 By Leandro Palacios, Director of Communications
When the Apostle Paul visited Athens, according to Acts 17, he became “deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” Although today we think of Athens as a place of philosophy and politics, the city was also intensely religious. It was connected to great religious festivals like the Eleusinian Mysteries, and divine images and cult objects were integrated into ordinary civic life. Walking through Athens, especially the Agora and sacred areas, Paul would have encountered statues of the city’s patron goddess Athena, as well as images of Zeus, Apollo, Hermes, Dionysus, the imperial cult, hero shrines, altars, processions, and other tangible expressions of devotion. But idolatry is not only the worship of statues. Idolatry happens whenever we mistake a limited image for the fullness of the divine. When God is imagined too narrowly, creation is also imagined too narrowly. A male image of God can become a sacred hierarchy, where maleness is treated as closer to the divine and gender roles are defended as if they were created by God. Biological sex can be treated as a divine boundary on human expression, as if what we do, what we wear, and whom we love should be determined by the bodies we were born with. Last weekend, Toronto, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and many other cities around the world celebrated Pride. In this context, “pride” means “dignity”, not “hubris”. In fact, when we gather to celebrate human dignity, we are rejecting a type of idolatry rooted in hubris. This type of idolatry is based on an unfounded sense of certainty, the kind that, as the hymn says, limits “the truth of God to our poor reach of mind by notions of our day and sect, crude, partial, and confined.” Pride reminds us that God is not a man, not one gender, not one body, not one race, not one fixed image of holiness. The God who cannot be contained by human art, words, or imagination likewise cannot be confined by our inherited ideas of gender, sexuality, family, or love. Pride invites us to reject the inherited black-and-white boundaries our society and even the church have drawn around a creation that God made in a rainbow of colours. Pride is not just a party or a protest. Pride is not just for people who identify with the letters 2SLGBTQI+. Pride is the rejection of a type of idolatry that causes harm and division. Pride is a call to recognize and uphold the enduring principles that define our community: Worth of All Persons, Unity in Diversity, and Sacredness of Creation. Happy Pride!
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What can a shared meal teach us about ending division? In Acts 10, Peter has a vision that changes the direction of his ministry. He realizes that the ritual purity rules that had kept him separate from gentiles no longer define the boundaries of the good news. A barrier is erased, and the table becomes a place where people once kept apart can now share in sacred community. This reflection by John Hamer, Director of Outreach and Innovative Mission, was shared from the Ottawa congregation, with Pat Mooney as our reader, as part of Beyond the Walls on June 14, 2026. Ancient religions were not primarily about individual beliefs. Far more important were the things that you do and how you do them. Every activity was accompanied by rules and rituals designed to keep people in right relationship with divine forces operating in a very dangerous world. While rituals accompanied important life events like the birth of a child, marriages, and deaths, they also accompanied every little thing you might do daily, like stepping across the threshold of your door, or preparing a meal. When societies developed special priestly castes, the priests were often subject to even more specialized rules. These rituals were understood to purify the individual, enabling them to mediate with divine forces on behalf of the whole community. For example, in Hinduism, members of the priestly caste (known as the “Brahmins”) are required to follow strict dietary laws to maintain their ritual purity. If Brahmins eat from the same plate or share utensils with someone from a different caste, they become ritually impure. The resulting caste system has had enormous consequences for India, including discrimination against individuals who are literally “outcastes.” The Sikh religion was founded in the 15th century with the goal of overturning the caste system. All Sikh places of worship include a “langar” hall, where anyone of any caste or religion can come to eat a free meal. However, all must sit on the floor and eat together, sharing a meal that signifies a complete rejection of the rules of caste and ritual purity. Israelite religion in the 1st century AD was at a crossroads with two competing ideas that were both gaining momentum. On the one hand, prophets and teachers had begun to see the God of Israel as the God of the Universe—with the implication that God is not simply Lord of a single ethnic group, but must also be Lord of every nation. On the other hand, a growing focus on the five books of Moses meant that an ever-expanding number of Judeans had begun to observe purity rules. While these historically had only been maintained by Jewish priests, many sects like the Pharisees promoted the idea that all Judeans ought to live like a nation of priests—an entire people set apart through ritual purity. In Acts, Peter testifies that from childhood on, he has never eaten foods that Mosaic law labels as ritually “unclean.” As with the Brahmins in India, following these codes has meant that Peter has been unable to share meals with individuals who are not also following the same rules. Sharing a meal with a gentile would make Peter ritually unclean. And so, the idea of ritual impurity was effectively separating Peter from the people to whom he had been commissioned to bring the good news: all the nations (or “gentiles”) of the world. Peter’s vision that “what God has made clean, you must not call profane,” signals an end to Christian observance of ritual purity laws. Like the Sikh langar that sought to overturn the caste system, the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper broke down the ritual barrier among early Christians by allowing those with Jewish backgrounds, like Peter, to share a sacred meal with new converts from all nations.  World Accord is launching Accord Adventures, a new Learning Trip program that invites Canadians to learn directly from communities involved in World Accord–supported projects. The first Learning Trip will take place August 20–30, 2026, in Honduras, and marks the beginning of an annual experience focused on locally led development and partnership.
