The Latest News

Pastors Forum Postponed Due To Weather

Due to poor weather conditions, the Pastors Forum scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, February 27th , has been postponed. This forum was to be held at Brookside Church in Chillicothe, Ohio. It will be rescheduled at a later date.

Posted: 2/25/2010 - 9:20 P.M.

2010 Great Commission Offering Embraces Vision, Supports Missionaries

The General Missionary Department of The Churches of Christ in Christian Union is proud to announce the 2010 Great Commission Offering. The 2010 Great Commission Offering will take place on February 21, 2010. Formerly known as the February Sacrifice Offering, the Great Commission Offering is a church-wide opportunity to support CCCU missionaries as they raise up indigenous churches and church leaders around the world.

Most of us are able to summarize the message of the Great Commission which Jesus Christ assigned to His church in Matthew 28:19. We are to go, ...make disciples, teach them to observe all that He has commanded, ...and we are confident that He is with us to the end of the age. His words are specific, they are challenging, they are encouraging and they describe our missionary vision.

As members of His Body, we understand the urgency and the intensity of Christ's words as He speaks the Great Commission to us, His followers. Because this commission is of great importance to our Lord, it is our highest priority.

Please be thinking and praying about what you will give in the GREAT COMMISSION OFFERING during this month of February. Our General Missionary Board has set an offering goal of $60,000. This special offering is vital to the missionary emphasis in our denomination.

Twenty percent of the offering will be placed in the CCCU Disaster Relief Fund and be available to respond to disaster situations on our mission fields.
Ten percent of the offering will go directly to our missionaries.
Seventy percent supports missionary housing, homeland missionary transportation, office support, the Evangelical Advocate, and other beneficial services for our missionaries.

You may send your offering directly to the Missionary Department or to give through your local church. Your check is welcome, made payable to the CCCU Missionary Department. For more information, contact the CCCU Missionary Department at by phone at 740-474-8856 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The needs are great. All of God's people are instruments in His Hands, contributing to the work of the Kingdom. Please give as the Lord leads.

The CCCU Records Over 1000 Conversions in 2009

The Churches of Christ in Christian Union are proud to report 1,092 conversions in 2009! Dr. Tom Hermiz, General Superintendent, challenged the pastors and members of the CCCU to embrace an increased focus on evangelism during our centennial year. The goal was 1000 conversions in the 2009 calendar year.

Churches reported conversions on a monthly basis. Monthly conversion totals showed increased levels of evangelistic effort throughout the year. These positive trends encouraged CCCU leadership that local churches, pastors, and members were responding and would meet the goal. Year-end totals confirmed the goal had been reached.

This milestone serves to encourage every church, church member, and pastor to work even harder to spread the Gospel this year. Together the CCCU looks forward to higher conversion totals in 2010!

Haiti Relief Fund

The Churches of Christ and Christian Union and Ohio Christian University are working together to provide needed funds for relief efforts in wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. A relief fund has been set up through OCU.

100% of donations will go to relief efforts through the Haiti Wesleyan Mission.

Donations may be made to Ohio Christian University. For more information, visit the OCU website at www.ohiochristian.edu or call 740-474-8896.

The CCCU and The Sanctified Church/Amistad y Vida Join Forces

The Churches of Christ in Christian Union are proud to announce The Sanctified Church/Amistad y Vida as associate members. The associate membership will mutually benefit the ministries of each denomination. The CCCU and The Sanctified Church/Amistad y Vida will work together in the areas of church planting, cross cultural ministry, and ministry development. It will facilitate an increased level of ministry collaboration and help both organizations maximize their ministry efforts.

The Sanctified Church/Amistad y Vida is a Wesleyan-Arminian denomination serving congregations throughout the United States. In 1996, The Sanctified Church began a new outreach, serving the growing Hispanic population of Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and the United States by starting churches, preaching the message of Scriptural Holiness and attending the basic needs of the international Latin community. To learn more about The Sanctified Church/Amistad y Vida, visit www.thesanctifiedchurch.org.

Planting New Churches: Thanksgiving Offering 2009

God is tremendously blessing our new congregations and pastors. We give Him all the thanksgiving and praise for His great faithfulness. In spite of economic challenges, the generosity of God's people amazing! We are able to assist with establishing new churches because of YOU! That's why this Thanksgiving Church Extension Offering is so important.

You are important to this offering. Would you join the challenge and inspire your friends and others in your church to participate in this special offering? A $10 one-time gift will help us reach our goal! The Thanksgiving Offering will be taken at each local CCCU church on November 22, 2009. If everyone participates at this level we will exceed our goal and will be able to become a greater blessing to potential future congregations!

