“I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, (John 17:20-22 – NRSVUE)
Dear Friends of the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota of the United Church of Christ.
On August 11th, by my invitation, my friend and colleague the Rev Bob Thompson, President of the UCC Faithful and Welcoming Churches shared a reflection on the FWC movement in the UCC, as I recognized that many of our congregations in Iowa Nebraska South Dakota conferences identify as Evangelical, Conservative, Orthodox or Traditional (ECOT). His reflection elicited the most feedback on any reflection written.
In the coming weeks, I plan to reflect on my own personal experiences of those that reached out to me regarding Rev Bob’s reflection. One of my colleagues that reached out to me was Rev. Ann Molsberry and we had a fruitful and in-depth conversation, and I invited her to write a reflection.
As the Conference Minister, I am committed to journey with all pastors and congregations in the South Dakota Nebraska Iowa Conferences of the UCC and encourage thoughtful and respectful dialogues on issues we may not agree on. All reflections are posted in the individual Facebook pages of each Conference and thoughtful, respectful with grace feedback are always welcome.
Below is Rev Ann Molsberry personal response.
Bendciones y Paz,
Rev Roberto
A Response
On August 11, 2025, the TRI Conference Fast Five posting published an article by the Rev. Bob Thompson, President of the Faithful and Welcoming Churches, and a confessing ECOT (Evangelical, Conservative, Orthodox or Tradition) pastor. Bob was introducing ECOT to the Tri Conference.
A progressive perspective in defense of the United Church of Christ was requested.
This is my response.
On March 12, 2018, the United Church of Christ News published an article by the Rev. Bob Thompson titled “The Legacy of Billy Graham”. In the article, Bob has a conversation with our then President and General Minister, the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer. Bob asked John if the professed ECOT churches should simply leave the United Church of Christ. John replied with a firm “No”. When asked why? John replied, “You remind us how important the gospel is.”
I would have responded differently.
To John, I would have said, “After decades of scholarship and experience, the United Church of Christ does not need to be reminded how important the gospel is. We have it in our DNA .”
To Bob, I would have asked, “Why do you stay?”
According to their website, ECOT embraces the Lexington Confession.
The Lexington Confession was a response that grew directly out of the United Church of Christ 2005 General Synod 25 declaration in favor of equal rights for same sex couples and became the foundation for the formation of ECOT.
The Lexington Confession
- We dissent with all who have abandoned or altered this faith or who believe that our covenantal unity can be renewed or sustained apart from the historic and apostolic faith contained in the Old and New Testament and in the Ecumenical Creeds and Reformation Confessions.
- Are you saying the UCC has abandoned all its historic creeds and confessions?
- We dissent with all who reject the divinity, centrality, and Lordship of Jesus Christ, the teachings of Holy Scripture, the Ecumenical Creeds, and Reformation Confessions, or who re-interpret them in manners that violate the historic understanding of these Scriptures, Creeds and Confessions of the truly apostolic and catholic faith.
- Are saying the UCC rejects the Christology of Jesus the Christ?
- We dissent with the action of General Synod 25 to support equal marriage rights for same sex couples.
- Are you denying the existence of a whole class of people and denying them legal rights and inclusion?
- We dissent with all who imply that God is asking us to abandon the teachings of Holy Scripture as affirmed by the historic and ecumenical church.
- Are you saying the UCC has abandoned the teachings of the Bible?
You want to stay? Welcome!
Be prepared to be influenced, to be persuaded, to change, and to grow through our conversations about a justice seeking, generous, inclusive, compassionate Still Speaking God.
Be prepared to be influenced, to be persuaded, to change, and to grow through our conversations about the Bible being a human record of a flawed and ancient peoples’ relationship with God and how we can learn from them and apply their learnings to our own flawed relationship with God as we seek reconciliation in this new world: for the genocide of a Native American people, for the enslavement of black people, for dropping atomic bombs on another nation, for the murder of innocent children in Ukraine, Gaza and even our own country with guns manufactured by our own war industry.
Be prepared to be influenced, to be persuaded, to change, and to grow through our conversations as we seek Jesus’ Way for a people adapting to and moving through a scientific world that has progressed from animal traction, through the Industrial Revolution, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence.
Be prepared to be influenced, persuaded, to change and to grow through our conversations about our autonomy as sexual beings as we embrace an Open and Affirming God who created us on a spectrum of sexuality from female to male, including homosexual, transexual, bisexual, and asexual beings throughout creation…and be prepared for how we embrace and celebrate partnerships built on love, not solely on procreation.
Yes, we invite you to stay…but stay to be influenced, to be persuaded, to change, and to grow through our ever-changing, ever evolving relationship with a Still Speaking, Open and Affirming God. We will not go back to an old way of relating to an unmoved and unchanging deity. We welcome you to journey with us in United Church of Christ, a church that worships and praises a God of progress and change. We welcome you to the progressive United Church of Christ, a church of and for the future.
Rev. Ann Molsberry is a retired United Church of Christ pastor and graduate of Eden Seminary. She has served several churches in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio as solo pastor, interim pastor and Christian educator. Ann is now serving on the Eastern Iowa Association Committee on Ministry.