Community Of Christ Concludes 2013 World Conference, Conditionally Approves Gay Marriage At Separate USA National Conference

The Community of Christ concluded its 2013 World Conference which took place from April 13-18, and the most significant legislative development of this conference was the decision to rescind General Conference Resolution (GCR) 297, which made the issue of whether or not a person drinks intoxicating beverages a test of fellowship. If it was enforced, it would mean that a church member who drinks an alcoholic beverage could be excommunicated from the church. By rescinding GCR 297, the Conference decided that excommunicating someone merely because they drink alcohol is not a requirement. Rescinding GCR 297 does NOT repeal the Word of Wisdom. In another decision, there is no change to the Community of Christ's baptism policy, only a call for a study about the issue of infant baptism with a report back to the church by the next World Conference.

Visit the 2013 World Conference page and review the official business minutes for each day for more information on other discussions and decisions.

But the more momentous decision actually occurred at the separate 2013 USA National Conference, which convened from April 19-21. This Conference essentially approved gay marriage to be performed wherever it is legal, and commitment services for gay couples where gay marriage is not legal. The decision, if approved by the senior church leadership, would apply only in the United States. Kendra Friend, a member of the church’s communications and media relations team, believes the First Presidency and Council of The Twelve will follow the recommendations of the National Conference. Apostle Linda Booth provided an explanation to KSHB Channel 41: “We believe this is where God is directing Community of Christ, to be an inclusive body where everyone is welcome...We will be able to provide covenant commitment ceremonies in this state, where it's not legal, for anyone who wants to make a long-term life commitment to one another", said Booth. News video embedded below:



The Blue Springs Examiner has some good media coverage, publishing the following stories:

-- "Veazey counsels followers to shape communities", April 16th 2013: Discusses President Stephen M. Veazey's Words Of Counsel to the church. President Veazey urged church members to continue to shape communities that live Christ’s love and mission, and to shape their actions to end people’s suffering and abolish poverty. Read the full text of President Veazey's address HERE.

-- "Service to host community part of World Conference", April 18th 2013: Discusses Jessica Ralston's tasking to lead one of the community service projects during the 2013 World Conference. Ralston headed up a group of volunteers who put together more than 250 necessity bags for the Independence School District’s Family Services Department. In 2012, the Family Services Department helped about 900 homeless children and their families, so this is significant.

-- "Community of Christ celebrates ordinations", April 18th 2013: Reports on the ordination of three new members of the Council of Twelve Apostles: Arthur E. Smith of Independence, Barbara L. Carter of Newark, Del., and Mareva M. Arnaud Tchong of Tahiti, French Polynesia. Adam R. Wade, a native of Melbourne, Australia, was also set apart as a president of Seventy and member of the Council of Presidents of Seventy.

-- "Woman elected to serve as president of Council of Twelve Apostles", April 20th 2013: Linda Booth, already a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles, was set apart to serve as president of the Council of Twelve Apostles April 17th. She is the first woman to serve as president of the Council.

And here are two stories from the Examiner about the separate USA National Conference that took place from April 19-21 after the conclusion of the World Conference on April 18th:

-- "Community of Christ U.S. delegates address same sex marriage", April 20th 2013: Reports on the efforts of delegates to address two issues – same-sex/gender marriage where legal, and covenant commitment services where marriage is not legal and the ordination of people regardless of sexual orientation. A 67 percent majority would be required to make recommendations to the First Presidency and Council of Twelve Apostles for the final decision.

-- "Community of Christ delegates recommend dropping sexual orientation barriers", April 21st 2013: Delegates decided that the Community of Christ should recognize same-sex marriage where legal in the U.S., offer commitment services for same-sex couples where marriage is not legal, and open the door to priesthood regardless of sexual orientation. The policy changes would apply only to the U.S. churches; current policy will still apply in other nations. Read the full proposal HERE. The First Presidency and the Council of Twelve Apostles would have to approve the proposal before it takes effect.

Update April 27th: A member of the Community of Christ has provided a good personal analysis of the decision-making at the Conference. FireTag says there is some strong anecdotal evidence to support the interpretation that the CofChrist is following other mainline American churches into a future where denominationally-affiliated Americans sort into “red” and “blue” versions of the same religious tradition, but the “blue” denominations will be increasingly checked in areas of personal morality by the ethics of the developing world members. FireTag also opines that the leadership of the CofChrist has now established the precedent, in two successive conferences at minimum, that their view of their pastoral, presiding, and/or prophetic roles will not countenance allowing statements of moral principles by subordinate jurisdictions or the World Conference to endanger church members or leaders in individual jurisdictions of the church. They reserve the right to inject morality into politically charged issues to themselves or to those who they choose to delegate with the task. They did, for example, rule out of order, a resolution asking for restraint on a First Presidency statement on United States (and solely United States) immigration policy. They permitted and the conference passed, with a single word change, a resolution directing the church to advocate the abolition of nuclear weapons, although the church has significant presence in only one nuclear weapons state where advocacy regarding aspects of security policy is tolerated.

In FireTag's opinion, the American membership of the Community of Christ is more progressive, or "blue", than the foreign membership.