The promotional materials for the 2009 Thanksgiving Offering included a DVD along with an informational brochure. The DVD presentation is an excellent way to introduce your congregation to the pastors that are serving among our newest churches. If you would like promotional material for the 2009 Thanksgiving Offering, please contact General Church Extension Department at 740-474-8896 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

By establishing new churches we continue to fulfill the Lord's calling. As we conclude the celebration of our centennial anniversary, let us become more determined than ever to launch new churches and help them grow.

CCCU Statement on NAE Resolution on Amnesty

AMNESTY--The Churches of Christ in Christian Union does not support the NAE resolution on illegal immigration. We are a member of NAE, but our opinion on the resolution was never requested. The Churches of Christ in Christian Union support legal, regulated, and fair immigration.

Dr. Thomas H. Hermiz
General Superintendent
The Churches of Christ in Christian Union

2009 NED Council Update

The Northeast District met on July 31st for its fifty-seventh annual District Council. Ministers, delegates, and district officials met throughout the day to elect officers for coming Council terms.

Elected to the following offices were:

Assistant District Superintendent--Rev. Daryl Kuhns

District Board of Trustees:
-Bowles Taitt (Two Year Term)
-John Saultz (Two Year Term)
-Palmer Neumeister (One Year Term)

Board of Examination and Ordination: Dorothy Penird
Church Extension Committee: TBD
Pastoral Relationship Board: Emily Buchanan
District Missionary Committee: Wyatt Buchanan
District ECY President: Frank Skies
District ECY Treasurer: Barry Kerner
District ECY Advisory Pastor: Scott Stultzman
District ECY Member-at-Large: Christina Ellerson
District Christian Ed. Comm. Chairperson: Vilna Henry
District Christian Ed. Comm. Member: Veronica Leatham
Camp Meeting Committee: Pat Burnett, Wyatt Buchanan
District ECL Committee: Judy Fitzgerald

2009 WCD Council Update

The West Central District is meeting today, July 11th, for its 30th annual District Council at Lighthouse Ministries in Columbus, Ohio. Ministers, delegates, and district officials will meet throughout the day to elect officers for the coming Council terms. Many significant votes will be taken. Updates will be made to this article as votes are announced.

General Superintendent's Address
General Superintendent Dr. Tom Hermiz addressed the Council at 9:15 A.M. Dr. Hermiz reported that the CCCU continues to build relationships with like-minded holiness churches. We will be partnering with The Sanctified Church in Hispanic Ministries. The Beacon of Hope CCCU, in Columbus, Ohio, will begin a new Hispanic ministry next week in partnership with The Sanctified Church. This is the first endeavor of its kind.

Dr. Hermiz called for laity to take the lead to improve compensation for pastors. Pastoral compensation must improve to maximize ministry availability of pastors and to attract new pastors.

Finally, Dr. Hermiz called the Council to be passionate about reaching lost people. Pastors and laity alike must have a sense of urgency in their ministry efforts.

Update: 1:30 PM

Elected to the following offices were:

Assistant District Superintendent--Rev. Dan Jordan

District Board of Trustees: Stephen Palmer, Bruce, Morrison, Kevin Behrer, David Allison

2009 SCD Council Update

The South Central District is meeting today, July 10th, for its 51st annual District Council at Brookside Church in Chillicothe, Ohio. Ministers, delegates, and district officials will meet throughout the day to elect officers for the coming Council terms. Many significant votes will be taken. Updates will be made to this article as votes are announced.

Dr. Hermiz called for laity to take the lead to improve compensation for pastors. Pastoral compensation must improve to maximize ministry availability of pastors and to attract new pastors.

Finally, Dr. Hermiz called the Council to be passionate about reaching lost people. Pastors and laity alike must have a sense of urgency in their ministry efforts.

Update: 12:00 PM

Elected to the following offices were:

Assistant District Superintendent--Rev. Leland Allman

Update: 2:00 PM

Elected to the following offices were:

District Board of Trustees:
-Doug Campbell (2 Year Term)
-Mark Polley (2 Year Term)
-Bob Isaacs (1 Year Term)

Update: 3:30 PM

Elected to the following offices were:

Board of Examination and Ordination: Gary Thompson
Church Extension Committee: Marilyn Roades
Pastoral Relationship Board: Gary Heimbach
District Missionary Committee: Randy Peters
District ECY President: Lisa Trimble
District ECY Treasurer: Christin Johnson
District ECY Member-at-Large: Marcus Whitt
District Christian Ed. Committee Chairperson: Michael Tipton
District Christian Ed. Committee Member: Chuck Elliott
Camp Meeting Committee: Walter Snyder, Denver Kennison
Distrct ECL Committee: Angela Goldsberry

Update: 4:30 PM

Council Adjourned.

