The Thinking Church
Christian life is not just about what we believe, but how we live. Union Church has a long history of asking questions and seeking answers. We live lives of love, always ready and willing to pivot when necessary. After all, our world is not as it ought to be, rife with injustice and cruelty, but we are empowered – by the promises of our baptism and the presence of the holy spirit – to change the world to better reflect the love of God.
Core Commitments
We are a community of people living lives of love for all people, gathered around these core commitments and guiding principles...
Who We Are
- We are a thinking church, so we ask questions to discern what really matters in life.
- We strive to live lives of love for God and all people.
- We know we have power, and we use that power to make the world more like Jesus would want it to be.
What We Believe
- God is real, and we deepen our faith by taking the time to get to know God better.
- We believe all people are created in the image of God, worthy of love and belonging.
- We love children and youth, and we seek to raise them with a curious, generous, personal and socially-engaged Christian faith.
Our Community
- We aim to grow in kindness and generosity with all people.
- We find meaning, and ultimately peace, through our shared commitment for justice and community outreach.
Welcoming Statement
We are all called by God as disciples of Christ. We affirm & welcome all persons as precious to God, just as they are. As a community of faith, in the service of God, we are enriched by our differences including diversity of gender identity and expression, age, marital & economic status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, race, and physical & mental abilities and qualities. We affirm that the Holy Spirit gathers us as a congregation in which all persons are invited to participate equally in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, blessings, concerns, & joys of our community of faith. We pledge to love, encourage, & support one another as the Body of Christ.
Union Church is sometimes known as “The Thinking Church.” We explore together what it means to be Christian and what God calls us to think, and say, and do as brothers and sisters of faith in Christ. Union Church is also known as “The Caring Church” and, in each season of our lives, we have found fellowship and friendship in worshipping together, and love and support in dealing with the blessings and challenges of life.
Rev. Robb Knuepfer
Here in Hinsdale we are surrounded by hypercompetition – for our kids it takes the form of traveling sports, grades, and ultimately college admissions. For us adults it takes the form of professional success, memberships, and social climbing. Here at Union Church we seek to be a bulwark against those cultural norms. We hope to be a community that loves and values one another simply because we are all fellow beloved children of God. A people committed to developing substantive, meaningful relationships with those inside and outside our walls.
Rev. Grant Glowiak
Our History
In August 1866 we officially became The Congregational Union Church, making us the oldest permanent organization formed in Hinsdale!
What's the UCC?
Our commitments arise out of our relationship with our denomination, the United Church of Christ (UCC)
Life Events
Weddings, baptisms, funerals and memorials - the most sacred of events in life can be celebrated at Union Church of Hinsdale.
“The opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. Certainty is missing the point entirely. Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns.``”
Anne Lamott
American Novelist + Activist