Community Of Christ To Launch Their 2013 World Conference; Ten Legislative Items On The Agenda For Discussion

Update April 22nd: Community of Christ concludes both their 2013 World Conference and the follow-on 2013 USA National Conference; updated post HERE.


Just one week after the 183rd Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Community of Christ will be holding their 2013 World Conference in Independence, Missouri from April 13-18, 2013, according to their official promo. They hold world conferences every three years. Since this post was published, the Blue Springs Examiner has published a story on this event.

Formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS), the Community of Christ evolved separately from us on April 6th, 1860 under the leadership of Joseph Smith III, although we share the same founding prophet, Joseph Smith, as well as the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine & Covenants. The three stated purposes of their World Conference are to gather as a worldwide family of faith, to deepen church members' understanding of what it means to live Christ’s mission, and to do the essential business of their church. The purpose of this post is strictly to provide information about the conference, and to use it as an opportunity to educate readers as to the similarities and differences between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Community of Christ. I strive to avoid any judgmental evaluation of C of C doctrine or practices in this post.

Although the Conference begins on April 13rd with the opening legislative meeting, President Stephen M. Veazey will officially launch the conference on April 14th with a speech in which he will share Words of Counsel to the Church. This speech will be webcast. These Words of Counsel will reflect the contents of a Letter of Counsel already published, but President Veazey does not plan to submit this counsel for inclusion in the Doctrine and Covenants at this time. They also plan to share in three ordinations based on calls to be considered by the World Conference: K. Scott Murphy is called to serve as a counselor to the president of the church and member of the quorum of the First Presidency; James A. Poirier and Steven E. Graffeo are called to serve as counselors to the Presiding Bishop and members of the Presiding Bishopric. The Conference will also consider 10 items of legislation placed before the church. The manner in which the Community of Christ decides on legislation is different than that of the LDS Church; Community of Christ conference delegates will discuss each legislative item and decide by a vote if an item will be accepted, declined, or deferred to a future time. In contrast, when the LDS Church decided to appoint a new Young Women General Presidency, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve made the decision, then presented the names of the appointees to the General Conference for a sustaining vote.

It is unknown at this time whether any member of the Community of Christ will liveblog the Conference. I suggest visiting the Saints Herald blog as a possible source of insight and information; their blog is regularly updated. You can also follow the conference on the C of C's Facebook page and on Twitter.

Here is a list of the ten legislative items to be considered, along with a short description of each. Where appropriate, I will point out where these differ from the policy of the mainstream LDS Church (after the jump):

Mormons In Congress: Incoming 113th U.S. Congress Will Include 16 Latter-Day Saints; New Pew Survey Lists Only 15 Mormons

Update January 3rd, 2013: Post re-titled to reflect the fact that Kyrsten Sinema has been removed from the U.S. House list after confirmation that she's no longer a member of the Church.

Update November 19th: Post re-titled to reflect reference to new Pew Forum Congressional Religious Survey released on November 16th.

Now that the 2012 U.S. elections have been concluded, we know how many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be serving in the incoming 113th Congress, to officially take office on January 3rd, 2013. A total of 17 LDS members, the most ever, will be present. Hat tip to By Common Consent for some of the background information.

All incumbents who ran for re-election were returned to their posts. Rep. Jeff Flake switched successfully from the House to the Senate; he will continue serving in the House until seated as a senator on January 3rd. One LDS member, Wally Herger (R-CA), chose to retire. Three new LDS members were elected to various seats. On BCC, there was some dispute as to whether or not Tom Udall and Kyrsten Sinema should be on the list, but Udall indisputably identifies as Mormon, and Sinema's visiting teacher identified Sinema as a member of her ward in Arizona, at least back in August 2012. So both are included on my list below.

Since this post was published, the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life released their own survey, and they claim there are only 15 Mormons in Congress. The difference: Pew lists Kyrsten Sinema as having "None", and fail to include Eni Faleomavaeg on their list.

The lone member of the Community of Christ (formerly Reorganized LDS) serving in Congress, Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA), lost his bid for re-election. Names are directly linked to their official Congressional websites with the exception of Matt Salmon, Kyrsten Sinema, and Chris Stewart, who are linked to their official campaign websites until they are officially seated on January 3rd, 2013.

(1). U.S. Senate:
-- Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
-- Michael Crapo (R-ID)
-- Harry Reid (D-NV)
-- Dean Heller (R-NV)
-- Tom Udall (D-NM)
-- Mike Lee (R-UT)
-- Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

(2). U.S. House:
-- Matt Salmon (R-AZ)
-- Howard McKeon (R-CA)
-- Raul Labrador (R-ID)
-- Mike Simpson (R-ID)
-- Rob Bishop (R-UT)
-- Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)
-- Jim Matheson (D-UT)
-- Chris Stewart (R-UT)
-- Eni Faleomavaega (non-voting delegate from American Samoa)

**According to HuffPo, Sinema was raised Mormon and is bisexual. Sinema does not consider herself a nonbeliever, adding that she prefers a secular approach. Kyrsten believes the terms non-theist, atheist or nonbeliever are not befitting of her life's work or personal character. Initially, it appeared that Sinema was still officially on the membership rolls of the LDS Church, according to her visiting teacher, so I included her on the list. However, on January 3rd, the Ogden Standard-Examiner published confirmation that Sinema is no longer officially a member of the LDS Church. So I deleted her from this list.

