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Our Church’s Wider Mission

While most of our direct mission efforts are local, Our Church’s Wider Mission is the name we use to describe the work we do as a United Church of Christ denomination through our conferences, national ministries, and UCC-related institutions. Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) is the financial support local churches provide that makes the UCC’s broader mission possible. Our Church’s Wider Mission has two parts: OCWM Basic Support and OCWM Special Support (special mission offerings).

Basic Support

OCWM Basic Support provides funding for the work of UCC conferences and national ministries. It enables the UCC denomination to pay for ministries to conferences, local churches, and members, as well as for ecumenical, prophetic, and missionary ministries on behalf of the UCC. Local churches send their OCWM contribution to their conference, which in turn sends part of the proceeds to the national organization. OCWM Basic Support is included in Hope Church’s annual budget.

Special Support

OCWM Special Support is made up of gifts to the four special mission offerings of the United Church of Christ. They are:

  1. One Great Hour of Sharing: Giving Help, Hope and Life supports partners in more than 70 countries with ministries that fund development projects, feed the victims of famine, provide services for displaced people, and respond to natural disasters. This is usually collected the 4th Sunday of Lent.
  2. Strengthen the Church: Faithfully Building the Body of Christ supports church growth and leadership development in the conferences and through the national offices of local church ministries. This is usually collected on Pentecost Sunday.
  3. Neighbors in Need: Justice and Compassion Like a Mighty Stream supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, including ministry carried out by the Council for American Indian Ministries and by the national offices of Justice and Witness Ministries. This is collected on World Communion Sunday, the 1st Sunday in October.
  4. Christmas Fund: Remembering Those Who Serve Our Church provides financial aid to retired and active ministers and their surviving spouses and children who face overwhelming financial demands. This fund helps provide pension and health premium supplements to low-income retirees and emergency assistance to the families of the clergy and lay employees. This is collected the Sunday before Christmas.

Hope Church is a “5 for 5″ church; Hope supports all five of the OCWM offerings of the United Church of Christ. You can learn more about each of these offerings and Our Church’s Wider Mission on the UCC web site.