THEOLOGY

What We Believe

One can imagine that with a history as checkered and broad as that of The United Church, a description of its theology, of what it believes, might be difficult if not impossible. In a sense that is true. You can be sure that as soon as we say this is what we believe, someone will dissent. Yet there is a document that sets forth the belief system of the church. It is called The Covenant.

At the same time the new church in Los Alamos was chartered, a statement of belief was adopted. Dr. Quintin Miller, Executive Secretary of the Federal Council of Churches (now the National Council of Churches) guided a committee of charter members in finding and adapting a statement. The group took a Covenant written for the multi-denominational Union Church in the Canal Zone, appropriately modified it, and presented it to the congregation.

On October 19, 1947, The United Church of Los Alamos Covenant was adopted. It has never been modified since. Several times during the year, including whenever new members are received, the congregation recites the Covenant. It can rightly be said that the Covenant is the theological glue that holds the church together.