Wally Herger (R-CA) continues to serve his district until the end of his term on January 3rd, 2013. He did not seek re-election.

The only member of the Community of Christ in Congress, Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA), was defeated in his re-election bid. He will leave the U.S. House on January 3rd, 2013 after 16 years of service.

Community Of Christ Chapel In Joplin, Missouri Not Affected By The Tornado, North Of The Tornado's Path

Update: Four outstanding aerial view photos of the damage in Joplin are now available at the Daily Mail website . Since they're copyrighted AP photos, they cannot be published here.

In my previous post about the Joplin tornado, I guessed that the Community of Christ chapel located at 1212 Goetz Blvd escaped tornado damage because it was north of the tornado's path. I am pleased to report that I guessed right.

A graphic showing the path of the tornado is now available HERE. As of 4:50 P.M. on May 24th, the death toll has now reached 122, with 750 people injured and an estimated 8,000 structures damaged or destroyed.

The information does not come from official media sources or the official Community of Christ website; instead, this information was posted on a Community of Christ discussion forum. The following message from Apostle Rick Maupin was posted:

Friends,

I was just on the phone with Karen Tillery who is now in Joplin. At this point we are not aware of any church members who have sustained any personal injuries. There are some members who have lost their homes and businesses. There are still some members whom Karen and her team have been unable to contact. Phone service is still somewhat sporadic, therefore communications are somewhat limited.

You may have seen the report on CNN - they are claiming 89 fatalities at this time.

Our church is on the north side of town and was out of the path of the tornado. At this point it is not needed for an emergency purposes.

Many are asking if they can help by traveling into Joplin. Karen stated that the emergency response teams are asking that only trained medical personnel attempt to come into Joplin at this time. They are projecting that it will be 3-5 days before any significant clean up will begin.
Below is information from Karen:

If you are interested in volunteering, you must go through the Red Cross. They are asking that people NOT just show up. The Missouri National Guard was called in yesterday. Their efforts need to be focused on victims and NOT on directing volunteers. Here is the website of the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency: http://www.mo.gov/05222011joplintornadoes/
This website has a link for people to report being "safe and well": https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php
It also has a link to volunteer with the Greater Ozarks Red Cross and one to follow them on Twitter for the latest updates. The Red Cross has set up a shelter at the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center on Missouri Southern State campus which is just a few blocks from our church. They are asking for people to give blood and make donations.

Your Friend in Christ,
Rick

Another message from the local Mission Center President Karen Tillery was posted:

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your continued prayers and offers of help. I am in Joplin and have spent the day helping local leaders check on members and friends. There are still a few people unaccounted for, one lady was found in her basement and taken to the hospital, two homes were completely destroyed, one or two others have severe damage and two businesses of church members were destroyed. Those who lost their homes have places to stay. The church building is not being used for shelter at this time because that area is under a boil order and there are still severe storms going through the area. The church does not have a storm shelter.

Community of Christ is generously sharing aid for food, clothing and shelter to affected church members and friends. You can help by donating to the church at www.cofchrist.org or giving to the Red Cross. The Red Cross is accepting volunteers and needs blood donated. Here is the website of the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency: http://www.mo.gov/05222011joplintornadoes/

Please continue to pray for all of the people affected by the tornado and those assisting with rescue, recovery and clean up. If there is anything else you can do to help I will let you know.

Peace,

Karen Tillery

Community of Christ officials are weighing the possibility of allowing the Joplin MCC Church a place to worship until they get back on their feet. It will depend upon whether or not their church is needed as an emergency facility.

Community Of Christ Elder Glenn Carlisle Still Active In Ministry In New Philadelphia, Ohio At The Age Of 88

The "other guys" have made the news this week in New Philadelphia, Ohio. TimesReporter.com reports that three New Philadelphia-area pastors, with 200 years of ministry between them, have a standing date to meet on the last Tuesday of each month in Dee’s Restaurant in New Philadelphia for a time of food and fellowship. Rev. Stuart Barr, 95, Rev. Wayne Wheeler, 87, and Elder Glenn Carlisle, 87, have been getting together for lunch for the past 15 years to share advice and experiences from their many years in the ministry. Before they met at Dee’s, they gathered at the Peppermill Restaurant in New Philadelphia.

But one of them is still active in his ministry. Glenn Carlisle is a native of Goshen Township, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard a destroyer, the USS Marshall, in New Guinea. After he returned from the service, he was ordained as an elder in the Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Carlisle has served the Community of Christ congregation in New Philadelphia since the 1940s and has also served churches in Massillon and Sebring, Ohio. The New Philadelphia congregation is grouped under the Eastern Great Lakes Mission Center. Carlisle has preached in Haiti, using an interpreter, and in England and Wales.

