 Photo by Chad Godfrey What does belonging in Community of Christ mean to you? If someone asked you that question, how would you respond in only one sentence in a way that someone who is not familiar with our church would understand? They say that “your story is church history.” That’s why all are called to tell their story. But where do we begin when words don’t flow easily, and how do we organize our thoughts? Instead of struggling to tell all the details, what if we start by sharing with others how it feels to belong in just a few words? If you are game, we would love to hear your voice! Here’s what we need from you:
How we will use what you share with us:
Please send your photo and sentence to [email protected] by October 16. We are looking forward to hearing what belonging in Community of Christ means to you! 
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 Larry M. McGuire named new Senior President of Seventy Larry M. McGuire has been named the new Senior President of Seventy, with unanimous support from the Council of Presidents of Seventy. He will succeed Karin Peter following her retirement in October and will be set apart during a service on October 18.  Join Emerge, the World Church’s online meetup for youth ages 14-18, Sep 27 Be part of something special—Emerge is an online space where youth ages 14–18 can meet new friends, share experiences, and grow together in community. Everyone is welcome, and we’d love to see you there! 🗓️ Sunday, Sep 24 🕕 7pm ET/ 6pm CT/ 5pm MT/ 4pm PT  Community of Christ is calling for prayers following severe flooding in central Nepal, which has affected communities along the Bootkoski River, including Nuwakot, home to three Community of Christ congregations in Deurali, Raigaun, and Tupche.
Families connected with the Deurali and Raigaun congregations are reported to be safe. In Tupche, several families have experienced serious damage or destruction to their homes and livelihoods, and floodwaters swept away some small businesses. Communication disruptions have also left a few family members out of contact. No deaths have been reported among Community of Christ families at this time. Stephen Thompson of World Accord reports that its programs in Nepal have not been affected by the flooding. A local leader, however, expects the flooding to have many long-term effects across the country. We hold the people of Nepal in our thoughts and prayers as communities face the immediate effects of the flooding and what lies ahead.  Community of Christ endorses the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative Community of Christ has endorsed the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, following World Conference Resolution 1333 adopted in 2025. Individuals, congregations, mission centres, and other church-affiliated groups can also endorse the initiative. The World Church responds to earthquakes and fires with relief aid Community of Christ is contributing $10,000 USD from Oblation and the Climate Impact Fund to World Central Kitchen in response to recent fires and earthquakes. Members can support future relief efforts through the Climate Impact Fund or Worldwide Mission Tithes.  By John Hamer, Director of Outreach and Innovative Ministries The archive of the Woodfield Community of Christ in London, Ontario, preserves a “Preaching Chart” drawn in the 1930s. In the early 20th century, ministers from our church traveled in circuits, visiting congregations, cottage meetings, and revivals, holding preaching services that could last for hours. Much of the preaching was extemporaneous: the speaker would begin with a passage of scripture and perhaps a rough outline, then expound from that jumping-off point. Preaching charts served as both a memory device for the speaker and a visual aid for the audience.
From the church’s central tower, we see two great walls supporting windows labelled to the right: “FAITH, WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, DISCERNMENT, HEALING” — which are still in keeping with how we see the church today, especially if we understand “healing” as spiritual restoration. The labels to the left are less familiar in today’s church: “MIRACLES, PROPHECY, TONGUES, INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES, DREAMS/VISIONS.” Our predecessors in the church were far more Pentecostal than we are today. Services at reunions frequently included the spiritual practice of glossolalia, where one member caught up in the spirit utters syllables they believed were an unknown language. A second minister would then “interpret” the tongues, by speaking a pronouncement in English that was given the weight of revelation. The practice could be used irresponsibly when commands were directed at others, and it consequently was phased out. Although these beliefs were earnestly held, they were factually incorrect. Scholars have now reconstructed the development of the early Christian movement, giving us new insights into our history. At the earliest stratum, the movement was spread by committed disciples who sold their property, gave the proceeds to the poor, and lived a life of voluntary poverty, begging for their daily bread as they spoke in the spirit and shared the gospel. These mendicant disciples were alternatively called “teachers,” “apostles,” and “prophets” — all of which were synonyms. In the next generations, as fixed congregations were established, they began to require ongoing local leadership, calling “helpers” διάκονος (deacons) and “overseers” ἐπίσκοπος (bishops), along with πρεσβύτερος (presbyters) — a word that the King James Bible alternately translated as “elders” and “priests.” Elder and priest are thus synonyms for the same early priesthood role. As the apostolic age ended, the mendicant apostle/prophet/teachers were fully replaced deacons, priest/elders, and bishops. If we go back to our preaching chart, we may ask: what about evangelists, pastors, and seventies? There are three references to “evangelists” in the New Testament, which literally means “bringer of the good news” — essentially a synonym for “apostle.” (Over time, “evangelist” developed the technical definition of the author of a gospel.) “Pastor” is Latin for shepherd (ποιμένας poiménas in the original Greek) and has a single mention in the New Testament as a priesthood office, likely meant as the leader of a congregation — making it a synonym for bishop. Use of the word pastor was revived during the Protestant Reformation as some Protestants rejected the evolution of the episcopacy during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Finally, “Seventy” is not really an office at all. Historically, there were many more than 12 apostles (the “Twelve” were a subset of the larger group of mendicant teachers). In the 1830s, early members of our church read the story in Luke of Jesus sending out “seventy” more disciples after the twelve and used that story to create the office of “Seventy.”  The foundations for the two great walls on the chart are labelled “AARONIC PRIESTHOOD” and “MELCHISEDEC PRIESTHOOD” and include the offices of each, as understood in our tradition: “PRIESTS, BISHOPS, DEACONS, and TEACHERS” to the left and “HIGH-PRIESTS, SEVENTIES, ELDERS, PASTORS, EVANGELISTS, APOSTLES, and PROPHETS” to the right. Speaking at a revival a century ago, a minister could expound at length on all of these offices. Their conclusion would inevitably be that these offices were established by Jesus himself; that they were essential to the functioning of the true Church of Jesus Christ on the earth; and that our church alone operated with the fullness of this structure. To them, this proved that ours was the one and only true church.
