INTRODUCTION

Who We Are

The United Church of Los Alamos is unique! An Ecumenical Shared Ministry comprising six denominations, American Baptist, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Moravian, Reformed Church in America, Presbyterian (USA) and the United Church of Christ, there is perhaps no other church anywhere in the United States quite like it. The members and friends of the church come from all these denominations and others. The membership rolls do not list members by denomination. We all are a part of each denomination.

The United Church of Los Alamos is greater than the sum of all its denominations. In this day and age of post-denominationalism, the multi-denominational United Church is alive and healthy. It is testimony to the place of ecumenism in the future of the church. The United Church of Los Alamos was created in a unique time by a unique group of men and women and that special heritage continues to this day as the church ministers in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

However, The United Church is more than just its denominations. It is a church with a distinct history, an accepting theology and an emphasis on the laity in its form of government. United Church members are justifiably proud of their heritage. The purpose of this book is to lead you through the maze of The United Church so you might better understand how we came to be, what we believe and how we operate.