Last night I gathered with many others to try and watch the live stream of Community of Christ Prophet-President Steve Veazey’s address to the church. Like many places where others gathered or tried to watch it from home, there were technical difficulties preventing us from having the full experience. However the text was soon up and before I went to bed I had read it through one, and thought briefly about it. Now I write as I go through it a second time… Yes I probably should be working on CPE papers right now, doing laundry, cleaning or… but this is what I am doing. The address text can be found here, video of high bandwith here or low bandwidth here and audio here
Steve presents through his address several questions, relates and explores various statements, etc the church has produced over the past few years, perhaps delving into a few of them a bit more and exploring them a bit.
The first issue he address is the financial situation and reality of the church, however as eh explores it he does not stick with the pure economic issues, but rather explores generosity, stewardship in a fuller context including non monetary giving. He explores the aspect of generosity as part of our relationship and calling, and calls us out with his questions… or perhaps raises the questions that force us to think, reflect and call ourselves out.
What is our understanding of the spiritual relationship between God’s grace, the gift of the gospel, discipleship, generosity, and church mission? Is it limited to what mostly serves our personal needs or what we like the most? Is it defined by casual, sporadic giving while we apply most of our life’s means to other pursuits? Or do we understand the heart of the gospel revealed in Christ is about compassionate, generous living that mirrors the generous nature of God?
He reminds us that by entering into discipleship of the Living Christ in Community of Christ we have become part of a global faith community of Christ and not just a local congregations. It is one of those things I hold dearly, knowing I have family and friends around the globe, who I care deeply about, who care about me, and who share a vision and a desire to bring about the peaceable community.
He calls all the church, put calls out the congregational leaders both ordained and ordained about the need to teach and LIVE our stewardship understandings…
He explores the recently prepared “We Share” document and how he feels this document developed by a diverse global group describes what he believes is at the center of who we are today, giving direction for what we are to engage in on our journey as a people of faith.
Engaging this document is not about fussing over details or looking for exceptions. It is about being captured by the vision and direction that God graciously has provided us through the combined insights of our worldwide church family. When the principles in the document become the descriptors of our behaviors rather than just ideals, we will become the Community of Christ that God is calling us to become.
He spends time exploring how we have and should relate to church History. Great joy flew through me upon some parts of this section as he pointed out the ended to embrace it all, the good the bad. To not just look at the first decade or two as some have but remember the last 15 or so decades as well and the powerful story found within them. It brings to mind some thoughts about how we share our story at the historic site we have, sites visited by many from traditions that share the first part but not the latter. Should we find ways to engage the 150 years more directly, and more in-depth. It was a struggle I had when sharing the House of the Lord. it has been an active place of education and worship since before it was finished. Yet the majority of the tour we focus on the people who built it, their ideas and dreams, then just a brief exploration of how it has been used since 1838 to the present. But there is so much in that part of the story, of people gathering for reunions, of people worshiping there, of it becoming an active ministry of Temple and recognized as such to some degree by the new spiritual formation center and the retreats, programming etc coming out of there. Can we honor our visitors, share the shared history, and yet find a way to engage and explore more fully the fullness of the site’s history and active present in that sharing as well?
To move ahead with integrity in our emphasis on sharing the peace of Jesus Christ, we must repent of and learn from the violent episodes in church history. Only through honest examination, including identifying any remaining signs of these tendencies, can we continue on the restoring path of peace, reconciliation, and healing of the spirit to which God calls us.
We can take these steps because we know that our history does not have to be without blemish to reveal the hand of God working in the movement. Ironically, one of the primary principles of scripture is that God’s grace is revealed most clearly by its working in and through humanity, especially human weakness and sin. Viewing our history through this lens allows us to be affirming, honest, and sympathetic.
We also need to recognize the longer part of our history by far is the story of the Reorganization. That history makes up over 150 years of our heritage. It is the story of Jason Briggs whose account of his experience with the Spirit in response to prayer about the future of the church became the rallying point for the “scattered Saints.” It is the story of the faith, courage, and tenacity of Emma Smith. Without her we would not be here. It also is the story of the pivotal response of Joseph Smith III to the leadings of the Spirit in his young life.
However, I do believe Steve was mistaken of one story he shared. I remember looking the account up once in the past and I think Sharp was a judge and it took place at a courthouse… it’s in an article by JS3 entitled something like “required to forgive.”
After talking of history he moved on to explore scripture, mentioning the statement on scripture. Through our interrupted hearing of the address, I know he added a bit live that is not found in the prepared text, but the essence is there. Standing out strongly to me now are:
The church affirms that scripture is inspired and essential to our knowledge of God and the gospel. In addition, we believe that scripture should be interpreted responsibly through informed study, guided by the Spirit working in the church. Scripture was formed by the community to shape the community. Therefore, interpreting scripture is the constant work of the community. In other words, understanding and applying scripture is not just a matter of reading a passage and deciding on our own what it means.
Community of Christ also stresses that all scripture must be interpreted through the lens of God’s most-decisive revelation in Jesus Christ. So if portions of scripture don’t agree with our fullest understanding of the meaning of the revelation of God in Christ, as illuminated by the Holy Spirit and discerned by the faith community, the teachings and vision of Christ take precedence. This principle applies to all of our books of scripture.
