World Church Leaders Gathering

The World Church Leaders Gathering met from September 29–October 2, 2008. Leaders from all over the worldwide church engaged the “We Share an Identity” document that outlines the church’s identity, mission, message, and beliefs.

Church leadership has been responding to the Redesign Summit of 2005. The summit asked church leadership to clarify identity, message, and mission. Church leadership has focused on that task with a growing sense of integration and alignment.

As we share our mission and find ways to talk about who we are, we need to be consistent. We need to decide what key words we will use to get our ideas and messages across—not just in one area, but across several complicated issues like priesthood faithfulness, conditions of membership, Temple ministries, lifelong discipleship formation, and so on.

This integration needs a foundation, and the gathering introduced World Church ministers to that foundation. The document, “We Share an Identity,” used a new visual style that is being tested for widespread use in church publications. Opening with the church seal, the document uses “We share” as headers, showing both that we share these principles in common, and we share them with others. The church name, mission statement, focus, sacraments, enduring principles, Temple reflections, and basic beliefs were included.

Section 163 of the Doctrine and Covenants was also included. This collection of ways to explain and understand our identity relies on other sections for a balanced picture of who we are and what we believe.

The World Church will not turn the identity document itself into a book or a strategy. The document will guide the church because it will be a reference point for those who are teaching, writing books, designing curriculum, and communicating for the World Church. The ministers sent out by the World Church will put the ideas in context for the culture and audiences they serve.

“This is not a new program or a resource,” President Veazey said the first night of the gathering. “You are the strategy. We are the strategy.” He emphasized congruence; as ministers of the church carry out their work, they are to embody the enduring principles of the church—to live them so others can understand what we are about. The mission of the church is relational, not academic.

With this goal in mind, the schedule allowed participants to hear reflections on each principle from members of the Expanded World Church Leadership Council. After that, they had time to read, journal, and pray. Small groups met to discuss the principles; then the entire assembly shared what they had been thinking and feeling. The gathering also featured the Daily Prayer for Peace in the Temple and evening social activities.

Each participant received a book in English, French, and Spanish with all the material in it already.

The Presidency is considering perspectives from the gathering as they finalize the document. It will be available to church leaders soon.

The group also shared in updates, discussion of the hymnal project, and exploration of principles of priesthood faithfulness.

—Andrew Shields reporting
World Church secretary