Our History
Honoring Our Roots: The Journey of Milwaukee’s First Predominantly Black and LGBTQ-Friendly UCC Church
Faith of a Mustard Seed
Grace United Church of Christ was born from deep faith, bold vision, and the movement of the Holy Spirit.
In 1907, Mt. Tabor United Church of Christ was established as a beacon of faith in Milwaukee. Nearly a century later, in 2004, Mt. Tabor ceased to function as a congregation. Yet even in closing, its legacy was not one of loss but of new beginnings
Rather than sell the building, the Spirit-led members of Mt. Tabor made a powerful act of faith by gifting the property to the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ. This decision became the seed for something new.
Our Founding Pastor
Later that year, the Wisconsin Conference Minister, Rev. David Moyer, reached out to Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., pastor of Trinity UCC in Chicago, to seek his guidance in planting a new African American UCC congregation in Milwaukee.
With the Conference’s blessing, Rev. Dr. Wright recommended Rev. Wanda J. Washington to lead this new ministry. In February 2006, Rev. Washington and her husband, Wayne H. Washington Sr., answered the call and relocated to Milwaukee.
Rev. Washington brought with her a rich background as both an educator and a minister. She taught students with special needs for 19 years before joining the pastoral staff of Trinity UCC in 1992, where she served as Director of Pastoral Services for 14 years. She holds degrees from MacMurray College, The Ohio State University, and Chicago Theological Seminary.
Grace Is Born
On April 9, 2006, Grace United Church of Christ came to life.
The sanctuary was overflowing with Spirit and community. Among those in attendance were former State Senator Lena Taylor, Wisconsin Conference Minister Rev. David Moyer, Associate Conference Minister Rev. Joanne Thomson, Southeast Association Minister Dr. Thomas Bentz, and several ministers from Trinity UCC who came to bless and support the birth of this new ministry.
Grace UCC began not simply with a service, but with a movement rooted in faith, legacy, and a shared commitment to justice, love, and new life.