I've been thinking about...

...Three-hour time changes, 35-degree temperature jumps, and a distinct lack of Steak ’N Shake franchise locations.

Which is to say, I’ve been thinking about coming home to Phoenix from my 5-day stay in Indianapolis, IN.

I was in Indianapolis for the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It is the every-other-year national gathering of my “other denomination.” You see, I was raised in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), I attended Disciples schools as an undergrad and a seminarian, and I was ordained by the Disciples too.

Yet, since my ordination, I have only served UCC churches! That is possible because of the unique partnership and historic relationships that the DoC and the UCC share. Both denominations pride themselves on Christian unity and ecumenical zeal. So we share — local pastors, overseas missions, even some global relief efforts and national structures.
I’ve joked for years that one glorious day the UCC and the DoC will finally follow through on our commitments to “unity as our polar star” by merging into one church. In which case we can finally get rid of our jumbled mouthfuls of names — the United Church of Christ is always confused with the southern, evangelical, ultra-conservative Church of Christ, and the Disciples have parenthesis in their name! — and as we adopt a more appropriate moniker: the United Christian Church.

Alas, that glorious day still seems far away. It wasn’t a topic of conversation at the General Assembly in Indy. But there was plenty of good work on the topic of church revitalization (a passion in the DoC and UCC). I look forward to sharing some of the highlights of that trip with you, as we share in the good work of being the people of God alive and at work right here in Phoenix. Even if we don’t have a double chocolate fudge shake from Steak ‘N Shake to help keep us cool in the summertime!

Yours in the journey, Rev. Brian