This leaves us with the office of “High Priest” and the two priesthood orders: Aaronic and Melchisedec. Members in the 1830s based these on their interpretation of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The author of Hebrews develops an extended argument contrasting the Old Covenant of Moses with the New Covenant in Christ. At the heart of the Old Covenant was the Jerusalem Temple, led by a mortal High Priest descended from Aaron, who performed a ritual sacrifice each year to atone for his sins and the sins of the people. But this practice has been superseded, according to Hebrews, by “a better covenant.” Christ has given himself as an atoning sacrifice for everyone and for all time and thus has become our eternal High Priest. The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 110:4, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchisedec,” as the basis for this image. Early members of our church got the idea that we should have two orders of priesthood from Hebrews, but they clearly misread the point the author was making. The priesthood of Aaron with its High Priest was part of the Old Covenant and has been done away with. In the New Covenant, there is only one High Priest after the Order of Melchisedec: Jesus Christ, our eternal High Priest. Centuries of study have given us a window in Christian origins that our ancestors in the Restoration could only imagine. Learning about things that they got right (and wrong) is not an occasion for discouragement. As the Community of Christ “Principles of History” teach: “The responsible study of church history involves learning, repentance, and transformation.” Understanding the path we’ve taken, allows us to be better informed for the path ahead. Recognizing the intersection of devout conviction and the inevitable imperfections of our predecessors renders our shared narrative far more authentic and grounded in reality. In creating two orders of priesthood and the many offices referenced on the preaching chart, members of our movement believed they were “restoring” practices established by Jesus in the First Century. Instead, they were creating something new, which has now become part of our legacy and inheritance in Community of Christ. Generations of faithful ministers have worked to magnify their callings, finding new and innovative ways to serve as servants of Christ. Doctrine and Covenants 162:1e reminds us: “The spirit of the Restoration is not locked in one moment of time, but is instead the call to every generation to witness to essential truths in its own language and form.” As we discern our path forward as a sacred community, it’s important that we understand and honor the many inheritances that have informed our journey, while opening our minds and hearts to new light and knowledge for the road ahead.  This year, we will gather for our first Canada Mission Centre Conference on November 7–8. Because Conference is about much more than business, we are responding to the call to “risk something new” from our Mission Prayer, inviting members and friends of the church across Canada to:
“Awaken · Risk · Bless” is a spiritual cycle that guides our shared journey. Awakening to the presence of the Spirit gives us courage to build bridges of understanding and risk conversations and ministries that only moments ago seemed beyond our capacity, but now spread blessings all around us and beyond. How to prepare for Conference?
