by Rev. Dr. Derrick Elliott

Beloved Church,

Every so often, the world pauses to watch white smoke rise from the Sistine Chapel. And last week, it did just that. Pope Leo XIV has been elected, and while that may feel like news from another corner of the Christian family tree, it’s a moment worth noticing—and reflecting on—even for us in the United Church of Christ.

We are not Catholic, of course. We embrace a covenantal polity, which means our various settings—local churches, Associations, Conferences, and the national setting—are bound together not by hierarchy, but by sacred promises to walk together in mutual respect and love. So, there are no cardinals in red robes. No Vatican. Our churches don’t wait for word from Rome before we make decisions. That’s part of what makes us who we are. But that doesn’t mean we’re disconnected. We are, after all, part of one Body.

So what does it mean for us?

Click through to read more.