Beliefs |
Sacraments |
Scriptures
| Zion |
Stewardship |
Priesthood
Basic Beliefs of the Community of Christ
We
believe that the life and ministry of Jesus Christ is the central
revelation of God's love. Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry, and brought
hope to the downtrodden. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He affirmed
the goodness and meaning of life as a gift to us from God. Jesus lived on earth
to love and serve others, and the Church exists today as evidence of His
continuing presence.
We are called to bear affirmative witness of God's redemptive ministry through Christ and strive to answer this call through our membership in the Church as the body of Christ. Jesus Christ is the very center of our Faith, our Hope, our Belief, our Salvation, and our Church.
Our Church
We are an international Christian church with 250,000 members in approximately fifty nations. Our World Headquarters, including a Temple dedicated to the pursuit of peace, is located in Independence, Missouri. The church was organized in 1830 in New York State.
Our Mission
To Proclaim Jesus Christ and Promote Communities of JOY, HOPE, LOVE and PEACE.
We Offer:
A community of people where
the gospel of Jesus Christ is the focus of worship, learning, caring, and
mission.
An opportunity for genuine
spiritual growth and relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Local congregations where
deep friendships are established, individual ideas are valued, and where those
special needs find security, care, and support.
A faith community that
encourages the ministry of all people, including children and youth.
A global community with a
world-wide mission that values all cultures and celebrates the rich diversity
of human life.
Meaningful opportunities to
serve Jesus Christ by helping others and promoting peace.
Our Faith and Beliefs:
As we grow spiritually, our awareness and understanding of unchangeable truth and God's will for us also grow and mature. Recognizing that the perception of truth is always qualified by human nature and experience, there is no official creed of the church that must be accepted by all members. However, through the years various statements, such as those below, have been developed to present the generally accepted beliefs of the church. All members are encouraged to study the scriptures, to participate in the life and mission of the church, and to examine their own experiences as they grow in understanding and response to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
God:
The one eternal, living God is triune: one God in three persons. The God who meets us in the testimony of Israel is the same God who meets us in Jesus Christ, and who indwells creation as the Holy Spirit. God is the Eternal Creator, the source of love, life, and truth. God actively loves and cares for each person. All things that exist owe their being to God who alone is worthy of our worship.
Christ:
Jesus Christ is "God with us," the Only Begotten Son of God, the Messiah, our Mediator, the Prince of Peace, and the living expression of God in the flesh. Jesus Christ lived, was crucified, died for our sins that we might be saved, and rose again. The nature, love, and purpose of God are most clearly seen in Jesus Christ, our Savior. Jesus Christ will return in Glory and establish His Kingdom of perfect peace, and the government shall be upon His shoulders.
Spirit:
The Holy Spirit, also referred to as the Holy Ghost and the Great Comforter, is the continuing presence of God in the world. The Spirit works in our minds and hearts through intelligence, comfort, guidance, love, and power to sustain and inspire us. Jesus Christ promised us the gift of the Holy Spirit before His ascension. God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are One.
Salvation:
God loves us even though we are sinful. Through the ministry of Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit we are able to turn to God and to receive the gift of salvation and eternal life. Those who accept the gospel are called to respond to Christ through repentance and baptism, and by becoming committed disciples. As individuals exercise faith in Christ, and mold their lives to his example and teachings, they become new people.
The Church:
The church, as the body of Christ, is the means through which the ministry of Christ continues in the world today. It is a community of people that seeks to bring God's love to all through compassionate ministry, worship, and witness. The church proclaims the gospel through word and action and administers the sacraments through which Christ is revealed.
Revelation:
The process through which God reveals divine will and love is called revelation. God continues to reveal today as in the past. God is revealed to us through scripture, the faith community, prayer, nature, and in human history.
Scriptures:
The scriptures provide divine guidance and inspired insight for life when responsibly interpreted and faithfully applied. The Bible is the central book of scripture for the church. The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants are additional witnesses of the love of God and the ministry of Christ.
Sacraments:
The sacraments express the continuing life and ministry of Christ through the church. They provide meaningful worship experiences and symbols to establish or reaffirm our covenant (commitment) to God in response to God's grace. The sacraments of the church are:
Human Worth:
God loves each of us equally and unconditionally. All persons have great worth and should be respected as creations of God with basic human rights. The willingness to love others is essential to faithfulness to the gospel of Christ.
All Called:
All men, women, youth, and children are given gifts and abilities to enhance life and to become involved in Christ's mission. Some are called to particular responsibility as ordained ministers (priesthood) in the church. The church provides for a wide range of priesthood ministries through calling and ordination of men and women.
Free Agency:
All people are free to choose, resulting in real consequences of good and evil to our lives, the lives of others, and our environment. Commitment to Christ, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and participation in the faith community help people make responsible choices that enhance human life and respect creation.
Stewardship:
All things were created by God and should be used for God�s purposes. Stewardship is the wise management of gifts and resources to enrich personal, family, congregational, and community life, as well as utilizing natural resources for the good of all creation.
The Kingdom:
God's Kingdom is present wherever people acknowledge the lordship of God over life, relationships, and creation. The full coming of the Kingdom awaits the final victory over evil when divine rule is established and justice, peace, and righteousness prevail.
Zion:
The "cause of Zion" expresses our commitment to pursuing God's kingdom through the establishment of Christ-centered communities in families, congregations, neighborhoods, cities, and throughout the world.
Peace:
Because of our commitment to Christ and belief in the worth of all people and the value of community building, we dedicate our lives to the pursuit of peace and justice for all people.
Resurrection:
God conserves and renews life. This truth is revealed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ which is a sign of God's ultimate victory over death. We find hope and courage for living through the resurrection of Christ. By the power of God in Christ, people move from death into life. Through resurrection, God transforms individuals, bringing them into the fullness of eternal life.
Judgment:
Our eternal destiny is determined by God according to divine wisdom and love, and according to our response to God's call to us. God's judgment is just and is primarily concerned about the kind of people we have become in relation to the potential of our lives.
End Time:
God is acting in history to reconcile all aspects of creation to divine purpose. The meaning and end to which history moves is revealed in Christ. The ultimate victory of righteousness and peace over injustice, evil, and sin is assured because of the unfailing love of God and the conviction that Christ is coming again.
Beliefs | Sacraments