after the legend of how the town was acquired from the native Wampanoags for a kettle and a hoe, see above), a post office (02635), a Federated church ( United Church of Christ / United Methodist Church ),

14260-498: The world with more than 1,100 congregations and 275,000 members. On April 28, 2014, the UCC filed a lawsuit against North Carolina for not permitting same-sex marriage, the first faith-based challenge to same-sex marriage bans in the US. In the lawsuit, the church argues that prohibiting same-sex marriages violates the freedom of religion, as the ban forced ministers for same-sex marriages to not act on their beliefs. Same-sex marriage

14384-490: The world-famous Oyster Bar Restaurant in Grand Central Terminal in New York City . Cotuit Skiffs, formerly known as Cotuit Mosquitos, are 14-foot (4.3 m) gaff-rigged "one-design" sailboats that have been sailed on the waters of Cotuit Bay for the last 104 years, making them one of the oldest continuously sailed fleets of one-design racing boats in the world. They were designed by Stanley Butler after

14508-597: The world. ' " "95 percent of our congregations use the Revised Common Lectionary in some way in planning or actual worship and preaching" and "96 percent always or almost always have a sermon , 86 percent have a time with children , 95 percent have a time of sharing joys and concerns, and 98 percent include the Prayer of Our Savior/Lord's Prayer ." Clergy and laity were invited to select two meanings of baptism that they emphasize. They were also to suggest

14632-433: Was built in 1749 in the village of West Barnstable and then moved to its present location in Cotuit by oxen). When this Federal-style New England house was built by English businessman Josiah Sampson, it was regarded as so extravagant for its day that it came to be known by the townspeople as "Sampson's Folly", faced with many windows and containing a ballroom for dancing on its second floor. Now listed as "Sampson's Folly" on

14756-634: Was contrary to traditional Congregational principles. Their court challenges were unsuccessful. The vote to adopt the Constitution and by-laws was unanimous among the delegates that met in Philadelphia on July 4, 1961. The Afro-Christian Convention was a long-ignored "Fifth Stream" that had been neglected voice or visibility, resulting in an official apology from the denomination at the 2023 General Synod in Indianapolis, Indiana. There

14880-478: Was home to Camp Candoit . During the 1970s there was a large restaurant called The Harbor View, located at 968 Main Street, which has been turned into a private residence. The Cotuit Inn was demolished in 1986, and condominiums were built in its place. In 1987 the Cotuit Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places . The latitude of Cotuit is 41.61667. The longitude

15004-684: Was recognized in the Apology Resolution to Native Hawaiians . Congress recognized the reconciliation made by the UCC in the Eighteenth General Synod for their actions in overthrowing the Kingdom of Hawaii . United Church of Christ General Synod XXV also passed two resolutions concerning the conflict between Israel and Palestinians in the Middle East. One calls for the use of economic leverage to promote peace in

15128-539: Was renegotiated shortly after the conclusion of the Standish agreement to drop the fence and corn and settled instead on a price of "one great brass kettle seven spans in wideness round about, and one broad hoe." Cattle and the harvesting of salt marsh hay was the primary economic activity in colonial Cotuit. The Little River section of the village (near the present location of the Cotuit Oyster Company)

15252-498: Was the largest at 45%. Other statistics found by the Hartford Institute show that 53.2% of members say "the Bible" is the highest source of authority, 16.1% say the "Holy Spirit", 9.2% say "Reason", 6.3% say "Experience", and 6.1% say "Creeds". David Roozen, director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research who has studied the United Church of Christ, said surveys show the national church's pronouncements are often more liberal than

15376-540: Was the site of some early shipyards. The name Cotuit is derived from the Wampanoag term: "place of the council". Cotuit was formerly known as Cotuit Port until the postmaster, Charles C. Bearse, dropped the "port" in 1872. Built circa 1793, just off Main Street near the center of the village, is the Sampson's Folly-Josiah Sampson House , the oldest standing home actually built in Cotuit (the Crocker House on Route 28

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