Celebrate mission What are the things that happened at your congregation or campground this year that we must remember and celebrate together? We want to hear your story! We invite you to share how your local or camping community is living Christ’s mission and making a difference. Please send your reports by October 2 to ensure your stories are included in our Conference program. Don’t forget to send photos if they’re available! Conference remote sites Although the Canada-wide sessions will be online, we encourage congregations and groups to gather locally. Members who gathered in person for our Jan 17 Organization Meeting had a chance to enjoy fun activities and fellowship while attending the Zoom sessions. We hope many more groups across Canada will choose to join Conference following this “hybrid” format, but it is important that we make arrangements ahead of time to ensure the nationwide online sessions run smoothly while everyone joining locally is able to see what’s on screen, hear what other remote participants are saying, vote on motions, and be heard if they wish to speak from the lectern during business. Please send your remote site applications by October 2. This will provide time for our IT department to assess your technical equipment, provide training, and help you make sure you are ready to run a successful remote site. Things you can start considering are:
There is much to celebrate as we continue to move onward together as one Mission Centre. We hope you will join us in these opportunities to connect, learn, and live Christ’s mission together.  By John Hamer, Director of Outreach and Innovative Mission You won’t want to miss the church’s biggest event of the year! Stassi Cramm and other world church leaders will be hosting the 2026 Peace Forum at the Temple in Independence this October 16–18. The theme is “Seeds of Peace”: in a world distracted by so many ongoing crises, what can we do to plant seeds that can one day develop into enduring peace and justice? If you are not able to travel to the United States this year, Community of Christ in Canada is holding two in-person gatherings: one in Vancouver, the other in the Greater Toronto Area. Events of the Peace Forum will be livestreamed to both locations, including the keynote address by environmentalist Bill McKibben, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out? In addition to the livestream, both Canadian gathering sites will host their own in-person workshops, presentations, and activities. What to expect at the Greater Toronto Area Gathering All generations are welcome! Saturday October 17 will include a youth and intergenerational track with activities including a young peace-maker scavenger hunt and team puzzle-solving challenges. There will be presentations about:
What to expect at the Vancouver Gathering Get ready for hands-on activities, including:
Cross-Canada discussion groups
Both gatherings will include a session where younger adults across Canada will connect via videoconference to answer the question “What should ‘being a peace church’ look like in the 21st century?” Plan to connect, even if you cannot make it to Vancouver or the GTA. Because our Canadian Mission Centre Conference will be held online this year, the Peace Forum is our biggest opportunity this year to connect as a church in groupings beyond congregations and reunions. You won’t want to miss out on either local gathering. And the activities and topics provide a great opportunity to invite children and grandchildren or friends join you. Please do! We hope to see you there.  Summary of baptism and membership survey now available The First Presidency has released a summary of the churchwide survey on WCR 1324, Baptism and Membership. The report reflects perspectives shared by members and friends from around the world as part of the ongoing discernment process and highlights key themes, questions, and insights that emerged. Background resources, survey results, and a related podcast are also available. June 2026 financial update now available The Presiding Bishopric has released the June 2026 Financial Update, sharing recent financial results and updates on several key initiatives. The update includes 2025 year-end results, 2026 tithing to date, endowment growth, the finalization of Bridge of Hope Retirement Responsibility, and early planning for the 2027 budget. Church leaders also express gratitude for the continued generosity of members and friends who support Community of Christ's global mission.  Reunion 2026 resources now available Resources for Reunion 2026 are now available. The Center for Innovation in Ministry and Mission (CIMM) has released lesson walkthrough videos featuring the authors of the adult reunion text, and Herald House has published Reunion materials for all ages along with a 2026 Youth Camping Guide. New family resource helps families explore generosity The Generosi-Whatzit Book is a new Community of Christ resource that helps families explore generosity as part of everyday life. Through ten hands-on activities, participants are invited to practise compassion, service, hospitality, care for creation, and financial generosity while reflecting on faith and discipleship. Designed for use at home, in small groups, or in Sunday school classes, the book includes scripture, guided activities, reflection questions, and companion journal pages. It is available through Herald House and is expected to be available on Amazon soon. Share your feedback in the A Year in Review survey The First Presidency invites you to take part in the A Year in Review survey and reflect on the church's journey since the 2025 World Conference. Your feedback will help the First Presidency listen, learn, and discern with the church as we continue moving forward together. Emerge: An online meetup for youth ages 14-18, Jun 28 Be part of something special—Emerge is an online space where youth ages 14–18 can meet new friends, share experiences, and grow together in community. Everyone is welcome, and we’d love to see you there! 🗓️ Sunday, June 28 🕕 7pm ET/ 6pm CT/ 5pm MT/ 4pm PT  By Lanette Vawter, Director of Leadership Development
In Community of Christ, many people work and serve their communities, congregations, or camps all across Canada with creativity, dedication, and loving presence. This year the leadership team for the Canada Mission Centre will be providing annual awards for persons from your camps or congregations who have demonstrated outstanding service in Community of Christ! The awards will be presented at our Mission Conference on Nov. 7, 2026. The Unsung Hero Award recognizes individuals who quietly make a significant impact as a response to one or more of Community of Christ’s five Mission Initiatives:
The Leadership Team of Community of Christ in Canada would love to hear from members about the wonderful work being done in our congregations, campgrounds, and all the places where communities of joy, hope, love, and peace are being promoted across our country. We would like to recognize the work that is faithfully carried out and share this across our Mission Centre as a way to inspire and remind us how God's purposes are constantly unfolding. Please complete this form to nominate someone who exemplifies dedication and service in one of the five mission initiative categories. Nominations can come from anybody in Community of Christ who would like to recognize and honour the contributions that various people make for our church. All nominations must be submitted to Lanette Vawter at [email protected] by September 30, 2026. The award winners will be announced at the Canadian Mission Centre Conference on Nov. 7, 2026. May all of us be blessed and inspired by the commitment and steadfast love exhibited by so many of our dedicated church friends, members, and priesthood. |
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