Our Story

At Philippus Church, we believe in unconditional love for all. No exceptions. No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome at Philippus Church!

As followers of Jesus Christ and in partnership with the wider United Church of Christ, we are called to be the Body of Christ in a multicultural, urban neighborhood; embracing, celebrating God’s transforming love, by living our faith, working in hope for reconciliation and pointing the way to peace in our community and throughout the world.

United Church of Christ:
The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a distinct and diverse community of Christians that come together as one church to join faith and action. With over 5,000 churches and nearly one million members across the U.S., the UCC serves God in the co-creation of a just and sustainable world. The UCC is a church of firsts, a church of extravagant welcome, and a church where "…they may all be one" (John 17:21).

The Church of Firsts:

Since 1957, the United Church of Christ has been the church of firsts, weaving God’s message of hope and extravagant welcome with action for justice and peace. Together, we live out our faith in ways that effect change in our communities. The UCC's many "firsts" mean that we have inherited a tradition of acting upon the demands of our faith. When we read in Galatians: "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus"—a demand is made upon us.

And so we were the first denomination to:

Ordain an African-American,
Ordain a woman
Ordain an openly gay man
Affirm the right of same-gender couples to marry.

We were in the forefront of the anti-slavery movement and the Civil Rights movement. Our response to the demands of our faith is woven into the history of our country.

A Church of Extravagant Welcome:

Today, we continue to change lives throughout the world. We work alongside more than 200 mission partners. We labor ceaselessly to fight injustice, in the United States and abroad. We instill our vision into our youth and young adults, forging leaders who will imagine new dreams. And we sustain and develop church leaders, pastors, and our local churches to live their faith in exciting new ways. We believe in a God that is still speaking, a God that is all-loving and inclusive. We are a church that welcomes and accepts everyone as they are, where your mind is nourished as much as your soul.

We are a church where Jesus the healer meets Jesus the revolutionary, and where together, we grow a just and peaceful world.

History:

For over 125 years Philippus United Church of Christ has served the community and the world in the name of Jesus Christ. Our history is rich and full. God has blessed us in many and varied ways. While our congregation was once a German ethnic congregation located in a German neighborhood of Cincinnati, this is no longer true. While we continue to honor our heritage, our ministries reflect the diversity of our community. We have experienced many changes through the years. We know that God has constantly guided us through each day and into each new day. God continues to lead us in new and bold directions. Although our church is over 125 years old, our thinking is not.

Brewery District:

Our historic roots are deep in the Over-the-Rhine's Brewery District. Just down the street from Rhinegeist Brewery, our church has been a focal point for brewers, old and new. Many brewers worshipped with us, including Christian Moerlein himself! The Moerlein family donated our pipe organ to us, and our relationship with Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. continues to this day. In 2012, Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. crafted a Philippus Church inspired beer, the Philippus Kirsche Kolsch! Our own Rev. Sam Wyatt tapped the first keg.

Open and Affirming Congregation:

In January 2016, we unanimously adopted our new Open and Affirming Congregation Statement at our Annual Congregation Meeting.

Philippus Church welcomes people of every race, ethnic background, color, regional origin, age, gender, physical or mental ability, economic circumstance, returning citizen status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, family structure, and faith background into full participation in our congregation.