This is why our belief in “continuing revelation” is so important. This belief keeps us open to “yet more light and truth” so we can grow in understanding of God’s supreme will as revealed in Christ.
Doctrine and Covenants 163:7d states that “Scripture, prophetic guidance, knowledge, and discernment in the faith community must walk hand in hand to reveal the true will of God. Follow this pathway, which is the way of the Living Christ, and you will discover more than sufficient light for the journey ahead.”
UPDATE: I encourage all to listen to this along with reading, there are a few added things of worth found in the audio that are not found in the text.
He also dealt a bit with conditions of membership, something the last World Conference asked the First Presidency to reflect on, and which the First Presidency has asked the church to participate in the discernment process of how we should understanding membership in Community of Christ. Hoping all will take time to engage in the communal reflection, prayer, etc, even if their minds are set on the issue.
Then we finally reach the really good stuff… I think such as:
It is telling that much of what I have addressed so far is about internal church issues. This is the greatest challenge we face. Will we be able to put internal church issues in proper perspective so we can focus first on our mission to Proclaim Jesus Christ and Promote Communities of Joy, Hope, Love and Peace? Everything else which may be of concern is secondary to pursuing this mission.
For example, I began by addressing economic challenges facing the church and by assuring you that our long-term financial viability is not in question. Is that the most important question we should be asking? The most important question for a missional church is not about long-term survival. It is about how we passionately pursue Christ’s mission in a suffering world that groans for the liberating truths of the gospel. (Doctrine and Covenants 155: 7)
The need to focus on our mission, the need to get past our differences and embrace that which unites us, to prophetically engage a world in need and help bring about healing, reconciliation and wholeness.
Are we mobilizing to provide pastoral care and tangible help to individuals and families that are barely surviving because of economic pressures? Are we responding to the increasing hatred and violence toward immigrants and ethnic minorities because others want to make them scapegoats for our common difficulties? What about the children in your community? How are they doing? What does it mean to be a prophetic people who speak and act in the name of God and Christ in times like these?
Many of our members live in countries with developing or nonfunctional economic and political systems. Their situation is much worse than anything many of us in more affluent areas are experiencing. What matters most to them is how to free themselves and their neighbors from the devastating effects of poverty, disease, and human conflict. The missional question for the church is, “How does the hope of God’s peaceful kingdom become more than a faint dream for them?” What will we do as a church whose mission is grounded in restoring people to wholeness in community?
He follows this with news of an upcoming summit of the affiliated organizations and the church of how we will address this question, about the concerns in the west to sustain, revive, and grow congregations to carry out the mission we are called to, about the hope for training for congregational leaders that will lead to leaders with insights and skills to engage all in the life of the church and the communities the congregations reside in. He address the frustrations of some youth and young adults and his and other leaders desire to engage them, knowing their value, and it is not going to be just words.
I am aware of the frustrations of some youth and young adults with the seemingly slow pace of congregational life in response to mission. I also am aware of your disappointment with not having opportunities to serve and lead as you feel called. In response, let me say the church needs the insights and gifts of all ages to be healthy. Congregations that ignore this principle do so at their own peril.
I also know words are not enough. We need to do something now. I and other church leaders personally commit to meet with young adults in various locations to listen to concerns, perspectives, and hopes. We want to envision the future of the church with you. We want to explore models of ministry, mission, and leadership to open more doors for your participation. We are making plans for such gatherings right now.
As he draws toward a close, he expresses how he hopes that what matters most has become clear:
The vision and mission of Jesus Christ matters most! What matters most is for us to become who God is calling us to become so the restoring ministry of Christ can be shared in every possible way in every possible place.
He concluded his address with the sharing of words expressing the impressing of the Spirit upon him as he prayed for understanding what the church was in need of hearing. These prophetic and revelatory words are:
Fear not! Do not be afraid to become who God is calling you to become. God, the Eternal One, has been with you in your past, continues with you in the present, and already is waiting patiently for you in the future. Through your lives the sacred story of the Restoration still is being written.
Engage the current challenges and opportunities before you with commitment and hope worthy of the dedication and sacrifices of those who went before you. Creatively build on the faith foundations they laid. Open windows and doors to the future.
Beloved community, God has chosen you to assist in accomplishing divine purposes if you will choose to live out of your better natures and potential. Deepen your faith. Refine your sensitivity to the guidance of the Spirit so that you are not distracted by other influences. Explore your scriptures with openness to new insights that will come. Increase your compassion and generosity. Strengthen your relationships so the peace of Christ may be magnified through you.
Have courage and hope. Gather in the gifts of all ages and cultures so the ministries of the body can become whole and fully alive. Others are being prepared around the world to join their efforts with yours, if you will move ahead according to the direction offered to you by the Spirit. Amen.
And I will close with his final words rather than my normal words:
— Lyle IIBrothers and sisters, there is a way into the future that holds the promise that our best days are yet before us.
May we choose it is my fervent hope and prayer.