In the past week or so a lot has entered my mind as I have reflected upon the future, as I have read the wonderful thoughts, insights, and reflections of my sisters and brothers and as I have written my own. I’ve read and reflected upon various scriptures as part of my reflections. Along with reading various sermons, documents, statements… Through these reflections it is scripture unique to Community of Christ which has stood out the most to me. I’ve started, several posts expressing the wondering of my mind, and in the next week or two they may find their way here.
But for now it is thoughts formed this evening as I have re-read a post by Matt Frizzell, a seminarian, Mission Center President, father, husband, a man who a little over a year ago I sat an conversation with, and much more, along with the comments thus far. That blog post is entitled Sexual Policy and the Church.
In March of 2004 I was one of the delegates of Community of Christ’s World Conference, the highest legislative body of the tradition. On the 31st of that month we as a body voted on an inspired document that had been presented to us, and as a conference voted to included what then became Doctrine and Covenants 162 into our cannon of scripture, in 2007 we would vote on another document that would become Section 163 (Français, , Español). It is from these documents along with a few others that I find myself turning to this evening/morning. Particularly the parts included at the end of this post.
Perhaps what resonates most are the calls to listen, to be sensitive, to discern, to “Listen together to one another, without judgment or predisposition. Do not assume that the answers to matters of conflict have yet been perceived,” and the parts about sacrament. As some who may read this know sacraments and liturgy are part of my passions, and thus in this discussion will play a role.
Often we seem to forget those words “Do not assume” or perhaps we just forget the word “not” in our discussions. Tools are formed to try and foster listening, and some embrace them while others see them as attempts to force views and make people accept what they believe the leadership has already decided, or others go “what do I have to learn, I know what is right and others just need to agree with me or leave (or they don’t agree with me so I’ll leave)” We forget to be sensitive, we assume we have the answers, that there are only two sides, that there is only one answer, we hurt one another, we hurt ourselves, we cause the Holy pain, and we don’t repent.
On the issues of condition of membership, I am moved that we are seeking to discern as a people. I am saddened that some on different places of the field of understanding are set in their ways and not open to greater understanding. I am saddened that while an effort is being made we may be pausing to hard to fast and not being open to all possibilities. Discernment can, and probably must take time, but we live in a world of instant gratification and impatience.
I say perhaps we are pushing to hard for I think we as a people have a lot of theologizing to do on all of our sacraments. we are a sacramental people with eight official sacraments. There is still much work to be done to understand these eight sacraments more deeply so they can be truly transformative in the life of the body. While the sacraments involve individuals, all of them also involve community. We must reflect, think, and explore that communal encounter with the Holy that is part of each sacrament. Look at how we encounter as a community the Holy, how community is formed with the Holy…
As Matt mentions regarding marriage it is “In reality, marriage in the church is a ménage à trios, a threesome. The sacrament is a public action in which God is proclaimed and intimately involved.” In some ways perhaps it is even more as well, for more than the two individuals and the Holy are involved, the minister, the gathered community are involved during the “ceremonial expression” of the sacramental act, and beyond that event the many are involved in various ways from potential children, family, friends, the faith community that shares life with them can be seen as participants as well. We need people to reflect on these things, to write about them, and to engage the church in discussion as part of our discernment as a people. In doing so we can become enriched as a people, and truly “share the invitation, ministries, and sacraments through which people can encounter the Living Christ who heals and reconciles through redemptive relationships in sacred community.” As we engage in this exploration, this deepening of our understanding of sacrament perhaps things beyond what we think of are the options will transpire. Perhaps new understanding leading to expanded forms of these sacraments might occur, as has been taking place with the Evangelist’s Life blessing over the recent years. Once a one time sacrament, not expanded to containing life blessings, and also blessings for congregations, families… and not just individuals, though that remains at the core of the sacrament.
While the ecumenical community has made statements that Baptism is an unrepeatable sacrament in the context and understanding of the Restoration is it so? Two of our eight sacraments are “baptism” that is Baptism (baptism by water) and Confirmation (Baptism by fire/the Holy Spirit), we have a history that includes people baptized in Community of Christ being baptized again in Community of Christ, a strong heritage of baptizing those baptized by ministers of other faith traditions… Any conversation that solely looks at those baptized by other faiths wishing to enter fellowship of Community of Christ, is perhaps flawed, or any conversation that focuses solely on the one being dunked and not on the role of the community and the Holy in the sacramental encounter is as well. I know not what the answers are, but with many issues I think we sometimes want to “discern” but as part of that discernment we first narrow our vision to only a few possible outcomes to a question, concern, issue, area of struggle and are not always open to the full breath of possibility. In doing so perhaps we never come to fully understand the desire of the Holy for us in this time and places.
