Journey 
United Church of Christ Slingerlands, NY
A New Church Start!
In 2006, the New Church Start (NCS) Team of the New York Conference launched “The 20/20 Vision”, a Strategic Plan of Action for “starting 20 new churches for the New York Conference, UCC, by the year 2020”.
Currently the NCS team is working with church planters at four different sites across the state, including a “church plant” that is about to “take root” in the southern part of the Capital Region - in Slingerlands, NY (other sites include Saugerties/Woodstock, Brooklyn, and White Plains).
In evaluating specific sites, the New Church Team began by reviewing demographic information. Slingerlands fits many of the criteria: projected population growth; a more liberal/democratic voting record; and absence of a UCC Congregation or other progressive faith community. All of these characteristics work together to make it a promising site!
In the fall of 2007, Rev. Sandy Damhof began working with a group of people who expressed interest in developing a new church start in the area. Currently, over 30 people have made a commitment to the start (including families, single parents, same-gender couples, singles, etc). In December of 2007 the first monthly Planning Team meeting was held. Early in 2008, the team met for a planning retreat and gave specific attention to developing core values, a vision statement and a mission/purpose statement.
“The 20/20 Vision” requires the New Church Start to work with a Sponsoring Congregation who will assist the new church in a variety of ways. Clinton Heights Community Congregational Church has agreed to serve in this capacity. As the sponsoring church and an incorporated 501 (c) (3) organization they will be assisting with setting up an account to be used for donations and expenses for the new church start.
Sunday, April 6 was our first worship gathering for our core group. We are currently meeting at Buona Sera Italian Steakhouse located at 1903 New Scotland Road (near the intersection of Route 85 and 85A). Members of the planning team are starting to contribute financially to support the ministry through our sponsoring church. We have also applied for funding from the denomination through the New York Conference.
In April 2008 Hudson-Mohawk Association voted us in as a “Church in Covenant Development” as described in the Manual on Ministry of the United Church of Christ. In May 2008, our name was selected!
Our Grand Opening was held in September 2008 including the addition of "Comma Club for Kids", "Comma Connections for Youth", Confirmation Class and a Book Club for Women.
On Saturday, May 16 Journey was granted full standing in the United Church of Christ by the Hudson-Mohawk Association. 36 New/Charter members were received at a special celebration worship on Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 2009
Our Planning Team: Rev. Sandy J. Damhof, Curt Damhof, Jim Gunty, LeAnne King, Janelle Richardson, Andrea Van Allen, Theresa Weinman.