About Us
A congregation rooted in over 200 years of faith, open to all.
Who We Are
Brecksville United Church of Christ is a congregation of friendly, open, and honest people representing a wide range of backgrounds — Congregational, Methodist, Baptist, and many others. Parents, singles, teens, children, and seniors make up our community, united by a shared faith and a commitment to welcoming everyone.
We are a member of the United Church of Christ, Heartland Conference, Living Waters Association. Our guiding conviction — "God is Still Speaking" — reflects our openness to evolving faith, ongoing dialogue, and the belief that the church's work is never finished.
We became an Open and Affirming congregation in 1991, welcoming people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions into the full life and leadership of the church.
"To be loving, serving, and accepting of all people with God's life-changing power and grace."
Our Mission
Our Vision
We are called to be a vital and faithful Christian community in ministry and mission — open, earnest, and intentional in all we do.
Open & Responsive
We welcome people at every stage of their faith journey. With warmth and inclusivity at our core, we are committed to meeting all people with respect and care.
Earnest in Worship
Our worship blends traditional and contemporary approaches — gathering in the sanctuary, in small groups, and online — to celebrate faith and live by Gospel principles.
Intentional in Witness
With a long legacy of social justice, we feed the hungry, respond to disasters, celebrate diversity, and work toward a more just and peaceful world.
Our History
Brecksville UCC has called the Public Square home for over 200 years, growing from a small frontier congregation into the community it is today.
- 1816 Rev. William Hanford organizes the First Congregational Church of Brecksville with thirteen founding members at Esquire Bradford's residence.
- 1831 The congregation builds its first frame structure as a dedicated place of worship.
- 1843 The frame structure burns. A new church is built at the present site on Public Square — the raising-day celebration included dinner and ceremonial cannon fire.
- 1945 Pilgrim Hall and kitchen facilities are added, expanding the church's capacity for fellowship and community gatherings.
- 1953 A Christian Education wing is constructed to support growing children's and youth programs.
- 1962 The congregation affiliates with the United Church of Christ.
- 1965 A devastating arson fire damages the sanctuary. The congregation rebuilds, preserving its historic location on the Public Square.
- 1971 Recognized as a Just Peace Church, affirming the congregation's long commitment to social justice and nonviolence.
- 1991 Becomes an Open and Affirming congregation, welcoming LGBTQ+ people into the full life and leadership of the church.
- 2016 Celebrates the congregation's bicentennial — 200 years of faith, community, and service in Brecksville.
- 2026 The journey continues. Rooted in over 200 years of history, Brecksville UCC remains a living, welcoming community — still speaking, still growing, still serving.
Community & Outreach
Faith without action is incomplete. Brecksville UCC is actively engaged in the wider community through partnerships and direct service:
- Supporting homeless families through the Interfaith Hospitality Network
- Contributing to local food pantries and volunteering at hunger centers
- Celebrating cultural diversity through events like the annual World Diversity Potluck
- Participating in disaster response through UCC national networks
Our Ministries
Brecksville UCC is organized around ministry teams that carry out our shared mission. Each team is led by lay volunteers and supported by staff.
Pastor
Rev. Jeff Jackson — buccpastor23@gmail.com
Rev. Jeff Jackson serves as the Interim Minister at Brecksville United Church of Christ, joining us on October 5th, 2025. He has most recently served First Congregational Church of Akron, Pilgrim Congregational Church in Tremont, and St. John’s UCC in Dover. With many years of experience in pastoral leadership and intentional interim ministry, Jeff brings a steady, thoughtful presence to times of transition. He holds a deep appreciation for the stories that shape a congregation’s identity and a passion for helping communities listen for what God is calling them toward next.
Music
This ministry provides musical enhancement of our Sunday Worship Services and other special events throughout the year. Several different performance groups offer outlets for talented members and guests. The Adult Choir (High School students welcome) rehearses Thursdays from 7:00–8:30 p.m. For more information contact buccmusic23@gmail.com. You are warmly invited to be part of this joyful and uplifting ministry — your voice and talents will make a difference.
