Mission & History
Our Mission
The KMUCC mission is to worship God and to share the teachings of Jesus Christ, to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of each other, and to advocate for peace and justice throughout the world.
Our History
Kairos-Milwaukie United Church of Christ (UCC) became one congregation in 1999 upon the merger of the Milwaukie United Church of Christ and the Kairos United Church of Christ congregations. Since then, in our life together as one church community we have found kinship and understanding, and new strength to serve.
Milwaukie United Church of Christ had its beginnings in the 1890's as the Congregational Church of Willsburg when the Ardenwald neighborhood of Milwaukie was known as Willsburg, Oregon and almost entirely woodland. With a grant from the Congregational Church Building Society, and the proceeds from one farmer's entire crop of strawberries, ground was broken, dreams were planted and building began.
Today, over a century later many dreams have been planted and taken root, including friendship, support. The Milwaukie UCC congregation provided resettlement assistance for over twenty refugee families from Cambodia and Viet Nam. The congregation started the Logus Road Preschool, which nurtured families for over 35 years. Adjacent to the church on property donated by the congregation, Northwest Housing Alternatives constructed Swan House (named after long-time member Eunice Swan) as an adult foster care facility for persons living with HIV/AIDS, and Madrona House, serving as a transitional residence for drug-affected women and their children.
Kairos United Church of Christ was founded in 1984. From the basement of the Lewis and Clark Chapel, to the gym at the Franciscan Renewal Center, this nomadic congregation was deeply committed to living the gospel in word and deed through ministries with the homeless, street youth, drug-affected men and women, and mission support to people and programs in Nicaragua, Cuba and Guatemala.