Official Minutes of the Business Session

Thursday, June 2, 2005

The 2005 World Conference convened in legislative session at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, 2005, in the conference chamber of the Auditorium, Independence, Missouri. President Kenneth N. Robinson was in the chair.

A brass and percussion ensemble conducted by Jack Ergo performed “A Fanfare for the Common Man” by Aaron Copeland. President Robinson then called the Conference to order and made some preliminary comments of greeting, after which he read Doctrine and Covenants 102:11.

The assembly then sang the hymn “Redeemer of Israel,” after which a prayer of invocation was offered by Javier Bardales of Honduras.

President Peter A. Judd assumed the chair and gave a statement of welcome. He noted the presence of the flags of the nations in which the church has been established, has a recognized presence, and where members and friends are working to establish a foundation for the church. As he read the list of nations, the flag of each nation was unfurled along the front of the balcony, where they were to be displayed throughout the Conference.

The assembly then sang the hymn “This Is My Song.” President Robinson assumed the chair and introduced Rondell F. Stewart, mayor of Independence, Missouri, who addressed the assembly with a statement of welcome.

Selection of Presiding Officers
President Robinson asked who the Conference would have preside over the Conference. Apostle James E. Slauter moved that the First Presidency preside over the World Conference and be authorized to complete the Conference organization, with the understanding that the Council of Twelve preside over the selection of the new president. Bishop Larry R. Norris seconded the motion, and the chair was relinquished to Apostle Slauter, who put the vote. The motion was approved, and the chair was returned to President Robinson.

Credentials Committee Report
The Chair referred the assembly to the report of the Credentials Committee, Item C-1, on page 40. A. Bruce Lindgren moved acceptance of Item C-1, the Credentials Committee Report, with a provision that alternates certified as delegates after the report was printed also be included as full participants in the Conference in accordance with the Bylaws of the church and the Standing Rules to be adopted by this Conference. A second was received, a vote was taken, and the report was approved.

Standing Rules
President Robinson read Item C-2, Standing Rules, on page 40. Greggory S. McDonald moved approval of the Standing Rules, and a second was received. The Chair reviewed the items of business that may be transacted by the special World Conference. A vote was taken, and the Standing Rules were approved.

Conference Appointments
President Robinson noted the appointments to various responsibilities of the World Conference on page 4.

Announcement of the Official Program
The Chair noted the official program of the Conference on pages 8-11. He then declared the Conference organized and ready to do business.

Legislative Procedures
President Robinson reviewed the procedures to be used in the consideration of legislative items, as described in the Parliamentary Guidelines booklet.

Evacuation Statement
The Chair called attention to the Evacuation Statement on pages 16 and 18-20. He then called on Conference manager Sue Sloan for an explanatory statement.

Presentation to Representative Emanuel Cleaver
President Judd assumed the chair, and noted that Representative Emanuel Cleaver had been awarded an honorary doctoral degree from Graceland University but had been unable to attend the graduation ceremony to accept it. The Chair then recognized Graceland Trustees Norman E. Swails and Kenneth B. McClain II, who presented Representative Cleaver with the diploma and hood for this degree. Reverend Cleaver, who is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, then addressed and welcomed the assembly.

Conference Greetings
The Chair called on World Church secretary Bruce Lindgren, who read the following greetings:

From Washington, D.C.:

Dear Friends:
It is with great honor that I express my best wishes to those gathered at the Community of Christ World Conference. We are honored to host your conference in Missouri.

Thank you for your work to promote peace, mutual respect and understanding among peoples of the world. Your work and dedication to your communities is to be commended. I wish you well as you elect new leadership of your church and continued success in your endeavors as your look towards the future.

Again, please accept my warmest regards and best wishes for a successful conference.

Sincerely,
Christopher S. Bond
United States Senator, Missouri

From Washington, D.C.:

Dear Friends:
I want to extend my most sincere best wishes to the Community of Christ as you gather for your World Conference in Independence, Missouri. I commend your goal of promoting communities of joy, hope, love, and peace throughout the world.

Through your ministries and charitable endeavors you have been a positive force in each community that you serve. Your efforts to accept everyone into your church provides an excellent example for others. Thank you for representing Missouri in such an exemplary manner.

Again, best wishes for your World Conference.

Sincerely,
James M. Talent
United States Senator, Missouri

From Washington, D.C.:

Dear Friends:
In 2004, Bread for the World celebrated its thirtieth anniversary as a Christian citizen’s movement seeking justice for poor and hungry people. For nearly all of those thirty years, the Community of Christ World Hunger Committee and the leadership of the Community of Christ have been partners with us in our efforts to realize the promise of God for a day in which God’s children would hunger no more.

We have been blessed in our work. Our membership in the U.S. now exceeds 54,000. Every year churches write over 200,000 letters to Congress on behalf of policies to alleviate hunger. We have made significant progress, as year after year Congress has passed bills and allocated resources to strengthen the national nutrition programs, as well as increase and improve development assistance programs overseas. But more must be done, and we welcome the continuing engagement of your members. We thank you for your decades of support.

This week as you gather in Independence, we will bring together over five hundred anti-hunger and anti-poverty leaders in Washington for prayer and action. On June 6th, “Hunger No More,” the first ever Interfaith Convocation on Hunger, will assemble over 40 leaders of national faith communities to call on our nation’s leaders to end the scandal of hunger in the U.S. and to work harder to end extreme poverty, hunger and disease worldwide. We know that you will be with us in prayer and in Christian solidarity. We will be praying for the spirit’s guidance in your special World Conference, and we send the prayers and thanks of Bread for the World.

In Christ,
Rev. David Beckman
President, Bread for the World

Announcements
Conference Manager Sue Sloan was then recognized for several announcements. The assembly then sang the hymn “Let Us Sing a Worldwide Anthem,” and Bishop Stassi D. Cramm gave a statement and prayer, followed by the receiving of the Disciples’ Generous Response.

Report of the First Presidency
President Robinson introduced a video presentation reflecting the significant events in the history of the church during the past nine years. Following the video presentation, Bruce Lindgren was recognized to read a statement to the Conference from Brother W. Grant McMurray.

President Judd read a report from the First Presidency that will be printed in the Conference Bulletin. Presiding Evangelist Danny Belrose then offered a prayer of blessing.

The congregation was led by Mary Gill and a group of children in singing the hymn “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.” Following a prayer of benediction by Margaret Chilolo of Zambia, the World Conference adjourned at 9:20 p.m. to meet again at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, June 3, 2005.

A. Bruce Lindgren
secretary