Jesus as Lord affirmed; Christology ranges from orthodox to progressive
Historical Congregationalism affirmed the full Chalcedonian Christology of the Westminster Confession and Savoy Declaration: Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who took on human nature, truly divine and truly human. The Cambridge Platform and the theology of the New England Puritans presupposed two-nature Christology throughout.
The UCC Statement of Faith describes 'Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord' who 'shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to himself.' This language is intentionally accessible to different theological frameworks. Conservative UCC congregations affirm full Chalcedonian Christology; progressive congregations and theologians may hold relational or narrative Christologies that describe Jesus as the supreme exemplar of God's nature without necessarily affirming his pre-existent divinity. The UCC's non-creedal character means that no specific Christological formula is imposed on member congregations.
Key Distinctions
- Natures formula:
- two complete natures (divine and human) united in one person (hypostatic union)
- Conciliar affiliation:
- Council of Chalcedon (451) affirmed
Scripture References
Sources
- UCC Statement of Faith (1959, revised 1981)
- Savoy Declaration, Chapter VIII (1658)
- UCC Book of Worship (current edition)