Mission centers in the Community of Christ roughly correspond to stakes in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, although more variable in size. Mission centers can cover as few as five congregations or as many as fifteen.

I also have noticed one other difference between CofC and the LDS Church. The CofC chooses to observe Lent, as you can see HERE. They also hold daily Lenten services at the temple in Independence, MO.

Is Community Of Christ President Stephen Veazey Tying Priesthood Ordinations Too Closely To Tithing?

A member of the Community of Christ, the restorationist denomination that evolved separately from Mormons who chose not to migrate westward with Brigham Young and the main body of Saints, has posted an after-action report from the 2010 World Conference on Wheat and Tares. FireTag has provided an account about some of the aftermath of that conference.

One of the more controversial issues FireTag zeroes in on is the fact that Community of Christ President Stephen M. Veazey has apparently decided to tie priesthood ordination more closely with tithing as an additional mechanism to deal with a noticeable dropoff in World Church Tithes (CofChrist members may contribute to either local or world church funds). FireTag believes the economy has nothing to do with the dropoff, although the so-called "recovery" has been highly checkered, focusing disproportionately upon the TARP-subsidized financial industry and the public sector. FireTag refers to a June 22nd post on another blog that addresses President Veazey's actions in greater detail.

The issue surfaced during the closing remarks delivered on June 6th, 2010 by President Veazey to the World Church Finance Board in Independence, Missouri. The address focused on what is described as "the dire need to improve giving to World Ministries Mission Tithes and his hope for the church". But here's the one part that attracted the concern of this other CofChrist blogger:

A nonnegotiable for me is that I will not compromise vision, message, and the Spirit’s clear guidance in the face of threats from individuals that they will withdraw their financial support if they do not agree with church direction or certain decisions.

{snip}

Another nonnegotiable for me is priesthood support of World Ministries Mission Tithes. Soon, we will put in place an administrative policy that will state clearly that we will not approve the ordinations of people whose understanding of the gospel and ordained ministry does not include awareness and support of the worldwide ministries of the church through tithing.

Apprarently, President Veazey received communications after the 2010 World Conference from members who were displeased at some of the proposals adopted during the Conference, to include approval of the new Section 164 of the CofChrist's Doctrine and Covenants, and who threatened to reduce or withhold financial support as a result. It is not specified whether the critics thought the CofChrist became too "pro-gay" or not pro-gay enough. Nevertheless, Beware The Chicken expressed disapproval of President Veazey's remarks, characterizing them as arrogant, elitist, and uninspiring. BTC writes, "If the President wants tithing to be a response to the ministry of Jesus, rather than admission to the club, then don’t threaten to deny what are supposed to be calls of God due to a failure to pony up in a sufficient manner".

I believe President Veazey's relatively stern response was triggered by his desire to show critics that he will not allow himself to be swayed by what he considers to be "emotional blackmail", just as the LDS Church leadership likewise won't allow itself to be "emotionally blackmailed" into changing its doctrine on homosexuality.

Is this really any different than our approach in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Not necessarily; we also tie priesthood ordination with tithing. For example, when we prepare to confer either the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood upon a male, the bishop conducts a worthiness interview, which includes a question about whether the person pays a full tithing. If the answer is in the negative, priesthood ordination can be delayed until the person brings his tithing settlement up to date. Full membership in the LDS Church, to include callings, ordinations and temple access, is contingent upon full commitment. Partial commitment only reaps partial blessings.

In the final analysis, the question about whether or not President Veazey should tie priesthood ordinations more directly to tithing is best determined by members of the Community of Christ. But it is hardly a unique or unprecedented process.

Community Of Christ Appoints K. Scott Murphy And Richard C. N. James To The Council Of Twelve Apostles

The Blue Springs Examiner has published a more in-depth article about two changes to the Community of Christ's Council of Twelve Apostles announced during the recent 2010 World Conference. The Council of Twelve Apostles has the same status in the Community of Christ as the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles does in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Examiner's primary focus is on K. Scott Murphy, who was called to replace Leonard M. Young. The Council of Twelve Apostles members carry significant responsibility for the Community of Christ’s expansion and serve as administrative supervisors of field jurisdictions. “It’s not a position one can apply for and interview for,” said Murphy, who was released from his previous calling as World Church Human Resources Ministries director. “It strictly comes as a calling from the president of the church.”

Murphy’s background is in education. For nearly two decades, he worked as a school principal, counselor and music educator. Nine years ago, Murphy moved from Washington to Iowa to work full time with the Community of Christ. Murphy, who attends the Colonial Hills Community of Christ congregation in Blue Springs, said the church and the education system often serve the same purpose and promote the same sense of community. “The schools, from my perspective, are about making a child whole and giving them self-worth through the education process,” he said. “The church also is about making people feel whole and bringing spiritual needs. In the end, it’s all about the worth and value of each human life and developing that in the best way they can.”

But although Leonard M. Young has been released from the Council, he's not done serving in the church. He will continue his work for the First Presidency for 18 months, researching how the church can conduct its business more spiritually rather than relying on parliamentary procedure. He also will remain a member of the Order of Evangelists, who are known as ministers of blessing free of administrative responsibilities. They are similar in status and function to Patriarchs in the LDS Church.