Fire Destroys Bellefontaine Church

A five alarm fire in the early hours of Monday, May 11^th, destroyed the Bellefontaine Church of Christ in Christian Union in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Firefighters battled the blaze for six hours. There was already heavy smoke and flames from the roof by the time crews arrived shortly after 1 a.m. According to Bellefontaine Fire Department officials, the fire started in the attic. They believe it was caused by a mechanical issue. The official cause is still under investigation. No injuries were reported and no one was known to be in the building at that time.

Please pray for Pastor Gene Thompson and this congregation as they move forward and prepare to rebuild.

Local Churches Help Each Other in Laredo

On a little unknown street in Laredo, Texas stands a church that is very much alive for the Lord. God is blessing that work in a wonderful way. Recently a work team from Ohio and Kentucky went to help the Laredo Church of Christ in Christian Union make some much needed repairs. The work in Laredo still remains a vital part of C.C.C.U. ministries on the Texas-Mexican Border. Greeted as friends by church members, the team was blessed to see their commitment to God, their local church and to reaching the Laredo area for Christ. They dream of people coming to find Jesus; they dream of people being sanctified wholly and they dream of a church filled with voices singing, praying and praising God. The team was privileged to worship with the congregation at Laredo C.C.C.U. on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening and visit Zapata C.C.C.U. in Zapata, Texas on Sunday evening.

Upon arrival on the border, the project changed from re-modeling the parsonage to include new siding for the fellowship hall, a lot of painting, replacing the ridge vent system on the entire school roof and many other things. We never had to look very far for work to do. Our team included: Rev. Emory Clark, David Bryant, Zach Oney and Bob Adkins from our South Solon, Ohio Church. Also, Don Grooms from West Union, OH and from Maysville, KY - Adrian Stone, David Rose and Gaylen and Marilyn Roades.

Mission trips, whether cross-cultural or within the continental US, are a vital part of our idenity in the Churches of Christ in Christian Union. It only takes a few days of your time to make a huge difference for others who need the benefit of your love and concern, not to mention your mind to work. Will you consider becoming a part of a work team to help others? You can be certain that God will bless you and make you a blessing.

SCD ECY Announces NEW Camp

The South Central District ECY Department is excited to announce the addition of a new camp to its summer youth camp program. The new camp will be held in Avon Park, Florida and will minister to students 13-17 years old. This is a tremendous opportunity for the SCD ECY Department to reach out beyond Ohio and minister to students who normally cannot make the long trip from Florida for our Nipgen summer camps.

SCD ECY President David Uhl says, "This is an important and historic step for the SCD ECY Department. Significant discussion and prayer preceded this decision, and we (the SCD ECY Board) feel like God has really opened the door for us to make this happen. The SCD is more than just Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Our board feels it is important to reach out to all of the students, youth leaders, and churches of our district and offer them the same high quality ministries that we offer here in Ohio. We are very excited about this new Florida youth camp. However, this isn't all we have planned. We are currently evaluating the possibility of another summer youth camp in the Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina areas for 2010. The SCD ECY Board wants to lead the effort to connect with all of our district churches and offer student ministries that will impact lives."

Jeremy Hurd, Youth Pastor at Community Bible Church in Avon Park, FL will be the Coordinator of the new Florida youth camp. The camp is being planned for June 2009. More details will follow as they become available. Please be in prayer for this new ministry, as well as for wisdom and guidance as additional ministries are planned, all for His glory.

General Board Ruling - 12/08

GENERAL BOARD RULING

General Board of Trustees - December 2, 2008

Regarding Ministry

Since persons set apart by The Churches of Christ in Christian Union for Ordained, Council and Local License are required to maintain the highest standard of holy living in the world.

Since the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained, council or local ministers or serve in a leadership capacity in The Churches of Christ in Christian Union.

Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches or on church property.

Regarding Membership

Persons who wish to become members of The Churches of Christ in Christian Union accept the Holy Scriptures, which teach that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore a practicing homosexual shall not hold membership in The Churches of Christ in Christian Union.

No person who is a practicing homosexual shall have any leadership position in the church such as Sunday school teacher, trustee or any other office.

While we recognize that homosexual persons are no less than heterosexual persons as individuals of worth and God's grace is available to all, we also recognize that the practice of homosexuality is a sin and pray for those persons who are living outside the teaching of the Word of God

Click here to download the Document on the CCCU Background Check Policy.