Matt in his post also talks of repentance. It’s something we need to do in a lot of ways, but something we seem to hate to do. It is something we are called to, and yet gift half hearted effort to. It is part of the second movement of Community of Christ worship ( Adoration and Praise, Confession and Repentance, Proclamation and Affirmation, and Commitment and Dedication). Within the expressions of Community of Christ I have encountered in the United States and Canada I have found us often spending as little time as possible in this space. Sometimes when one dissects a worship service one will find it to exist as one verse of a hymn sandwiched between a verse that is of the first movement and one that is of the third movement. Occasionally we do take the time to pause, and engage… Like sacraments, I think this is also an area we need to spend time reflecting upon. We need to have people from the various cultures of the church with gifts and passion in liturgy to come together to develop resources and reflections about liturgy. To help form and develop Community of Christ liturgical theology in a way that expresses a core, such as this flow, in a way that can be applied to and which respects the vast diversity of forms and styles of worship found throughout the globe. A Theology which can lead us to deeper and more full worship which is transformative and helps call and propel us to engage prophetically our call as a people, which helps us deepen our relationship with the Holy, which helps us become more healed and whole. part of which will be reminding us to engage more fully all aspects of worship and life which it reflects, epically those parts we tend to skip over such as confessing and repenting of our individual and communal sins.
That’s all for now as it was late when I started and early now and I need some rest…
Here are the primary scriptures mulling through my head while writing this evening and morning:
As a prophetic people you are called, under the direction of the spiritual authorities and with the common consent of the people, to discern the divine will for your own time and in the places where you serve. You live in a world with new challenges, and that world will require new forms of ministry. The priesthood must especially respond to that challenge, and the church is admonished to prayerfully consider how calling and giftedness in the Community of Christ can best be expressed in a new time. You have already been told to look to the sacraments to enrich the spiritual life of the body. It is not the form of the sacrament that dispenses grace but it is the divine presence that gives life. Be respectful of tradition and sensitive to one another, but do not be unduly bound by interpretations and procedures that no longer fit the needs of a worldwide church. In such matters direction will come from those called to lead. Again you are reminded that this community was divinely called into being. 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. Let the Spirit breathe…
Listen carefully to the many testimonies of those around the world who have been led into the fellowship of the Community of Christ…. It is for divine purpose that you have been given the struggles as well as the joys of diversity. So must it always be in the peaceable kingdom.
Do not be defined by the things that separate you but by the things that unite you in Jesus Christ. Over and over again you have been counseled to be reconciled, to seek the unity that is imperative to the building of the kingdom. Again the Spirit counsels the church to not allow the forces of division to divert you from your witness. Listen together to one another, without judgment or predisposition. Do not assume that the answers to matters of conflict have yet been perceived. There is much labor to be done. Reason together in love, and the Spirit of truth will prevail.
From the earliest days you have been given a sacred principle that declares the inestimable worth of all persons. Do not forget. The One who created all humankind grieves at the shameful divisions within the human family. A prophetic people must work tirelessly to tear down walls of separation and to build bridges of understanding. You hold precious lives in your hands. Be gentle and gracious with one another…. Even as the One you follow reached out to those who were rejected and marginalized, so must the community that bears his name.
2a/bJesus Christ, the embodiment of God’s shalom, invites all people to come and receive divine peace in the midst of the difficult questions and struggles of life…. Generously share the invitation, ministries, and sacraments through which people can encounter the Living Christ who heals and reconciles through redemptive relationships in sacred community. The restoring of persons to healthy or righteous relationships with God, others, themselves, and the earth is at the heart of the purpose of your journey as a people of faith.
3c …. There are subtle, yet powerful, influences in the world, some even claiming to represent Christ, that seek to divide people and nations to accomplish their destructive aims. That which seeks to harden one human heart against another by constructing walls of fear and prejudice is not of God. Be especially alert to these influences, lest they divide you or divert you from the mission to which you are called….
7 a. Scripture is an indispensable witness to the Eternal Source of light and truth, which cannot be fully contained in any finite vessel or language. Scripture has been written and shaped by human authors through experiences of revelation and ongoing inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the midst of time and culture. Scripture is not to be worshiped or idolized. Only God, the Eternal One of whom scripture testifies, is worthy of worship. God’s nature, as revealed in Jesus Christ and affirmed by the Holy Spirit, provides the ultimate standard by which any portion of scripture should be interpreted and applied. It is not pleasing to God when any passage of scripture is used to diminish or oppress races, genders, or classes of human beings. Much physical and emotional violence has been done to some of God’s beloved children through the misuse of scripture. The church is called to confess and repent of such attitudes and practices. 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…
8d…. receptive congregations… throughout the world will be revived and equipped for more effective ministry. Vital to this awakening is the understanding that the Temple calls the entire church to become a sanctuary of Christ’s peace, where people from all nations, ethnicities, and life circumstances can be gathered into a spiritual home without dividing walls, as a fulfillment of the vision for which Jesus Christ sacrificed his life.
b. Do not turn away in pride, fear, or guilt from the One who seeks only the best for you and your loved ones. Come before your Eternal Creator with open minds and hearts and discover the blessings of the gospel anew. Be vulnerable to divine grace.
11 a. 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.
b. 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.
Peace be with you,
— Lyle II