Hudsonville Congregational United Church of Christ is a Christian, Protestant, congregational church in covenant association with the United Church of Christ and located in Hudsonville, Michigan.
Contents
History
Revival meetings two or three times a year, held in the schoolhouse for an unknown number of years were the form of worship in the Hudsonville area before 1877. On March 8, 1877 this revival group established themselves as Hudsonville Congregational Church.
The early years
In 1877, the church received land that was donated by Hudsonville's founder, Mr. Homer Hudson for a building which was dedicated November 9, 1879. In 1919 the Grange Hall was given to the church and connected to the church building. In 1921 the church purchased adjacent property from Guy Edson.
Independent minded
In 1933 the Association passed a proposal which mandated that a minister be a member of the Association or licensed by it. At the time, the minister of Hudsonville Congregational Church was not a member of the Association. The church fought the mandate and received a favorable ruling on June, 1934, by Judge Miles, which was overturned by Judge Taylor in 1935.
Becoming new
The Hudsonville Congregational Church was reorganized on December 13, 1935. On March 25, 1937, the church building caught fire and burned to the ground. At the July 21, 1937 meeting, it was decided to rebuild at the same location. In 2002, the church celebrated its 125th year.
Becoming new again
In 2007, the congregation voted to accept updated bylaws of which provided a major revision in their structure that did away with having committees. With the new leadership structure, ministry would be fulfilled by ministry teams each led by a director. Inspired by the words of 1st Peter 2:5, members wrote their names on stones which were poured into the foundation of a 17,500-square-foot (1,630 m2) addition to the building consisting of new classrooms, a youth room, a choir room, a family life center, restrooms with shower facilities, a welcome area, a coat room, parlor and a new administrative wing, which was dedicated on June 3, 2007.
Theology
Sometimes Hudsonville Congregational UCC Church is criticized as being the only liberal church in Hudsonville, MI even throughout its history. Yet the church maintains that it is committed to the UCC motto "that they may be one" by welcoming diverse opinions, perspectives and backgrounds.
Hudsonville Congregational Church UCC Church describes their values as: promoting opportunities for people of all walks of lfe to engage in their journey of faith, welcoming and loving people for who they are, serving people who are in need in the community and all over the world, seeking daily to live out God's love and grace in character and in personal interactions with others and seeking loving, honest, and open relationships with one another.
Ministry and mission
Key to the church's teaching is that each individual is essential to the overall ministry of the church. It emphasizes a commitment to reaching out to people in need in the community. Among the ways they reach out include participation in G.R.A.C.E., Kids Hope USA, Second Harvest Gleaners, UCOM, and supporting Children, Inc., Children's Resource Network, Holland Rescue Mission, International Aid, Love, Inc., Wings of Mercy, and Women in Transition. Hudsonville Congregational UCC supports missionary work in India and through its denomination -people locally and around the world.