We are immensely thankful to the 311 members of Community of Christ in Canada who participated in the “Priesthood & Personal Relationships” poll. To put this into perspective, 360 members voted in the Canadian National Conference of 2012, when our active membership was significantly larger than today. This level of engagement indicates this is an important matter for our church today that will have a vast impact on our journey ahead.

The Methodology

As Apostle Art Smith explained at our recent Mission Centre Conferences, only if the proposed policy showed a substantial consensus from the membership would the draft policy be presented to the Council of Twelve, and then, if approved there, to the First Presidency for review. A two-thirds majority might be considered a 'substantial consensus,' but World Conference Resolution 1327, which gives Apostles the responsibility for creating new culturally specific policies around marriage, does not define a fixed threshold. A decade ago, the vote on LGBTQ+ inclusion received 80% approval, which was seen as a very substantial consensus.

But because this is not as simple as a yes/no issue for many folks, members were invited to express their level of support. The five options, ordered in decreasing level of support, were FULL, MODERATE, TENTATIVE, LIMITED, and NO support.

To ensure a conservative estimation of YES responses, this methodology uses a conservative classification approach: of the five response options, only FULL and MODERATE were categorized as YES, while the remaining responses, as well as the undecided responses, were classified as NO. This approach prioritizes minimizing the likelihood of overestimating YES responses, even at the potential cost of underestimating them. The rationale for this conservative approach is to account for the significance of a YES outcome and to ensure that any conclusions drawn are robust and cautious.

The Results

We received 311 responses from members of Community of Christ in Canada, including 260 from CEM, 50 from CWM, and one from a Canadian member not associated with any congregation. We also received eight responses from individuals not formally affiliated with Community of Christ in Canada, which were greatly appreciated but not included in the poll results, as the primary purpose of this survey is to inform the First Presidency about the perspectives of members of the two Canadian mission centres.

The first question asked for the level of support for the intent of the proposed policy change, that is, to remove any automatic ban on priesthood based on personal relationships. The overall level of support was 83%.

The second question was regarding the level of support for the proposed policy change as currently written. The overall level of support was 80%.


Important Findings

Although we expected a stark gap between the level of support across age groups, the results show that most members of all ages support the policy. For example, 87% of members 59 and younger expressed support for the intent, compared to 80% among those in the 60–79 group, and 83% in the 80+ group.

On the other hand, how the current policy has affected individuals and their families made a significant difference. FULL support from those who have been affected personally or through their families was 88%, while FULL support from those not affected stood at 70%. About one quarter of the respondents said either they or their family had been affected by the current policy.

What’s Next?

The poll indicates a broad consensus among members of Community of Christ in Canada to move forward with revising the policy. At the same time, the Canadian Leadership Team deeply values and acknowledges all the comments shared in the survey, including those from members who expressed objections to change. These perspectives will be thoughtfully considered as we seek to move forward together in a spirit of healing and reconciliation.

Following the process outlined by World Conference Resolution 1327, the field apostle will now present our proposed policy changes to World Church Leadership for review.

We ask you to continue to join us in prayer as we reflect on the results of this poll and prepare for the next step in this process of discernment that will have a lasting impact on our path forward.

Thank you for sharing your voice!

We are happy to present “Onward Together” the emerging plan for Community of Christ in Canada, drawn from the ideas, testimonies, and dialogue gathered in the All Voices discernment.  Diverse stakeholders who share in the church’s identity and mission across Canada have been sharing what matters most: why they are committed to Community of Christ as well as their concerns and hopes for our future.
“Onward Together” organizes what we have heard into five statements about our identity, activities, mission, and values as a sacred community.  Most of the ideas shared in the statements will not sound new:  for example, our commitment to camping, retreats, and reunions or our focus on peace and justice initiatives.  After all, these are the things we have been talking about together in All Voices.  Some aspects may sound less familiar as we have not all been able to hear everything that has been said during the discernment process.  For this reason, we have scheduled a Canada-wide gathering this Saturday with Apostle Art Smith to hear more about “Onward Together,” to ask questions and to receive clarification.  The gathering will begin the next phase of the discernment process as more voices are heard and the strategic plan for Community of Christ in Canada becomes fully formed.
We hope you will read and ponder the “Onward Together” statements and join us Saturday to hear more and to share your thoughts in dialogue and community.

I really hope that your experience today will inspire you to be part of the Testimony Tapestry. We need to hear your voice and your story. Friends, D&C 163:11 invites us:

11a. God is calling for a prophetic community to emerge, drawn from the nations of the world, that is characterized by uncommon devotion to the compassion and peace of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Through divine grace and wisdom, this faith community has been given abundant gifts, resources, and opportunities to equip it to become such a people. Chief among these is the power of community in Christ expressed locally in distinctive fashions while upholding a unity of vision, foundational beliefs, and mission throughout the world.

11b. There are many issues that could easily consume the time and energy of the church. However, the challenge before a prophetic people is to discern and pursue what matters most for the journey ahead.

These words help bring purpose to our pondering. May our discernment this year be purposeful pondering. One definition of discernment comes from Ruth Haley Barton: Discernment is “seeking to be attentive and alert to God’s activity in and among us so that we can respond faithfully.”

In the coming weeks, consider implementing a few discernment practices. Ask yourself:

• Where do I notice spiritual movements of consolation and desolation in me or in the communities I am part of? What feels right, or energizing? What drains energy or isn’t as hopeful? Ponder these things. (You may even write these down to see if patterns or insights emerge over time.)
• What voices do I need to make more intentional space to hear? As I visit with friends about Community of Christ, and about what matters most and about the future, What do I hear that is unspoken? What does God want me to notice about these interactions?
• When do I notice myself driving an agenda and when do I feel open to God and others?
• What rhythms are forming me/us as Community of Christ in my/our context?
• When I hold these rhythms in prayer, where do I sense harmony with the Holy Spirit and where do I sense dissonance?

So, I hope you’ll join with us in this year of discernment that we’re calling All Voices - Discerning Across Canada.

​All Voices is both a commitment and a process of discernment for the future of Community of Christ in Canada. As the name implies, All Voices takes a collaborative approach, ensuring all members, friends, and supporters of Community of Christ in Canada feel heard and affirmed as we collectively work toward a better and brighter future.
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Apostle Art Smith welcomes you to the process in the short accompanying video.

Apostle Art Smith brings Christmas greetings to the church across Canada in this video made especially for you.

He has graciously provided it to us in both English and French. See videos below.

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.

​Community of Christ Apostle Art Smith shares a "day in the life" with us from the Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri, USA.

In this video, you'll get a window into Apostle Art Smith's life, a mini-tour of the Temple, details about the church organization, and more. Enjoy!