About Us
For more than half a century, Church of the Beatitudes United Church of Christ has been a beacon of faith, education and service. Located in north central Phoenix, the Church provides many spirit-filled opportunities for worshiping our God through the spoken and written word, prayer, music and outreach.
Our history is rich with innovative outreach projects that have improved the lives of many people.
Church of the Beatitudes is a community that welcomes all people. No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are always welcome here.
Meet our staff
Mission Statement
Church of the Beatitudes is a community of faith-keeping and faith-seeking people grounded in stories and truths contained in the scriptures. We are open to insights and interpretations of God revealed to us through new experiences, different faiths and diverse cultures.
Our purpose is to provide opportunities for the formation of Christian disciples through worship and spiritual enrichment, to offer the education and training for this discipleship and to encourage the practice of this discipleship in the world.
An Open and Affirming Congregation
Church of the Beatitudes affirms that every person has worth as a unique creation made in the image of God. We recognize, celebrate and give thanks for the many diverse gifts of God among us. We declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming congregation, welcoming into the full life and ministry of the Church persons of every race, culture, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability and economic status.
Our History
Church of the Beatitudes was formed in 1954, and is located in north central Phoenix. Since the beginning, Church of the Beatitudes has always had a history of caring for those who are on the edges of our culture and community, finding ways to bring service and hope to people who have been without. It is the bedrock upon which we stand.
During the Church's first years, worship was held in Bud Brown's Barn, a local landmark and gathering spot. Sunday morning at Bud Brown's Barn was fun; we had to move all the furniture into a small room that had a tin roof on it, and if it rained, you couldn't hear a word of the sermon. The men picked up the spinet organ each week, delivered it to the barn, moved tables, set up chairs and the altar and church were then ready. After the service, everything would be dismantled. It was the uniqueness of it that brought us all together. Even though many in the congregation did not know each other before the beginning of the Church, we came together and had a wonderful time along with praising God. About 110 people showed up that first Sunday morning.
Church of the Beatitudes is dedicated to serving the community, locally and globally. In 1962, the Church began construction of the Beatitudes Campus, a full-service continuing care retirement community offering residential and health care services for more than 600 senior adults. It is a place where people can live, learn and grow through all phases of life.
In 1981, the Church initiative another outreach ministry, Duet: Partners in Health and Aging, a non-profit interfaith organization to serve homebound elders, adults with physical disabilities, family caregivers, grandparents raising grandchildren, and faith communities seeking to better serve their members and others in need.
In 1997, the Church initiated Beatitudes Agelink child development center, an intergenerational child development center that is committed to high quality care and secular education for young children. Located next door to Beatitudes Campus, Agelink strives to connect all generations.
What is a Progressive Religious Movement?
We are about:
- A broader vision for the nation
- A more inclusive community
- A more multifaceted political agenda
- A more expansive understanding of justice
- A more loving recognition of the meaning of family
- A more respectful view of humankind
- A more in-depth commitment to peace
- A more profound understanding of spiritual pilgrimage.
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy,
President of the Interfaith Alliance.
The Lights, Winter 2006