The article also briefly mentions that Richard C.N. James, a resident of Wales in the United Kingdom, was called to the Council of Twelve Apostles, replacing Mary Jacks Dynes, who was released after serving as a member of the Council since 2002. This is in contrast to the LDS Church's practice of calling their apostles for life.

Community of Christ President Stephen M. Veazey explained how apostles are called to service. “Given the impact on individuals, families and church jurisdictions, I carefully weigh many factors,” President Veazey said. “I also consult other presiding officers to gain perspective. But, when final decisions are needed, my overriding concern is for the Holy Spirit’s direction.” The final step was approval by the delegates to the 2010 World Conference. This is quite similar to the process by which the LDS First Presidency calls its apostles, except that their names are merely submitted to the membership for a sustaining vote after the calling.

The names of other members of the Council of Twelve Apostles are available HERE.

Community Of Christ 2010 Conference Delegates Approve Proposed Section 164 Of Doctrine And Covenants, Liberalization Of Gay Policy Expected To Follow

John Hamer has provided more insight on By Common Consent into the ongoing Community of Christ 2010 World Conference, and discloses that delegates have approved the canonization of President Stephen M. Veazey's "Counsel to the Church" as Section 164 of their version of the Doctrine and Covenants. As a result, according to the April 15th Conference minutes, 17 related legislative proposals slated for consideration have been tabled because they are now considered redundant, as follows:

G-1 Marriage Couple
G-2 Priesthood Authorized to Officiate at Same-sex Marriages Where Legal
G-4 Legal Marriage and the Sacrament of Marriage
G-5 Policy on Priesthood
G-6 Equal Access to Church Sacraments
G-9 Resolution on Human Rights
G-12 Full Inclusion
G-13 Policy on Priesthood
G-14 Legal Marriage and Sacrament of Marriage
G-16 Request to Authorize Ordinations
G-18 Blessing of Committed Relationships
G-21 Common Consent on Definition of Marriage
G-22 Common Consent on Officiating in Same-sex Marriages
G-23 Common Consent for Not Ordaining Homosexuals
G-25 Same-gender Marriage and Commitment Ceremonies
G-26 Giftedness, Diversity, and Priesthood
G-27 Policy on Priesthood

You can read the list of all 28 legislative proposals HERE. Hamer also provides insight as to how the approval process proceeded:

(1). President Veazey recused himself and left the chamber, leaving Presidents David D. Schaal and Becky L. Savage to preside.

(2). The Quorum of the First Presidency urged approval of the document.

(3). The Council of Twelve likewise unanimously bore witness that the prophetic counsel was the word of God to the church.

(4). The Presidents of the Seventy reported that all seven quorums had approved the counsel section by section, but that two quorums of Seventy had nonetheless expressed concerns about certain verses.

(5). The Order of Bishops approved, as did the Youth & Children’s Caucus, the French Language Caucus, and the Spanish Language Caucus; the secretary of the Tahitian Language Caucus noted that their approval had been unanimous.

(6). Full approval was then urged by the Delegate Caucus, the Elder’s Mass Meeting, the Aaronic Mass Meeting, the Quorum of High Priests, and finally the Order of Evangelists (patriarchs).

(7). The World Conference then proceeded to consider the document, discussing and voting on each section before discussing and voting on the whole. When each section came up for a vote, it passed overwhelmingly.

(8). Finally, the document as a whole was presented for discussion and was, in turn, approved — it will now be canonized as Section 164 of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Contrast this process to the way the LDS Church would add a section to their Doctrine & Covenants. In their case, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve would discuss the issue, and then if unanimous consensus was achieved, the change would be presented to LDS congregations worldwide for a sustaining vote. Most likely a change of such a magnitude would first be presented to the membership at one of the twice-annual General Conferences. This is how the revelation extending Priesthood membership to worthy Black men was implemented in 1978.

Community Of Christ Delegates Vote To Allow People Baptized In Other Christian Denominations To Become Church Members Without Being Rebaptized

A major doctrinal change has been approved at the Community Of Christ's 2010 World Conference. The Blue Springs Examiner reports that an overwhelming majority of the 2,800 delegates present during the April 14th, 2010 afternoon legislative session voted to allow people baptized in other Christian denominations to become members of the church without being rebaptized. Previous baptism by water, whether it is full immersion, sprinkling or other methods, would be accepted, although the Community Of Christ continues to exclusively baptize by full immersion, following the personal example set by Jesus Christ during His ministry. Read the Community of Christ's own report HERE.

The new passage of scripture was included as President Stephen M. Veazey’s Counsel to the Church that was presented on January 15th, 2010 during a worship service at Community of Christ Temple. The scripture also emphasizes the power of the sacrament of Communion. The Community of Christ practices open Communion.

