A Regional Congregation Without Geographic Borders
The Congregational Church of Birmingham, a congregation of the United Church of Christ, draws members from across southern Oakland County and well beyond. Members regularly travel a thirty-minute drive or longer to be part of a point of view on faith and what it demands of them, and the congregation has long understood itself as regional rather than local. After nearly seven decades as a fixture rooted in Bloomfield Hills, the community entered a new chapter on December 8, 2024, when it transitioned its worship, offices, and programming to Northminster Presbyterian Church on Big Beaver Road in Troy. What has not changed is the congregation's identity: progressive in theology, Open and Affirming in policy, and committed to social and environmental justice reaching from Birmingham and Troy to Detroit and Pontiac.
An Open and Affirming Identity Since 2006
In 2006, members of the Congregational Church of Birmingham voted to become the first congregation in the area to adopt the Open and Affirming (ONA) designation of the United Church of Christ. The decision was not unanimous; some members left, others chose to stay and "agree to disagree," and new members joined because of the church's stance. The welcome extends to people of every sexual orientation, gender identity, race, age, ability, religious background, and socioeconomic class. The congregation has publicly advocated for marriage equality and fair treatment of all gender identities, and strives to be a place where all people know they are valued for their unique experiences and gifts.
This welcome is not confined to the sanctuary. The church has worked with other Open and Affirming congregations to spread an inclusive theology across the wider community. As Pastor Shane Montoya has put it from the pulpit, the congregation is called to do ministry with people rather than to people, including members of historically marginalized communities in leadership in order to understand their struggles and celebrate their faith.
The UCC Tradition
Congregational Church of Birmingham is one congregation within the United Church of Christ, a denomination formed in 1957 from earlier Protestant traditions tracing back to the Pilgrims of 1620. The UCC was the first historically white denomination to ordain an African American, the first in the modern era to ordain a woman, and the first to ordain an openly gay man. CCB belongs to the Detroit Metropolitan Association of the UCC, part of the Michigan Conference of the UCC, both of which support, challenge, and strengthen local churches in ministry and mission. Daily Devotional emails from the national UCC are available to anyone who wishes to subscribe.
Worship on Sunday Morning
Worship is held each Sunday at 9:30 AM, both in person at Northminster Presbyterian Church and online via YouTube livestream. The service is progressive in theology and traditional in form, proclaiming a God who is love, made known through Jesus, who loves all people regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religious background, or occupation. The order of worship weaves ageless hymns together with a special time for children, poetry, music, laughter, and many chances to encounter God. Music is most often led by collaborative pianist Dr. Yalan Piao, with the adult choir and a small band each taking a turn about once a month. A thought-provoking sermon aims to spark conversations at coffee hour after worship and throughout the week.
The dress is casual; most people wear something between jeans and a sweater, or a sweater and a blazer, often described as office casual. Nursery care is available for the youngest worshippers. Printed bulletins are available in the narthex, and PDF bulletins from recent Sundays are posted online for anyone who wishes to follow along.
A Robust Music Program
Music is central to the life of the Congregational Church of Birmingham. Music Director Dr. Joe Bentley and Collaborative Pianist Dr. Yalan Piao lead a ministry that is open to musicians of every skill level. On Sunday mornings they are often joined by the adult choir, by small-ensemble singers, and by instrumentalists drawn from the congregation. The CCBUCC Ensemble, a group of vocalists, guitarists, bass, and percussion, performs regularly. A lively group of chimers, often children and sometimes their parents, brings their enthusiastic ringing to worship. From vocal soloists to a piano and cello duet, the music program invites anyone with a song to share into its work.
Children, Youth, and Christian Education
Christian education at CCB rests on the conviction that all participants are learning how much God loves them and hearing the stories of faith that shape identity and belonging. Sunday School begins the Sunday after Labor Day and continues through the Sunday before Memorial Day. Children attend the first part of worship each Sunday and then move to class after the children's time, with classes ending at 11:15 so that parents and guardians can collect them from their classrooms.
During the summer, the program shifts to Forest Church, a way of knowing God through God's creation. Two Sunday School tracks run side by side. Children ages four through second grade attend Godly Play sessions in the Godly Play Classroom, led by trained, background-checked teachers. Godly Play is a Montessori-inspired approach that tells the biblical story with wooden manipulables and then invites children to respond through wondering questions and creative exploration. Videos of each Godly Play story are posted on the church's YouTube channel for any child who has missed a Sunday.
Children in third grade through middle school meet in the Story Room for a more structured class, using the Common English Bible that is given to each child on the first Sunday of the program year. The middle school Confirmation program gathers monthly during the Sunday School time, with youth writing reflections on worship attendance and participating in outreach activities with the wider congregation.
Leadership Club begins when children reach middle school and runs for two years. In the first year, students meet weekly during Sunday School; in the second year, they attend worship and participate in the life of the church, meeting monthly with church leaders to learn about participation opportunities. Middle and high school youth also gather at least twice a year outside of worship for social connection, service, and study, and are invited into all the activities of the wider church.
Adult Faith Formation
Adult formation follows several rhythms. Comma Conversations meet bi-weekly after worship on Sundays, gathering adults and youth to learn about and explore topics ranging from social justice to personal challenges, with a focus on how faith shapes life. Adult study groups meet on Wednesday mornings and on weekday evenings (the day varies with participants' schedules) to explore seasonal themes, Bible studies, and book studies. Pastor Shane leads a Wednesday morning sermon preparation Bible study both in person and on Zoom, open to anyone who would like to wrestle with the text of the upcoming Sunday. Seasonal offerings for families and people of all ages mark the liturgical year, including an Advent Workshop and Ukrainian Egg creating sessions.
