About CPC

The Central Pacific Conference is situated in the Pacific Northwest with geography ranging from soaring mountains to rich farm fields, from rushing rivers to high desert, from the rugged Pacific Ocean coast to vibrant urban centers. We embrace the diversity of the population, which includes Native American peoples, lifelong residents, relocated residents, immigrants, and refugees. Ours is a continually transforming area that affords us the opportunity and challenge to share our progressive Christian voice and commitment to justice for all.

Grounded in the Gospel, we articulate a progressive Christian faith that follows in the footsteps of Jesus, proclaiming love and inclusion in all the world. We seek to deepen our faith practices in the community, while unapologetically claiming the language of our uniquely Christian tradition.

Who We Are

The Central Pacific Conference (CPC) is in covenant with 30 congregations in Oregon, 8 in Southern Idaho, and 2 in Southern Washington.

 We are an Open and Affirming, Immigrant Welcoming, Just Peace, and Earth Justice Conference, striving to become Anti-Racist.  We value the inclusion of all who participate in our local churches and ministry settings. We share a commitment to being a multi-racial, multicultural church. 

Our Conference also shares a deep commitment to the environment as evidenced by Camp Adams, our Oregon camp located on 216 acres of mature temperate rainforest. Not only do we provide meaningful summer camping experiences for children, youth, and congregations, but we continue to shape Camp Adams into a site for eco-justice activism and sustainable ecological practices. The Camp has entered into an easement agreement with the local conservation district that preserves 180 acres of this land in perpetuity, with financial proceeds from the agreement invested in an endowment fund for the long-term support and maintenance of the camp property. 

The CPC is also in covenant with Pilgrim Cove Camp in Idaho, which is owned by the Pilgrim Cove Foundation and is used by the Idaho UCC churches for their three youth camps each summer. Pilgrim Cove provides space for other groups during the camping season, as well as weddings, reunions, family gatherings, etc.

Our Board of Directors consists of officers, at-large members, and representatives from our four ministry teams: Local Church & Education, Wider Church, Justice and Witness, and Committee on Ministry. These teams provide a strong framework to engage our vision and mission. In addition, we currently support five networks based on interest and passions: Climate Action, Palestine Israel, Racial Justice, Healthcare, and LGBTQ+.

Our conference has a global partnership with the United Church of Christ of the Philippines Mindanao Region and in 2016 entered a partnership with the YWCA of East Jerusalem.  We value working locally, regionally, and globally to share God’s love and justice with our world.

We Are Called To…

  • Nurture Spiritual Growth

    We seek meaning and spiritual connection. We work to understand and articulate our faith in our world today. We claim our progressive Christian voice. And we rely on a connection to God and Jesus that informs the way we live today.

    Image By:Pat Crane

  • Foster Stronger Connections

    We continually improve communication throughout the Central Pacific Conference. We share ideas, resources, and best practices. We foster opportunities to work together on common interests/passions. We intentionally build relationships with each other. We use technology to help us connect throughout the region. We collaboratively support our children and youth. We nurture our relationship within all settings of the wider UCC.

  • Amplify Our Prophetic Voice

    We proclaim a strong progressive voice in our region. We make a collective public witness—this is where we stand. We work together to address social justice issues—homelessness, immigration, environment, mental health, and others—in our home communities and across the region, nation, and the world through advocacy and action

  • Become an Antiracist Conference

    We make anti-racism a priority by engaging or re-engaging in the Sacred Conversation on Race, by using denominational materials or other resources with emphasis on unpacking bias and dismantling racism. As we learn and reckon with the racist history of our Conference and the Pacific Northwest, we commit to working with others on our path to becoming an antiracist Conference. We commit to funding Conference-wide antiracism audit, education, and actions

Land Acknowledgement

Three Sisters, Central Oregon - image by Al Krause

We acknowledge that we all reside on the common ground of the First Nations of this region.  As we ground ourselves in this sacred common land, we recognize our siblings the Shoshone-Bannock, and Nez Perce. 

We acknowledge the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, the Coquille, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. We acknowledge the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua, the Klamath, and the Burns Paiute.

We acknowledge that led and justified by the Doctrine of Discovery, people of European descent created the fences and boundaries that carved this common sacred land into the property to be owned, bought, and sold, and that in so doing disconnected us from Creator’s call to live in communion with all of creation. 

As we gather at the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ in business and in worship, we acknowledge that this disconnection has resulted in grave racial and environmental injustices which we dedicate ourselves to redress in theology and practice. 

We acknowledge and honor the spiritual authority of the First Nations, who first received this land as a gift from the Creator. We honor the elders and commit ourselves to ongoing practices of listening, repentance, and reconnection.