Through preaching and study, we value the challenge to think critically – respectfully and carefully – about the Bible, what it meant and what it means today, how and why it was written and what that means for us. We search for truths imbedded in its stories and wrestle with some of its troubling texts, seeking good news. We take the challenge to “Listen for the Word of God.” Through the sharing of personal stories and the studying of current events, we’re discovering that the Bible does not contain the last word on God.   For more about how the United Church of Christ reads and understands the Bible, click here.

We’re trying to understand what “following Jesus” means in a day when nothing is as simple as it used to be. So we offer regular studies and try to act on such matters as immigration, health care, poverty, race, LGBT issues, and other mattes of real life. To think, question, and act.

Jesus can be difficult for many mainline Christians – highjacked by conservative evangelical Christians. But we won’t ignore his teachings. Who is a better model of faith, compassion, and a prophetic life? We do not all agree on such ideas as “Savior” and “Messiah” and “Lord.” But we are a gathering of people who work at taking his life and teachings seriously and try to follow the example of Jesus in our everyday lives. Anyone who faced Jesus was asked to change, to be transformed. Some did. Some walked away because the personal cost was high. We are sustained by worship in community to remain steadfast in our commitment to lead a transformed life.

We have a deep and enduring commitment to social justice. We believe that our humanity flourishes in freedom. We seek not only to define personal and social problems, but also to understand how our faith can inform and guide our response to them. Instead of standing downstream trying to lift suffering people out of the water, we strive to go upstream to alleviate the injustices that throw people into the water in the first place.

For more, see our Just Peace Covenant

Life is tough enough. Things we don’t expect and can’t control happen every day. As we share our stories we keep in our prayers those who suffer and are heavy laden. We believe it’s important for everyone, no matter how troubled, to be lifted up with hope. Justice without mercy is legalistic; compassion without justice is unfinished business.

For more, see our page about Social Justice and Service

We are a community of young and old, black and white, gay and straight, with differing perspectives, abilities and interests, committed to caring for one another in times of joy and sorrow. Many of us have discovered that no other everyday affiliation – our co-workers, neighbors, family – allows us such diversity. This church practices a true ministry of caring between members.

Convinced that "in Christ there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one ...," Park Hill Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, declared itself to be Open and Affirming of women and men of all ages, races, abilities, and sexual orientations who desire to share in its services and activities.

It is hopefully a sign of progress that no one quite knows who the LGBT members are and who are the “straight” ones. We are all integrated into one another’s lives and in each other’s homes in such a way that it doesn’t make a difference. Yet, we don’t hide behind invisibility. Each person’s life and story is unique and is to be celebrated. We host occasional potlucks for LGBT members as a way to welcome new people to feel safe and secure in community while being part of the whole church.

For more about our biblical understanding of homosexuality, click here
To learn more about the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns, click here

Multiculturalism marks the intersection of leadership, social commitment, and faith. PHCC has been active with issues of race and community for fifty years. While the congregation predominantly stems from European roots, People of Color in the congregation are vital to shaping who we are and what we want to be. We believe that ethnic and spiritual diversity are fundamental to living our faith.

PHCC’s history with regard to the racial integration of our neighborhood is core to our story. Read more in Our Vision and Values.  Our diversity takes many forms, including being an Open and Affirming congregation, with people of all ages.

We have shared our building with Temple Micah, a Reformed Jewish Congregation, for about 30 years. The relationship has taken many forms and we currently enjoy pulpit exchanges and educational dialogues that enrich the faith of both congregations.

Click here for more about Temple Micah

As hard as it is to achieve, we seek a maturity of spirit that compels us to take responsibility for the health of the whole human community and the globe on which we live. In addition to performing random acts of kindness and sacrificing for justice, we strive as individuals to give financial and service support to and through our church. And the church in turn supports over 20 local groups and the national UCC with our dollars and volunteer work.

Click here to see a list of Our Partners in Ministry

We have tried to capture all of the above commitments in a statement of core values:

• Spiritual depth and intellectual integrity
• Worship, education, and outreach that transforms people and society
• Social justice, diversity, and love of neighbor
• Being open and affirming to everyone--without exception
• Belief that these values are embodied in the life of Jesus