Romans 8:26-39
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

The reactions, locally and across the country, to the UCC General Synod actions a few weeks ago have reminded me that some of what I value most about our denomination is greatly misunderstood, not only by the secular media but also by sister churches. Much of the non-religious press does not understand our polity, our system of church government. Some of our brothers and sisters in Christ do not understand, or sometimes even try to understand, how we read the scriptures and form our faith.

So there are two parts to my sermon today: a brief lesson in church polity or government, and a longer lesson in how we read the Bible.

The issue of church government is the easiest, so we�ll tackle it first.

In a congregational system of church government, like we in the UCC inherited from our Congregational ancestors, the local congregational is a whole church. What does that mean? Everything essential for being a church of Jesus Christ can be found in a local congregation. The Reformers defined the �marks of the church� as being preaching of God�s word, i.e. scripture, and the administration of the sacraments of baptism and communion. Where the Word is preached and the sacraments shared, there the church is; nothing else is needed. Conspicuously absent is church hierarchy. Our tradition sees the Church at its most basic as being local congregations.

Several practices in the life of our congregations come from this basic conviction. First is a fierce spirit of independence. �Nobody can tell me what to believe.� While arrogant statements like that are a danger, the positive side, for me, is overwhelming: we are free to, and we even have the responsibility for, state our faith and beliefs in our own words. We learn from 2000 years of church traditions and teachings, but ultimately each one of us, each one of you, must come to your own faith. Faith is not something you can borrow from your neighbor like a hammer or cake pan. So, in the UCC we find independent-thinking Christians and congregations.

Second practice in congregational life: We own property as individual congregations. First Congregational UCC in Waterville owns this building and our trust funds and other assets. Neither the Maine Conference nor the national UCC can tell us what to do with our property and other assets; that�s for the congregation to decide.

Third: Each UCC congregation hires its own ministers and staff. The conference and national offices assist in the process of distributing ministerial profiles (clergy resumes) and can offer advice. But when a minister is called to a church, the congregation votes to hire the minister. Many of you were in attendance at the congregational meetings when Alice and I were called to serve as your pastors.

Fourth: The national and regional p