 Black Lives Matter
Indigenous Lives Matter Lives of People of Colour Matter This is the 8th in a continuing series on the “We Share…” theme. For background, see the first entry in the series here: We Share #1 Today, “We Share… Basic Beliefs.” Basic Beliefs are “comprehensive, rational explanations of what the church holds to be true, arranged in categories that are part of the broader Christian tradition. In contrast, “Enduring Principles” (covered last week) “are the underlying truths and affirmations that shape the personality of the church.” (Sharing in Community of Christ, p. 26) “The good news of Jesus Christ is at the center of the faith and beliefs of Community of Christ.” (Sharing …, p. 33) This is of primary importance. We hold firmly to our belief in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. These are the most basic beliefs that connect us to the two millenia of history of the Christian church. Statements of other basic beliefs draw on these foundations and the complementary foundations of scripture. Each member’s experience of these beliefs will be different. Our beliefs are an “open invitation to all to embark on the adventure of discipleship,” to “seek God’s continuing guidance,” and to “encourage all people to study the scriptures and think about their experiences as they engage in the life of the church.” (Sharing …, p. 33) Statements of our Basic Beliefs are made under the following headings:
It may seem like a long list. Without a statement in each area there would be a lack of comprehensiveness in the total description of our beliefs. Each statement can be seen to build on others which creates a basic “systematic theology.” Members will find that they will give more importance to some statements than to others. What will be particularly meaningful to one person’s faith may be less important in another’s faith. Thus, we have a church with diversity of opinion, thought, and belief that is fully acceptable within the overall unity of the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. Full statements of each belief may be found on the Community of Christ website and in the book Sharing in Community of Christ, pp. 33-38. In future weeks we will write specifically about our beliefs in Jesus Christ, the Sacraments, and Scripture. (Next week: “Stewardship”) If you would like me to address any other Basic Belief in detail, please send me an email and I will be happy to respond. For more information about our Basic Beliefs, contact the writer or a congregation near you. Material for this column is drawn primarily from the book, available online, Sharing in Community of Christ: Exploring Identity, Mission, Message, and Beliefs. I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected]
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 Black Lives Matter
Indigenous Lives Matter Lives of People of Colour Matter This is the 7th in a continuing series on the “We Share…” theme. For background, see the first entry in the series here: We Share #1 Today, “We Share… Enduring Principles.” These are not the same as “Basic Beliefs” of the church – which we will discuss next week. Basic Beliefs might be seen as more “rational” statements about what Community of Christ believes which establish our place as a denomination within the greater Christian Church. “Enduring Principles” may appeal to our more emotional side. They “define the essence, heart, or soul of church identity, mission, and message. They describe the personality of the church as expressed through its participants, congregations, and affiliate organizations throughout the world.” (Sharing in Community of Christ, p. 27) There are nine principles:
Descriptions of each principle can be found in Sharing in Community of Christ, beginning on page 28, or on the Community of Christ website. Each principle is described in a few sentences. The last sentence or two in each description begins with “We…” to indicate our sense of calling to live up to the principle and to describe the response that we believe is required to fulfill its ideal. A short essay such as this one could easily be dedicated to each Enduring Principle! The principles are not numbered. There is no intended “hierarchy” of importance of the principles. People may express one or more as their “favourite” or “most meaningful.” Mostly, however, people will refer to each principle when it is appropriate for application to a current and pressing spiritual, moral, ethical, or social question or situation. The foundation of every principle can be traced to “God’s revelation in Jesus Christ and continuing presence through the Holy Spirit, as proclaimed by scripture.” (Sharing, p. 27) As we more frequently and consistently apply the Enduring Principles to our lives, and as we use them to help inform our efforts to improve our neighbourhoods, communities, and nations, we can gradually move the world closer to the ideals of Zionic community and help bring the Kingdom of God closer to reality on earth. For more information about our Enduring Principles, contact the writer or a congregation near you. Material for this column is drawn primarily from the book, available online, Sharing in Community of Christ: Exploring Identity, Mission, Message, and Beliefs. I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected]  Black Lives Matter
