United Church of Christ is a Protestant religious denomination. It was formed in 1957 by the union of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. The United Church of Christ has a general synod (central body) that directs business affairs, elects church officers, and performs other duties related to church operations. However, individual congregations have the right to govern themselves. Church headquarters are in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1931, the Congregational churches merged with a union of three small church groups that all used the name Christian to form the Congregational Christian Churches. The Evangelical and Reformed Church was formed in 1934 by the union of two American churches of German background.
See also Congregationalists ; National Association of Congregational Christian Churches .
