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Our History
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Today, more than 50 years after its founding, RUC continues to be a warm and welcoming congregation that cares for both members and friends in the wider community. While RUC has changed in many ways since we were first founded, we have not lost our desire to be connected to the wider community through our mission and ministry:
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Since 2001, we have actively supported the LGBTQ+ community as an Open and Affirming/More Light church. All who come to worship and participate in the RUC community can do so as their true, authentic selves.
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RUC has recently provided financial support to Rainbow Place of Rockville for the creation of a shelter for unhoused older teens and young adults, many of whom are members of the LGBTQ+ community.
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We express our commitment to social justice and inclusion through our support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
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As members of the New Neighbors Interfaith Alliance, we offer assistance to our new immigrant neighbors in Montgomery and Prince Georges counties.
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We express our care for the earth and the environment as an Earth Care congregation/Green Justice congregation. We also participate in the Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake, an organization that works with congregations in the Mid-Atlantic region to be good stewards of the Chesapeake Bay.
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Along with the congregation, the church building has changed and grown. While the original plans for a larger sanctuary were never carried out, the building has seen substantial additions. A new kitchen was built in 1977-78, and a major addition that included a fellowship hall and office space was completed in 1985-1986. Additional office space and a conference room were added to the office area in 1999. More recently, a capital campaign in 2023 raised funds to renovate the kitchen and plan for a playground and outdoor worship space.
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To learn more about the Presbyterian Church USA and the United Church of Christ, please click here.​​​​​
Rockville United Church (RUC) is a union church that arose from a shared vision of ministry and mission of two neighboring Rockville congregations: Faith United Church of Christ (organized in November 1955) and St. Andrews Presbyterian Church USA (established in November 1959). On June 25, 1967, under the guidance of Rev. Wiley Prugh of St. Andrews and Rev. Donald Maccalum of Faith UCC, the two congregations created a covenant of union to become Rockville United Church. The new congregation made its home in the building on Linthicum Street that St. Andrews had begun constructing in 1962.
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At the same time, the founding ministers and members looked beyond the walls of RUC and together created an organization that would serve the larger Rockville community. The United Church Center for Community Ministries was organized in the fall of 1967 by RUC co-pastors Revs. Maccalum and Prugh. It was the metropolitan D.C. area’s first community ministry, and it inspired the creation of the Community Ministry of Northern Virginia and the Community Ministry of Montgomery County. The United Church Center was later renamed the Community Ministries of Rockville (CMR) and has most recently become Community Reach of Montgomery County (CR). The fruitful, close relationship of RUC and CR continues with many RUC members serving in a wide range of CR volunteer activities.