A church official further explained the decision. “Obviously, it is historic, but I also think it goes beyond history,” said Linda Booth, Community of Christ’s director of communications and a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles, the lead missionary quorum of the Community of Christ. “I believe God is moving us to be a people who live our baptismal covenant and honor and respect the other baptismal covenant that others have made. I believe God is pressing us to welcome them as brothers and sisters in Christ.” This change will be codified as Section 164 of their Doctrine and Covenants.

Here's a photo postcard of the Conference so far, embedded below:

Among the potentially contentious issues remaining to be debated are whether gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender individuals should be considered for ordination. Also on the table is whether ordained church members should be allowed to officiate at same-sex marriages where they are legal. I doubt that both these changes in their fulness would be adopted; it would be too much for most church members to swallow. But I wouldn't be surprised if some degree of liberalization emerged from the Conference on these issues.

John Hamer has done some blogging of the Conference on By Common Consent. Saints Herald also blogs on the Conference and provides links to others HERE.

Community Of Christ Prepares To Launch Their World Conference 2010 From April 10-17th; 28 Legislative Proposals On The Table For Consideration

Update April 10th: References to two media stories now included.


On the heels of the just-concluded 180th Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the "other guys" are preparing for their own world conference. The "other guys" being, of course, the Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS). Not very much discussion of this conference around the web; the only discussion I've seen outside the official Community of Christ environment is on Cougarguard, although a member of their church published this Examiner article back in March. Photo at left courtesy of Velton Peabody. Since this post, the Blue Springs Examiner and the Kansas City Star have also published stories.

The Community of Christ's World Conference is different - and lengthier - than the LDS Conference. A dedicated World Conference page provides all the details. Unlike the LDS Conferences which are held twice per year, the Community of Christ Conferences occur every three years. Their 2010 conference is actually the 150th anniversary of the very first conference in 1860, at which time Joseph Smith III accepted his prophetic calling and became the first president of their church. The entire conference period extends from April 7th through April 21st, 2010, and is broken down into an International Leaders Meeting from April 7-9, the official World Conference from April 10-17, and another International Leaders Meeting from April 19-21. Their registration booth at their Auditorium opens as early as 9 A.M. (CDT) on April 5th. Registration is encouraged but not required to attend the Conference; online registration is available. [Ed. Note: Hat tip to Velton Peabody for providing corrected information on the registration process.]

The schedule of activities is fully packed. You will notice a number of terms not associated with an LDS Conference, such as "legislation", "caucuses", and "delegates". This is because they have a broader concept of common consent than the LDS Church. While the LDS Church makes policy and calling decisions behind closed doors, then presents those decisions to a congregation for a sustaining vote, the Community of Christ prefers a more transparent and deliberative approach. There are 28 pieces of legislation proposed by one Community of Christ team and 14 mission centers from across the world and submitted to the 2010 World Conference for deliberation. Delegates and members will join the World Church Leadership Council in prayer, discussion, and discernment, with the intent that the Holy Spirit will move in World Conference legislative sessions to help delegates make sound decisions. Much of this was first prompted by President Steve Veazey's Counsel to the Church given on January 17th, 2010. Here is what President Veazey said about the same-sex issue:

5. It is imperative to understand that when you are truly baptized into Christ you become part of a new creation. By taking on the life and mind of Christ, you increasingly view yourselves and others from a changed perspective. Former ways of defining people by economic status, social class, sex, gender, or ethnicity no longer are primary. Through the gospel of Christ a new community of tolerance, reconciliation, unity in diversity, and love is being born as a visible sign of the coming reign of God.

6 a. As revealed in Christ, God, the Creator of all, ultimately is concerned about behaviors and relationships that uphold the worth and giftedness of all people and that protect the most vulnerable. Such relationships are to be rooted in the principles of Christ-like love, mutual respect, responsibility, justice, covenant, and faithfulness, against which there is no law.

6 b. If the church more fully will understand and consistently apply these principles, questions arising about responsible human sexuality, gender identities, roles, and relationships; marriage; and other issues may be resolved according to God’s divine purposes. Be assured, nothing within these principles condones selfish, irresponsible, promiscuous, degrading, or abusive relationships.

6 c. Faced with difficult questions, many properly turn to scripture to find insight and inspiration. Search the scriptures for the Living Word that brings life, healing, and hope to all. Embrace and proclaim these liberating truths.

This seems to leave some latitude for deliberation.

Nevertheless, the fact that there are 28 separate proposals on the table doesn't mean there are 28 separate issues to consider. Many of the pieces of legislation propose different resolutions of the same issue. For example, 14 of the 28 proposals deal with homosexuality in one way or another, in terms of marriage, marriage solemnization, church membership, and priesthood ordination. Some of these are actually competing proposals. So the issue of homosexuality will be a major topic of discussion, and could even lead to the canonization of new policy as a new section in their Doctrine and Covenants. Discussion sessions on some ancillary items, such as Human Trafficking, Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, and World Trade Day are scheduled for April 10th. Ancillary issues like those might attract unfavorable commentary from Glenn Beck, since he believes social justice by churches should be limited strictly to the humanitarian realm and not address political issues. Some of the services held during the World Conference will be webcast, although none of the legislative sessions will be webcast.

