Date: June 25, 1957
Scene: A group of church members gathering in Cleveland, Ohio
Scene: A group of church members gathering in Cleveland, Ohio
Guy: All right, everyone. We've pretty much worked everything out except one detail. What shall we call this new church of ours? I propose that, since we are a newly united church, we should call ourselves the United Church of Christ.
Guy: Yes, you'd like to speak to the name?
Guy: Why would people do that? It's a totally different church.
Guy: You answered your own question. Clearly, our name has the word "United" in front of it.
Guy: Of course they're different. They're just the Church of Christ. We're the UNITED Church of Christ.
Guy: We'd have the "United" in front, plus we use organs. No one could ever confuse the two.
Guy: Not possible. People will be able to tell the difference. Our own members, non-members, the media, the governor of Connecticut...they'll all easily recognize that we're not the same and always call us by our proper name.
Guy: Of course they will. UNITED Church of Christ. It's can't-miss. We'll never ever have to explain to anyone that they're different.
Guy: All in favor of "United Church of Christ" as our new name, say "Aye!"
Happy birthday, UNITED Church of Christ.