Connection Without Control

The United Deliverance Churches in America, Inc. is a covenantal connection of autonomous and independent Christian congregations, ministries, clergy, and ministry leaders who voluntarily come together for fellowship, spiritual enrichment, collaboration, training, missions, leadership development, and the advancement of the Gospel. UDCA is designed to provide connection without institutional control of the local church.

No. UDCA does not function as a traditional denomination exercising denominational authority over participating congregations. It is a connectional and covenantal body through which autonomous churches may voluntarily work together while maintaining their individual identity, governance, property, and ministry.

No. UDCA does not exercise hierarchical, judicatory, administrative, or ecclesiastical control over an autonomous local congregation. Each participating church remains responsible for its own governance, leadership, worship, doctrine, finances, property, membership, staffing, pastoral decisions, and internal affairs, subject to its own governing documents and applicable law.

No. UDCA does not appoint, assign, transfer, discipline, suspend, or remove the pastor of an autonomous local congregation unless a congregation has separately and expressly requested a specific service that is permitted under its own governing documents. The calling and tenure of a pastor remain matters of the local church.

No. Participation in UDCA does not require a congregation to surrender its local autonomy, property, corporate identity, governance, or internal decision-making authority. We believe churches can be connected without being controlled.

No. UDCA does not claim ownership, beneficial interest, trust rights, or control over the real estate, buildings, bank accounts, equipment, or other property of an autonomous participating congregation merely because of its relationship with UDCA.

UDCA does not require clergy serving autonomous participating churches to surrender or replace their existing credentials. When requested, UDCA may provide a process for eligible ministers seeking licensing, ordination, recognition, endorsement, credentialing, or other ministerial standing through the Connection. Such participation is voluntary and subject to applicable UDCA standards.

No. A pastor or minister does not ordinarily have to receive UDCA credentials simply because his or her congregation participates in the Connection.

Yes. UDCA does not maintain a policy prohibiting women from preaching, teaching, serving in ministry, or exercising spiritual leadership because of their gender. We recognize that participating congregations may have different traditions concerning particular offices and titles. Because local churches remain autonomous, each congregation determines its own pastoral and leadership practices consistent with its faith and governing documents.

Yes. Qualified women may participate in ministry and leadership within UDCA in accordance with the qualifications and requirements established for the particular office, ministry, department, or assignment.

UDCA's theological understanding of Christian marriage is the covenantal union of one man and one woman. Accordingly, UDCA does not solemnize, endorse, or recognize same-sex marriages as Christian marriages within its ecclesiastical practices. At the same time, we affirm that every person should be treated with dignity and respect and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to be proclaimed without hatred, harassment, or mistreatment of any person.

No. Local congregations maintain responsibility for their worship style, service schedule, preaching, music, ministry programs, and local customs. Our connection is built around shared Christian fellowship and purpose rather than uniformity in every local practice.

No. UDCA does not control the bank accounts, budgets, salaries, offerings, contracts, or financial operations of autonomous participating churches. Any connectional contributions, assessments, registrations, offerings, or financial commitments established by UDCA are separate from the internal financial governance of the local congregation and should be clearly communicated.

UDCA does not automatically assume jurisdiction over disputes within an autonomous congregation. When requested by the appropriate local leadership, UDCA may offer prayer, mediation, consultation, reconciliation assistance, or advisory support. Such assistance does not transfer governance of the congregation to UDCA.

A Bishop or other UDCA leader serves the Connection through spiritual leadership, counsel, fellowship, encouragement, coordination, and service. Connectional titles do not, by themselves, create ownership or governing authority over an autonomous congregation or its pastor.

Because participation is voluntary, an autonomous congregation may withdraw from the Connection in accordance with the applicable UDCA membership or covenant procedures. Withdrawal does not transfer the congregation's property, assets, records, or local governance to UDCA.

Generally, yes. Participation in UDCA is intended to encourage Christian connection rather than unnecessary isolation. Autonomous congregations may maintain appropriate fellowship, affiliation, or cooperative relationships with other Christian bodies, provided those relationships do not conflict with commitments voluntarily undertaken with UDCA.

No. UDCA recognizes that churches within the Deliverance, Holiness, Pentecostal, Apostolic, Charismatic, and related traditions may differ on secondary matters. Our connection is built upon essential Christian faith, shared spiritual values, mutual respect, and commitment to the Gospel while allowing appropriate room for the distinct identity of the local congregation.

It means a congregation chooses relationship without surrendering its identity. A Connectional Church can benefit from fellowship, leadership development, conferences, missions, ministerial relationships, resources, training, networking, and national visibility while continuing to govern its own local ministry.

Because autonomy does not have to mean isolation. UDCA creates a broader table where independent and autonomous churches can develop meaningful relationships, strengthen leaders, share resources, participate in missions, develop the next generation, celebrate one another's ministries, and speak with a stronger collective voice—without surrendering the freedom and identity of the local church.