Indigenous Lives Matter Lives of People of Colour Matter Today, “We Share… a Mission.” Christ’s Mission is Our Mission! We take that cue from Jesus’ reading from the book of Isaiah as quoted in Luke 4:18-19 (NRSV): The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Many years ago, Community of Christ adopted a mission statement that many church members still know from memory and that points the way to Jesus and his mission: We proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace. The church has been “growing into” that mission statement ever since. Five “mission initiatives” have been prescribed for the church that help us focus our efforts on what matters most for us to be about in our communities. More information can be found for each one by following the links:
It is critical to understand that each of us as individuals must be Christ’s hands and feet to contribute to carrying out his mission. The short phrase that started the first paragraph above really is more accurately stated as: “Christ’s Mission, Our Mission, YOUR Mission.” In recent years, many individuals have made it a part of their personal spiritual practice or prayer life to regularly pray the “Mission Prayer” and directly invite God’s guidance into their lives: God, where will your Spirit lead today? Help me be fully awake and ready to respond. Grant me courage to risk something new and become a blessing of your love and peace. Amen. I invite you to make Christ’s mission your mission. Community of Christ seeks to share that mission and to make it as real as possible wherever church members live and work and serve in their community. How will you respond? For more information about our mission, contact the writer or a congregation near you. Material for this column is drawn primarily from the book, available online, Sharing in Community of Christ: Exploring Identity, Mission, Message, and Beliefs. Extra Information: Be sure to let your voice be heard in an early stage of consultation about the future of Community of Christ in Canada. Check out Apostle Art Smith’s sermon from September 27 (fast-forward to minute 35:29), plus his related conversation with Seventy John Hamer of Toronto, Ontario, and respond to this questionnaire. Thank you for your interest. I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected]  Apostle Art Smith shares his Canadian Thanksgiving well-wishes to the church in Canada and offers his gratitude for the engagement in a recent survey concerning the future of the church. View the video below and share it with others who might appreciate it.  Black Lives Matter
Indigenous Lives Matter Lives of People of Colour Matter Today, “We Share… a Sacred Story.” “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth…” -Genesis 1:1 NRSV “Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way…” -Matthew 1:18 “I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents…” -I Nephi 1:1 “Hearken, O ye people of my church…” -Book of Doctrine and Covenants, section 1:1a Our sacred story begins in four places at four different times in four different records of scripture. The first verse of Genesis begins the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) which ultimately tells the story of God’s people of the covenant over many centuries. The first chapter of Matthew begins the New Testament and the story of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ followed by the records of the persons who first shared his teachings with the ancient world. The first verse of the Book of Nephi in the Book of Mormon becomes our entrance into a multi-faceted story of people following God’s direction through times of change, challenge, war, peace, and ultimately the ministry of Jesus in a land far removed from Jerusalem. And, finally, the opening verse of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants begins the nearly 200-year-old (and counting) prophetic journey of Community of Christ from its humble beginnings in upper New York state to a world-wide denomination present in over 60 countries. “The sacred story is the all-encompassing saga of God’s redeeming action in the world. … The story of Community of Christ is part of a much larger sacred story that is rooted in Christian history, including the Hebrew tradition from which Christianity emerged.” (Sharing in Community of Christ, p. 17) In this sense “We Share” this long sacred history of religious faith with the rest of the larger Christian church. Further, “the story of the church is one of unusual faith, vision, and creativity in response to God’s call.” (p. 18) In this sense, we share a unique sacred story with people to show God’s continuing revelatory, and prophetic leadership in our movement. “Do not fail to listen attentively to the telling of the sacred story, for the story of scripture and faith empowers and illuminates.” -Book of Doctrine and Covenants, section 161:5 For more information about our story, please contact me or contact a congregation near you. Extra Information: Be sure to let your voice be heard in an early stage of consultation about the future of Community of Christ in Canada. Check out Apostle Art Smith’s sermon from September 27 (fast-forward to 35:29), plus his related conversation with Seventy John Hamer of Toronto, Ontario, and respond to this questionnaire. Thank you for your interest. I pray for you God’s blessings of joy, hope, love, and peace in these challenging times. Steve Thompson Canada West Mission Centre President [email protected] |
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