Union Congregational Church

An outstanding place for finding The Spirit in a socially conscious community. A place where the phrase «you are welcome here» is felt deeply by all. There is great respect for one’s own personal journey to God. There is great encouragement and opportunity to live the values that one attributes to a meaningful life. Understanding what makes Christ different from other philosophers — (ie: loving one’s enemies, fighting for and uplifting the under represented, and bringing a Light of Love to All) is a high priority. If you are feeling a need for real-​life relationships beyond the virtual world in which we all live, you can find a home here.

June 15, 2015 — The Rev. David A. Shaw begins his ministry today at Union Congregational United Church of Christ. Shaw will lead the 480-​member congregation as the 14^th senior minister since the church was founded in 1881.
Prior to joining Union Congregational Church, Shaw was the senior minister at Church in the Wildwood in Green Mountain Falls, CO. During his 10-​year tenure, he led the congregation in strategic planning, revised the education program and initiated a variety of community public forums on minimum wage, prison reform, gun control, immigration and responsible consumerism.
«My family and I are excited to be in Montclair with its vibrant, diverse community and to be joining a church that is committed to sharing the message of God’s grace, living a progressive theology and welcoming all who seek meaningful lives,» said Shaw.
«Union Cong. has a rich heritage of dynamic pastors who have inspired us from the pulpit to grow in Christian faith. We have called Rev. Shaw as our senior minister because he is an excellent spiritual leader and his successes with community activism align with our congregation’s priorities,» said Steve Harms, president, Union Congregational Church. «We are grateful for the leadership of our transitional senior minister the Rev. Dr. Tom Zoelzer, and we are eager to begin sharing ministry with Dave, both at Union Cong. and in the wider community.»
About Rev. Shaw
David A. Shaw was ordained June 25, 2006 and holds a Master of Divinity from Garrett– Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Ill., and a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. Shaw is the recipient of several awards and honors including a Lilly Endowment Sabbatical Grant (2011), which led to a three-​month sabbatical in Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, South Africa, at the University of KwaZulu-​Natal, where Shaw worked at Zimele, a nonprofit to empower women.