Pastoral Care, Stephen Ministry, and Caring Ministry
The pastoral team is available to walk with members and friends through life's joys and challenges, including illness, hospitalization, and major life transitions. Pastor Shane Montoya makes hospital visits and pastoral calls when the need arises and can help connect people with community resources.
Stephen Ministry is a national program that trains church members in listening, care, empathy, support, and confidentiality. Stephen Ministers complete more than fifty hours of training and are matched with one care receiver at a time, meeting weekly for about an hour for as long as the need persists. CCB partners with Central Woodward Christian Church for a total of six Stephen Ministers. The Stephen Ministry lead is Paul von Oeyen.
A separate Caring Ministry invites members to prepare and deliver meals following surgery, illness, or the birth of a child, to help transport members to medical appointments, and to make check-in calls. The Community Caring lead is Chris Mead. In addition, multiple support groups meet on site throughout the week, and CCB supports them by providing a safe gathering space.
Justice Commitments: DRIVE, Pontiac Tutoring, and Peace Nick
The congregation has long understood itself as regional, and that understanding shows up in its partnerships. CCB was a founding member of the Detroit Regional Interfaith Voice for Equity (DRIVE), a coalition of churches, synagogues, and mosques that tackled social justice issues including education, police brutality, and water access. CCB spearheaded the education effort by hosting a forum of educators, politicians, and citizens that produced a detailed report influencing state government decisions. Through DRIVE the church also worked on transit justice in southeastern Michigan.
CCB launched a tutoring program for children in the Pontiac school system that remains active today, drawing on the strong educational background and teaching experience of many of its members. The church has also worked with Lighthouse/South Oakland Shelter and CROP Walk, and participates in the annual rummage sale that raises funds donated to dozens of charitable organizations throughout Michigan.
Congregational member Gregory Panzica directs Peace Nick, a non-profit that alleviates water issues in Detroit, Flint, Pontiac, and Benton Harbor. CCB members raise funds for this initiative and have helped supply churches and charitable organizations with pallets of bottled water, contributing more than two thousand gallons in a single recent year. Panzica and fellow member Dr. Paul von Oyen also serve on the People's Water Board Coalition in Detroit, working to maintain a moratorium on water shutoffs and to advance water justice across the state. Through the Detroit Metropolitan Association of the UCC, the church has also worked with organizations such as the Shrine of the Black Madonna, the National Council of Jewish Women, the Michigan Interfaith Reproductive Justice Coalition, and the Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network.
Environmental Justice: Solar Array, Community Garden, and Sustainable Choices
Caring for creation is one of CCB's core values. In August 2018 the congregation commissioned a 15.6-kilowatt solar array on the roof of its Fellowship Hall. The project was funded by a "Buy a Panel" campaign that began with a generous member gift and was completed through member contributions. By 2022 the array had generated nearly 71,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, offsetting 42.5 percent of the facility's electrical consumption and preventing more than 100,000 pounds of CO2 from being released into the environment.
The church has hosted the Green Screen movie program, an ongoing environmental education and discussion series, and has cut its footprint through a strong reduce-reuse-recycle program that includes composting and a reduction of paper products. CCB's community garden, tended by member volunteers Maria and Ben, produces fresh vegetables donated through Forgotten Harvest. In 2023 the garden provided close to 1,400 pounds of produce, and the gardeners adhere closely to organic gardening principles.
The Brooker Scholarship
Established in 2012 by longtime member Kenneth Brooker, the Kenneth Brooker Endowed Scholarship supports CCB youth pursuing college or other post-secondary education. To date, thirty-two scholarships totaling $64,900 have been awarded to twelve young people. Awards are announced each year at a worship service in mid-May or early June. Applicants must be current members who have attended CCB for the three consecutive years preceding the application, be active in church life, and be attending (or planning to attend) a two- or four-year undergraduate college or trade school.
A Brief History
The congregation traces its origins to 1953, when forty-one signers of an original covenant began worshiping in homes. Within a year, members purchased a former Presbyterian church in downtown Birmingham that became the congregation's home for the next thirteen years. When the United Church of Christ was formed in 1957, CCB was among the first to join the new denomination in 1960. By the mid-1960s the growing congregation decided to relocate north to Bloomfield Hills and construct a new building. The first service in that facility was held in 1966.
The 2006 Open and Affirming vote marked the church as a regional pioneer of inclusion. The 2018 commissioning of the solar array marked a similar commitment to environmental stewardship. In December 2024, the church transitioned its worship, offices, and programming to Northminster Presbyterian Church in Troy while continuing to identify as the Congregational Church of Birmingham.
Mission and Values
The church's mission statement describes a progressive Christian community that is welcoming, compassionate, and joyful. Members seek to discern God's still-speaking voice through worship, study, fellowship, and service, and to work for peace and for social, economic, and ecological justice. The stated values are genuine relationship, partnerships for social action, faith sharing among people of all ages, and commitment to environmental justice. Six guidelines shape the congregation's life: it aims to be an inclusive community, a caring and generous community, a family-focused community, a learning community, a justice-seeking community, and a joyful, faith-filled community.
Driven by the conviction that "the location and building do not define the congregation," the people of CCB carry their faith beyond the church walls and into a wider world they seek, in their own phrase, to make "A JUST WORLD FOR ALL."