A Learning Trip is designed as an educational experience rather than traditional travel. Participants will visit communities where World Accord’s partners are working, learn about grassroots development efforts, and explore themes such as global poverty, food security, women’s empowerment, and the climate crisis. The program emphasizes relationship-building, learning from local leaders, and understanding both challenges and successes in context. The Honduras Learning Trip is a 10-day guided experience open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents aged 18 and older, with a group size of 8–12 participants. Highlights include visits to community-led projects, cooking with local women, exploring eco-parks and historic sites, and opportunities to reflect on how participants can share what they learn back home.  In this statement from the Human Rights Team, Community of Christ uphold the fundamental and equal human rights of all people regardless of sex and gender differences. The team challenges individuals and communities to uphold the equal worth of all persons, across all nations, societies, and cultures and to seek justice and equality for all persons regardless of sex and gender differences.
Community of Christ believes God created all human beings diverse, of equal value, and of inestimable worth. World Conference Resolutions and recent passages of the Doctrine and Covenants also challenge the church to confess limitations in human understanding and to celebrate human diversity in creation.  Join the First Presidency’s Diversity and Inclusion Team for a thought-provoking dialogue series exploring selected Enduring Principles in today’s cultural climate. These 60-minute Zoom sessions offer a space for learning, reflection, and meaningful conversation.
Session topics:
To participate, register by emailing [email protected] For more on Community of Christ’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, visit: cofchrist.org/diversity-and-inclusion  February is Black History Month in Canada, a time to reflect on the contributions, struggles, and achievements of Black communities throughout history. While often associated with the United States, Black history in Canada is equally significant, encompassing stories of resilience, advocacy, and faith—from the Underground Railroad to present-day efforts for racial justice.
As a church committed to the Enduring Principles of Worth of All Persons and Unity in Diversity, Black History Month invites us to recognize how these values call us to listen, learn, and stand in solidarity with Black communities. This is an opportunity for reflection and action, both within our faith community and in Canadian society. The Diversity and Inclusion Team is hosting a series of online discussions exploring Black history and our shared commitment to justice and inclusion. While some sessions focus on the American context, they offer valuable insights applicable to our own journey in Canada. To receive the Zoom link for the sessions you’d like to attend, please contact Heather Frey. Upcoming Black History Month Sessions Exploring the Impact of Black People in American History February 16 | 3:00 p.m. CST The Diversity and Inclusion Team will host a 60-minute session highlighting the often-unknown history of Black individuals who have significantly contributed to the culture and enterprises of the USA. A Questions & Answers session will follow the presentation. Exploring Selected Enduring Principles in the Current Cultural Climate: The Worth of Persons Dialogue February 23 | 7:00 p.m. CST A discussion on the Enduring Principle “Worth of All Persons” and its impact on diversity and inclusion within our community. Exploring Selected Enduring Principles in the Current Cultural Climate: Unity in Diversity Calls for Action March 23 | 7:00 p.m. CST A discussion on the Enduring Principle “Unity in Diversity” and how it calls us to action in our communities. Exploring Selected Enduring Principles in the Current Cultural Climate: Recognizing that All are Called April 27 | 7:00 p.m. CST A discussion on the Enduring Principle “All are Called” and its impact on diversity and inclusion. Exploring Selected Enduring Principles in the Current Cultural Climate: Embracing the Blessings of Community During Challenging Times May 18 | 7:00 p.m. CST A discussion on the Enduring Principle “Blessings of Community” and its relevance in difficult times.  The First Presidency’s draft Statement on Nonviolence reflects our shared call to peace, reconciliation, and justice. The statement is presented in three sections: foundational principles, faithful responses, and practical applications of nonviolence in today’s world.
Your feedback is vital in this process of Common Consent. The survey is open until February 28, 2025, and your insights will help finalize the statement, which will be shared with the church by May 1, 2025.  Do you know of a member, friend or affiliate of the Community of Christ that goes above and beyond in their efforts to alleviate human suffering and support human rights? Consider nominating them for the prestigious Human Rights award that the Community of Christ awards to at least 2 people each World Conference.
Deadline for nominations: Oct 1, 2024.  The First Presidency has created a draft Statement on Nonviolence, and in the interest of Common Consent, is asking those interested to give their feedback. The survey will remain open until February 28, 2025, after which the feedback will be reviewed, and the 3 sections of the statement will be updated and sent out to the church by May 1, 2025.
Written by Shannon McAdam Canada West Mission Centre Co-President  Every day at my workplace this month we’ve learned about a different Black Canadian who is outstanding in one way or another, and it has been an incredible way to celebrate Black History Month. There are so many amazing people who I’d never heard of before, and I wonder why I’ve never learned about them before. If we believe in the Worth of All Persons, why don’t we learn about all types of people?
Black History Month is a fitting time to reflect on what it is that makes White culture so dominant that we don’t learn about the contributions of those who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour. White Supremacy Culture might sound like a problem from far away or long ago, but it is prevalent in all of our lives, and runs against our belief in the Worth of All Persons. I’ve found this website by Tema Okun to be really helpful in my own learning about what White Supremacy Culture is, how to recognize it (the “marks”), and ways to overcome it. The original article that Okun based the website around is a quick and easy read that I highly recommend. Click here to read the article. For me, one of the most insightful “marks” of White Supremacy Culture that Okun talks about is “One Right Way”. This is the idea that there is only one right way to do things, and can lead to some of the other marks: Perfectionism, Paternalism, and Either/Or Thinking. Okun’s antidotes to “One Right Way” are beautiful and life-giving. These include gratitude, being transparent, and being willing to take risks and make mistakes. These, I think, are also the kinds of things Jesus calls us to. Jesus sought to bring people together rather than dividing them. How will you recognize Black History month? Perhaps take a moment to read some of Tema Okun’s insightful writings and think about what you can change in your home, workplace, or congregation to help dismantle White Supremacy Culture and help bring about God’s Shalom. |
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