About Us
We firmly believe that to be a follower of Jesus or any spiritual path, and to do it with integrity, one must be an agent of love and reconciliation. We then are a community that boldly and openly affirms all people with no qualifiers.
This means we embrace and celebrate diversity welcoming all siblings no matter race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, relationship status, socio-economic status, or abilities, either physical or mental.
We commit to providing a safe environment for all to learn, lead, thrive and grow.
Rev. Kim Newport
Congratulations to Pastor Kim on her new adventure!
As we celebrate her next chapter, RISE United Church of Christ is preparing for our own exciting next steps.
Stay tuned for updates and developments as we transition.
Our community remains committed to acting with love, growing in faith, and affirming all people.
— August 5, 2026
How We're Different
Rise United Church of Christ is a vibrant spiritual community with a focus on outreach, social justice, inclusivity, and education. We admit that we do not have the answers to all of life’s questions and embrace the mystery together on our journeys. We are proud to be part of a denomination that has a long history of striving for diversity, equity, and inclusion over a century before it was a societal topic.
We offer Sunday worship at 4pm each week where we rent space at St. Thomas Community Presbyterian Church in Shelby Twp. We also have bi-monthly educational classes on Zoom, monthly outings, book discussion groups, and opportunities for community outreach. No matter what we are doing, we like to have fun!
Some things that make us a little different than other churches you may have attended:
- All are welcome and able to take part in everything our spiritual community has to offer. LGBTQ+, divorced, polyamorous, other faith traditions, blue jeans, ripped clothes, rich, poor, middle class, older, younger…Literally EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
- We love questions! We are not the kind of church that tries to answer all of life’s problems with cliches.
- We value each individual’s faith and seek to enhance it, not change it. We don’t expect everyone to believe the same way…that would be boring. Our goal is to help others grow, not to make cookie dough cut-outs of one another.
- We do not believe in scare tactics. For example, the concept that if you do not live a certain way, you will eternally perish. Definitely not who we are!
- We do not believe in censorship. Be your authentic self!
If this list gives you a sense of relief, reach out by email or join us at worship or one of our other activities! We would love to meet you!
Value Statements
- We value love. Our God is love and we are committed to sharing that love with one another. We will promote respectful communication and peace in relationships, community, and the world. We exemplify love through both presence and protest for the work of justice and mercy.
- We value equality and diversity. We believe variety enriches us and allows us freedom to be our authentic selves. We offer a safe space where all are welcomed and supported. For the LGBTQ+ community, for people of color, for all who have been silenced or marginalized, there is a place for you here.
- We value spiritual teachers. We hold in deep esteem the teachings and model of Jesus. We rely on the Great Spirit to lead us and respect musings and teachings encompassing the many pathways used to discover the sacred and holy.
- We value worship and the deeper discovery of spiritual connection. We practice prayer, meditation, and both ancient and new rituals. Our table and altar extend to everyone equally.
- We value community; our interconnectedness, honoring all individuals of every generation. We look outward at local needs and seek to be God’s hands and feet for those who need hope. We prioritize care, compassion, and empathy.
- We value wholeness, including the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of each individual. We recognize that there is no such thing as a perfect life and strive to offer opportunities for all to learn to cope, manage, and walk-through daily struggles as well as any major crisis
- We value curiosity and creativity. We welcome seekers and your questions, knowing we are all learning together on this journey. We believe that all people are makers at heart, and we view ingenuity and exploration as spiritual practices.
- We value all of Creation. We are devoted to the care of our environment, the protection of animals and greater awareness of the whole cosmos. We will work to bridge divides set in place between science and theology and do our part to promote ways to stop our global warming crisis and fight against mass consumption and consumerism.