9123 Aboite Center Road, Fort Wayne, IN 10:15

Our Philosophy

Our welcome is warm and wide at Peace United Church of Christ (UCC). We are a thinking church, unafraid to ask difficult questions and listen for answers from a still speaking God.

We are a doing church, who is involved in community ministries close to home and far across the world, emulating the work Jesus Christ started so many years ago.

We are a family church, with programs for our youngest members and a keen interest in encouraging our children to take an active part in their faith journey.

We are an open and affirming church, who invites people of all backgrounds and identities to worship with us.

We like to say here at Peace UCC that no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Matthew 25:35

Our Denomination

ucc-logoThe United Church of Christ, the UCC, is a network of Christian communities—over 5,000 churches and approximately one million members—whose focus is the extravagant welcome of all peoples to join us in faith and in action, to promote justice and peace in the world.

We are part of the Indiana-Kentucky Conference of the UCC, who is responsible for larger, conference-wide missions, as well as the licensing, commissioning, and ordination of ministers.

UCC churches are governed by the congregation with a bottom-up philosophy. The congregation itself meets through smaller committees, its elected board members, and at least yearly during a congregation-wide meeting to determine the direction of its missions, outreach, and business matters. A UCC church is democratic church for and by its people.

Our Pastoral Team

Pastor, Christen Pettit Miller, M.Div. graduated from Bethany Theological Seminary in 1998, and before that, from Manchester College with a degree in English. After leaving seminary, she pastored at Manchester Church of the Brethren. She then completed a residency in chaplaincy and was on staff with Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home in 2005. She has been a board certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains and is an ordained minister in the UCC. She is passionate about seeking out those liminal spaces where the divine and the sacred mingle in our daily, ordinary lives.

Director of Christian Education, Nikki Shaw, has an undergraduate degree in English. She is licensed by the UCC as a minister, and has run the children’s education programs at Peace since 2013. She’s been delivering the weekly children’s message since 2012. She is passionate about children taking ownership of their faith and encouraging them to ask questions.

 

Administrative Assistant, Susan Tite, has run the church office with competence and compassion since 1995. Originally from England, Susan and her family have lived in Fort Wayne for most of the intervening years since 1977. Susan is passionate about helping the members of this congregation to make connections and foster community growth and communication at Peace.

Our Worship

Family Worship: 10:15 am Sundays

Adult Education Hour: 9:00 am Sundays

Children’s Church: Immediately after Children’s Message during worship, grades kindergarten through 5th grade

Nursery: Nursery services provide during worship for children pre-k and younger