It'll be interesting to see what emerges from this conference on the issue of homosexuality. It has the potential to be controversial, although the resultant decision is unlikely to cause the attrition the Community of Christ experienced after their revelation to confer the Priesthood upon women in 1984. That decision is said to have cost them up to 20 percent of their membership, and led to the formation of the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We can only hope they make wise decisions influenced by the Holy Spirit, and wish them a successful conference.

Jesus Christ Did Speak Out About Homosexuality - But Not During His Earthly Ministry

I was reviewing the Community of Christ's proposed agenda for their upcoming World Conference, to be held on April 10-17, 2010 in Independence, Missouri. At that time, they'll be considering, amongst a market basket of proposals, revelation given to Church President Steve Veazey that, if approved, would be canonized as Section 164 of their version of the Doctrine & Covenants. Section 164 is expected to deal primarily with two topics: (1) conditions of membership, as applied to converts from other Christian faiths; and, (2) with the rights to participate in and administer sacraments and ordinances of the church, including ordination and marriage, for those in non-heterosexual monogamous relationships where civil law allows.

The issue is discussed on Mormon Matters in two parts; on January 5th, and again on January 20th. President Veazey first introduced it to the general membership in his Counsel to the Church address. The specific legislation index indicates 26 different resolutions to consider.

One of them, G-5 (Policy on Priesthood), is pertinent to this post. One of the clauses states the following:

Whereas, There is no record of Jesus giving any specific instruction about sexual orientation, but Jesus did instruct us to love one another, and in both word and action taught us to embrace marginalized persons;

It's true that Jesus instructed us to love one another, and particularly reach out to marginalized persons, but is there really no record of Jesus speaking out on homosexuality? The fact is, the four synoptic Gospels reveal no counsel or opinion given by Jesus during his earthly ministry. Not once does the word "homosexuality" appear in the four synoptic Gospels. But there are two other facts to consider.

(1). The four synoptic Gospels obviously do not record every single word Jesus spoke during his 33 years of mortality. CNN was not following him around with a camera 24/7.

(2). The ministry of Jesus Christ on this earth was not limited to mortality. Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus Christ was the Jehovah of the Old Testament.

And in the latter case, Jesus Christ, in his role as the pre-mortal Jehovah, did speak out decisively about homosexuality. In fact, the Bible records that Jehovah personally inscribed His opinion about homosexuality on the stone tablets that were destined to become the Law of Moses. Part of that Law of Moses is recorded in the present day book of Leviticus. And two verses in Leviticus spell out Jehovah's opinion about the practice of homosexuality:

Leviticus 18:12 - "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination".

Leviticus 20:13 - "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them".

Obviously, no Christian denomination promotes Leviticus 20:13 nowadays; the only exception I'm aware of is Pastor Pete Peters of LaPorte Church of Christ, who wrote a pamphlet entitled "Death Penalty for Homosexuals is Prescribed in the Bible". However, conservative Christian denominations continue to use Leviticus 18:22 as part of their scriptural justification to oppose the sanctioning of homosexuality.

But Jesus Christ also speaks through his authorized representatives on earth, who are ordained and set apart for that purpose under Priesthood authority. When ordained missionaries are in the field, they are authorized representatives of the Lord and His Church, and speak officially for both when "on the clock". The Apostle Paul was also one of those missionaries, and he recorded his thoughts about homosexuality in Romans 1:26-27:

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

So the next time someone tells you that "Jesus said nothing about homosexuality", you now have the information necessary not only to rebut them, but to expand their understanding about the role of Jesus Christ Himself.

Myths And Facts About The Community Of Christ (Formerly The Reorganized Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints)

The Community of Christ, once known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS), evolved separately from the mainstream Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after the main body of Saints began emigrating to Utah in 1845. It grew from the remnant Saints who did not accept the leadership of Brigham Young and chose to remain behind in Illinois and Missouri; the church formally organized in 1860 in Amboy, IL under the leadership of Joseph Smith III.

While the official C of C website provides good information about the church's beliefs, it leaves a number of questions unanswered for the casual inquirer. To fill the gap, three members of the C of C attempted to debunk some myths and answer additional questions about their church on several LDS-oriented blogs in 2008-2009. The sources include:

-- “LDS Myths about Reorganized Latter Day Saints”: Mormon Matters, January 27th, 2008.
-- "Interview with the Community of Christ": Mormon Heretic, June 9th, 2009
-- "John Hamer returns (sort of)! A Look at the CoC": Mormon Matters, June 14th, 2009

The respondents to the questions are John Hamer, Margie Miller, and FireTag, all identified as observant members of the Community of Christ. They speak as individual members, not as official spokespersons for the church. The purpose of this post is to get the pertinent information scattered through the three sources listed above under one roof. FireTag also maintains a personal C of C-oriented blog, The Fire Still Burning, updated regularly. There is no editorialization about the C of C on my part included in this post.

The Q & A begins after the jump.

Dispute Rages On Between Community Of Christ And Devon Park Restoration Branch In Independence, Missouri Over Use Of RLDS Name And Symbols

A dispute between the Community of Christ and the Devon Park Restoration Branch in Independence, Missouri over the branch's use of the RLDS name and symbols continues, and was the subject of a July 29th report in the Kansas City Star. A May 2009 Examiner article provides additional background on this case. A February 2009 post on the Warrenb234 blog provides more insight.

