618-654-2125 | Zoom Prayer and Lectionary Lunch Hour Every Wednesday @ 12:30 p.m.
618-654-2125 | Zoom Prayer and Lectionary Lunch Hour Every Wednesday @ 12:30 p.m.
Learn more about our church, history and team.
Our mission is to empower individuals and congregations across the Illinois South Conference to deepen their faith, live out the transforming love of Jesus, and boldly share the Gospel with the world.
We celebrate the rich diversity of God’s people, embracing that while we may differ in age, race, mental and physical abilities, backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities, we are One in Christ. In this beautiful diversity, we follow the example of Jesus by honoring the sacred worth of every person and affirming the unique reflection and giftedness of God’s love within each life.
Welcome to the Illinois South Conference of the United Church of Christ—a vibrant Conference where diverse minds and covenant hearts come together as one in the Body of Christ. Across the rich landscape of southern Illinois, from Pana to Carbondale, and from Fieldon to Farina, you’ll find congregations rooted in rural towns, nestled in university towns, and spread through the Metro East suburbs of St. Louis. We are more than 15,500 members strong, united by a shared belief that God is still speaking, still calling, and still transforming the work of the Church. And we are listening. We are responding with courage and compassion, stepping beyond the walls of our churches to share the extravagant love of Jesus. Here, faith is not just something we talk about; it is something we live. We are committed to creating a world where every person knows they are beloved and can discover hope and healing in a hurting world. Together, we are seeking to build faith communities where people will encounter God’s grace and mercy, one life, one relationship, one act of love at a time.
The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a distinct and diverse community of Christians that come together as one church. We believe God is still speaking, that faith must join with action, and that unity and diversity are equally essential values throughout the body of Christ.
Congregations and local churches are the basic unit of life and organization within the UCC. Each congregation is autonomous, with the freedom to discern and select its internal structure and procedures, form of worship, membership processes, etc. Think of the congregation as a single scene in a book, play, or movie: there’s a beginning and ending, unique characters, and specific dialogue and interactions, but it doesn’t stop there.
Associations are regional gatherings of congregations with the authority to authorize pastors and grant ministerial standing. These would be like a chapter or act, composed of multiple scenes all moving the story forward together.
Conferences encompass affiliated associations, typically within a geographical region. A conference conducts administrative duties and provides support to local congregations and associations. This can look different in every conference depending on the needs of local churches. Conferences may provide counsel, assist local churches and ministers with search and call processes, establish and maintain conference offices, conference centers, institutions, and other agencies that encourage individual and congregational growth and welfare, or conduct meetings, retreats, clinics, workshops, and continuing education events. A conference is like a compilation of many scenes or chapters into a cohesive narrative.
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