Christian Education
Responsible for providing Christian education for all ages through a wide variety of learning opportunities, including Sunday Morning Church school and special educational programs throughout the week. We conduct Christian Education classes for our younger members during the Sunday Service, organized into five classes: Nursery (0–3 yrs), Elementary (4 yrs through 1st grade), Secondary (2nd through 5th grades), Junior High (6th through 8th grades), and Senior High (9th through 12th grades). We also offer sessions at night for others on an ad-hoc basis.
Fellowship
The Fellowship Ministry is dedicated to bringing our church community together beyond Sunday worship, creating meaningful opportunities for connection, friendship, and shared experiences. We offer a wide range of events — from game nights and festive potlucks to cultural outings and seasonal gatherings. The ministry also supports wider community events and partners with other church ministries, helping foster a spirit of inclusion and fellowship.
Communication & Outreach
The Communication & Outreach Ministry is responsible for facilitating communication flow and coordinating content across BUCC’s media platforms — connecting members, visitors, and the surrounding community with engaging information and respectful dialog through print, digital, and social media.
Social Justice
Formerly known as “Our Church’s Wider Mission” (OCWM), the Social Justice Ministry renamed in spring 2024 to better represent what this wider mission is. We remain involved in multiple efforts to collaborate with and support our neighbors locally, nationally, and internationally.
Our current partnerships and beneficiaries include: Serving Community Meals (with a local collective of churches), Edna House for Women, International Newcomers Academy, Prentiss Autism Center, The Refugee Response, and Sharing America’s Resources Abroad (S.A.R.A.). We also raise funds and collect items for families in need and host the annual Last-Minute-Mart each December.
BUCC is a “5 for 5” church, holding annual collections for OCWM Basic Support and our four special mission offerings: Neighbors in Need, One Great Hour of Sharing, Strengthen the Church, and The Christmas Fund.
Spiritual Life
Responsible for overseeing and facilitating our church’s spiritual life, especially our growth in worship. This ministry provides leadership in worship and supports the Pastor by helping to plan worship services and other events that help strengthen and deepen our faith. Members also facilitate worship by preparing the sanctuary and building for Sunday morning and other worship services.
Stewardship / Leadership Development
Responsible for promoting stewardship of all life, and for connecting our spiritual commitment of time, talent, and resources to God’s work through the church. This ministry conducts an annual stewardship consecration drive, educates the congregation on issues of planned giving, and provides opportunities for members to contribute their time and talents to the church’s ministry.
Also responsible for helping the church welcome and orient new members, and for helping members identify, cultivate, and share their talents in the leadership of the church. This ministry works with Council and the Pastor to identify and recruit members to serve on each of the other ministries.
Human Resources
Responsible for developing and updating job descriptions for program and volunteer staff; for hiring and termination of program staff; for developing employment agreements for paid staff; for conducting performance appraisals for clergy, program, and volunteer staff; for maintaining staffing of volunteer positions and monitoring effectiveness of volunteers; for creating and updating personnel policies as needed; and for ensuring that staff has the proper equipment and office space to conduct their work efficiently.
Pastoral Relations
A standing committee that supports a healthy relationship between the pastor and congregation in order to enhance the effectiveness of the church’s ministry. The committee serves as an advisory group to the pastor — sharing ideas, dreams, expectations, and concerns of the congregation — and as a support group for the pastor’s leadership, interpreting roles, functions, boundaries, opportunities, and needs of the pastor to the congregation.
The committee works in a context of confidentiality, support, care, and honesty with the pastor, while promoting healthy communication in the congregation as a whole. It provides a place for the pastor to reflect on professional development and overall well-being in ministry, and advocates for the pastor’s compensation, time for rest, and continued growth. The goal of the Pastoral Relations Committee is to promote faithful, shared ministry between the pastor and the congregation.
Finance
Responsible for defining, protecting, reporting, and enhancing the church’s financial resources for ministry. This ministry assists church leadership in financial matters and works with the Treasurer and Financial Secretary to keep our finances in good order.
Facilities
Responsible for the development and maintenance of all church property. From routine maintenance to extensive repair, we are stewards of the BUCC physical environment.
Interested in joining a team? Our volunteer guide walks you through how teams are organized and what serving looks like.
Read the Volunteer Guide →