Why I am going to World Conference (maybe not the reason you think)

By Shannon McAdam, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President

There are a lot of wonderful reasons for going to World Conference this year! For me, yes, it is part of my new job, so I will be there to excitedly embrace this new call. And even before I received this call, I had already bought my plane ticket to Conference because I did not want to miss the historic moment of celebrating the first time a woman has been called to be president of our church. I want to vote to support Stassi, and I want to witness her ordination in person, to feel what it is like to be in the room for such a celebratory occasion.

But this week, yet another reason has emerged for me to attend, and it is one I do not take lightly. As I observe national political divisions, I find myself looking for ways to both support my country and yet also recognize that, as a follower of Jesus, my loyalties are to the kin-dom of God, and not to human-created borders and national divisions.

So, while I am excited that I have found a Canadian company that makes my favourite notebook and that a local clothing company that mills their fabric in Toronto and sews their clothes in Vancouver has new pieces I’ll be buying, I am also not cancelling my trip to the USA for World Conference.

This is a personal choice, based on my own life circumstances. I acknowledge the privilege I have in being white and cisgender, making it safer for me to travel than it would be if I were a transgender person or not white. I will, of course, travel wisely—taking documents with me that talk about the conference I am going to, making sure others know when I am supposed to arrive, and regularly checking in throughout my journey. Leaders are currently working to ensure that safety steps will be made available to anyone who is travelling to the conference from outside the USA.

For a myriad of reasons, Jesus’ call to love our enemies, turn the other cheek, and pray for those who persecute us seems particularly poignant for me right now. One of the things I love most about Community of Christ is that we are an international church—with all the beauty and struggle that come with that Unity in Diversity.

Being an international church is not easy. It takes listening to understand before speaking to be understood. It takes curiosity, kindness, and forgiveness. It takes assuming positive intent of our siblings in Christ who we journey with.

I can only imagine how some of our American Community of Christ siblings are feeling right now, knowing that the principalities and powers of their nation are making choices that do not align with our Enduring Principles—like the Worth of All Persons, Sacredness of Creation, and Pursuit of Peace. Perhaps some are frustrated, angry, sad, and even embarrassed.

So, in solidarity with them, I will gladly defy those principalities and powers and travel to be part of something much bigger than any nation—something that defies borders—a movement of people committed to pursuing peace on Earth and oneness in the kin-dom of God: the worldwide Community of Christ.

I hope to see you there.