Who We Are

About Us

Our mission

Our mission, as Christians, is to love God, love others, and serve humanity.

Our faith

Oneonta [oh-nee-on-tuh] Congregational Church is a Christian Church Community. We love Jesus Christ and do our best to know Him better and share His gospel with the world. Check out the "What We Believe" page to learn more about our theology.

Our name

Our church has been around for a long time. On October 10, 2010, we will celebrate our 100th anniversary! The Oneonta name comes from the city of Oneonta in New York State. This city, named by a Native American tribe, is the birthplace of Henry E. Huntington. Huntington was a railroad magnate who contributed to building the transcontinental railroads in America. Everywhere he traveled, he built buildings and train stations, naming them after his hometown, Oneonta. He brought the name to South Pasadena during the turn of the 20th Century. Years ago, there were many things in the South Pasadena area with the Oneonta name. Today, our church continues to carry this tradition on.

Our leadership

The word “congregational” refers to the how we are governed. Our congregation is democratically self-governed and we do not answer to a central authority.

Congregationalists accept the Bible as the sufficient rule in matters of faith and practice. We base our polity, our church government, and our mission on the foundation of Scripture. Congregationalism dates from the time of the Reformation, in particular the English Reformation. In England, Congregationalists were known as Independents.

One Bible passage that has special meaning for Congregationalism is Matthew 18:18-20:

"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (New International Version)