The United Church of Big Rapids is a union of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ. It is a congregation that worships together, seeks opportunities to serve others, encourages one another to grow in intellect and spirit, strives for social justice, and fully embraces Jesus’ call to love one another as God loves us. Because we believe God’s whole creation is good, blessed, and sacred, we are an open and affirming community of faith. We celebrate persons of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, family structures, faith backgrounds, abilities, and economic circumstances. As valued members of this congregation all persons are invited to equally participate in the full life of the church – worship, sacraments, ministry, fellowship, leadership, responsibilities, sorrows, blessings, and the continued presence of Jesus Christ. This process took approximately 24 months of study and prayerful discernment. This included committee meetings, speakers, sermons and reading. Several congregations visited to share their prospective.