MCU puts faith into action by developing leaders who move their congregations, organizations and communities to change public policy for the common good.

MCU Overview and History

Metropolitan Congregations United is committed to acting powerfully in the public arena in order to transform our congregations and our community. We believe that individually and together our congregations have a right and responsibility to act for the common good. We believe that the greatest gift we can give the community are congregations transformed by faith in action reaching out to care for the community around us. Member congregations put their faith into action by identifying and working on issues on three different levels: beginning in their neighborhoods, then expanding efforts to their larger community, culminating into overall issues along with MCU for the metropolitan area and/or state. MCU activates congregation members to work on community concerns by:

We lead intentional campaigns and committee work that supports our goal of building racial equity in St. Louis.

What is Congregation-Based Organizing?

What could it look like for my congregation?

We stay with congregations because we grew up there.

We join congregations because we want to be part of a community of shared values.

We join congregations because we want a closer walk with the Divine.

Congregation-Based Community Organizing takes all three of these reasons seriously. And we know that many of us want these motivations to have an impact beyond the walls of our sacred spaces. In fact, believe that sacredness is not bound by these walls. We believe that the sacredness of our worshiping communities is richer when we engage with our communities and ensure that our values are lived out in the wider world.

What is it about your congregation that feeds your soul - and your desire for a more just and equitable community?

MCU is a membership organization made up of congregations, institutional members and individual members who trust that our spiritual lives feed our desire for justice. We have learned that the struggle for justice requires deep relationships of challenge and support.

What can that look like for you and your congregations?

Strengthening Relationships Inside the Congregation

The key to great relationships within any congregation is listening deeply to the experiences of our members and attenders. MCU leaders and organizers can work with you to design a program for hearing what’s most important to your congregation and its ministries. Are the right people in the right roles? Are you ready to let some ministries go so that you can build new ones? These can be difficult discussions - and they can bring life and purpose to how you live out your faith together.

Strengthening Relationships with the Neighborhood

In a similar way, many of our congregations want to be more relevant to our immediate neighborhoods. How do we find the “sweet spots” of connection?

Building Collective Power that Impacts the Region or State

Once we are connected, we can see the need for addressing larger systems of oppression and liberation! MCU has been key to raising the age so that 17 year olds are treated as juvenilles not adults, getting lead out of school drinking water, raising the minimum wage, expanding Medicaid, ensure racial equity in hiring and contracting and many others. What would it do for you and your congregation to be part of the next big efforts?

Increasing Leadership Capacity Among Members

In everything we do together as MCU, we’re always considering how each of us can answer our deepest calling. Leadership Development allows us to face the voices planted within us to make us “play small” rather than to show up fully and faithfully. MCU leaders and organizers can work with you and your team to look in the mirror of our own potential. Check out our national network, Gamaliel, to learn more about resources, and consider bringing elements to your congregation or group of congregations.

Become a sustainer.

We are reaching out to you today to ask for your support as a monthly sustainer. By making a monthly contribution to MCU, you will be directly supporting our ongoing efforts to promote social justice and equity in our communities. Your support will help us fund important initiatives, support grassroots organizations, and continue to raise awareness about important issues.

BECOME A SUSTAINER