According to the Star, the Devon Park branch has found it necessary remove an old RLDS flag from their sanctuary, apply duct tape to the church sign out front to cover up the words “Reorganized” and “of Latter Day Saints”, and to stretch a black trash bag over the heavy bronze "lion and lamb" seal which is attached by threaded screws to the interior wall studs inside their chapel. They took these measures to comply with a preliminary injunction granted to the Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (RLDS), by U.S. District Judge Gary Fenner during this past spring which prohibits the Devon Park Restoration Branch from using the lion and lamb symbol, as well as the RLDS name. These are trademarks which the Community of Christ contends it still owns.

The seeds of this dispute actually date back to the early 1980s. At the Community of Christ's 1984 world conference, church members voted in favor of accepting a revelation announced by then-church President Wallace B. Smith authorizing the church to begin conferring the Priesthood upon women and ordaining them to its various offices. This revelation was not exactly without controversy; over the ensuing years, about 20 percent of active members split from the church.

Many of them eventually organized themselves in two ways; some formed the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, while others organized various independent Restoration Branches, now loosely controlled by the Joint Conference of Restoration Branches (JCRB: Old website HERE, newer website HERE), neither of which extend Priesthood membership to women. The Devon Park branch is part of the JCRB, which, despite the ongoing row between the Devon Park branch and the Community of Christ, ironically held its most recent JCRB General Conference in the Community of Christ Auditorium from April 5-11, 2009.

In 2001, the RLDS Church changed its name to the Community of Christ. However, various restoration branches continued to use the RLDS name and symbols. The Community of Christ feared this would lead to brand confusion, since although they abandoned the RLDS designation, they continue to use the lion and lamb seal, which is attached to the side of their auditorium. But when efforts to reconcile the differences outside the court system proved unsuccessful, the C of C then decided upon litigation, first filing suit against a Restoration congregation in Raymore, and then launching their current suit against the Devon Park branch in December 2008. In their response, Devon Park claims the C of C abandoned the RLDS brand name, and that they purchased their seal from a private party, such seals once made available to Restoration branches by the C of C. The C of C found this response unsatisfactory, and so they obtained their injuction in January 2009.

The Devon Park branch has already committed about $200,000 in legal fees to fight the lawsuit. Since the branch only has 30 members, financial help has also been provided by some other restoration branches. A Federal civil trial is expected sometime during the spring of 2010.

Community Of Christ (Formerly RLDS) President Steve Veazey Issues An Appeal To The Young Adults Of His Church

Because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (RLDS), share a common past, a common founder, and yes, a common Savior, I consider it appropriate to post on their activities and doctrine on occasion. Unlike the LDS Church, the Community of Christ does not have an active and populous Bloggernacle to help tell their story. [Update: On June 2nd, I learned that there is an unofficial Community of Christ blog called Saints Herald. They call themselves the Blogitorium, although it is just one blog with multiple posters instead of multiple blogs like the Bloggernacle.]

An excellent way to introduce those who are unfamiliar with the Community of Christ is through the video embedded below. In this video, church President Steve Veazey, one of the few in its history not to be a blood descendant of the Prophet Joseph Smith, issues an appeal to the young people of his church to get more involved and to communicate which direction they want to see the church head. Those familiar with the oratory style of the LDS General Authorities will notice some difference; while the LDS authorities tend to use a stentorian "Thus saith the Lord" tone, President Veazey comes across more like a middle-level corporate manager attempting to motivate his workers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aot4k9yATQc



Barbara Walden, the director of the C of C's Kirtland Temple, weighs in on President Veazey's address on Saints Herald.

The Community of Christ website can be found HERE, and its Wikipedia entry HERE. Their basic beliefs are spelled out HERE. The nearest congregation can be located HERE. The Community of Christ offers a more progressive brand of Christianity than the LDS, while remaining faithful to the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible (also known as the Inspired Version), the Book of Mormon, and their version of the Doctrine and Covenants. In October of this year, they will be presenting their 16th annual Community of Christ International Peace Award to Dr. Halima Bashir, in honor of her work as a doctor and activist for women and children in Darfur. The award will be presented at 7:30 p.m. CDT, Friday, October 23rd, at the Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri.

Key differences between the LDS and the C of C:

(1). LDS uses the King James Bible, C of C uses the Inspired Version
(2). Each uses a slightly different version of the Doctrine & Covenants; C of C does not recognize the Pearl of Great Price as scripture.
(3). LDS defines tithing as one-tenth of gross income, while C of C defines it as one-tenth of "increase", or net income.
(4). LDS believes in celestial marriage and baptism for the dead, C of C does not perform these ordinances.
(5). LDS limits Priesthood ordination to males 12 and older, C of C ordains women to the Priesthood. Change not supported by previous scripture; the change occurred in 1984 and was announced by revelation to the C of C President.

Other differences, past and present, spelled out in this Wikipedia entry.