The 2025 World Conference was an extraordinary embodiment of the Pentecost narrative (Acts 2:1–21)—wind, fire, and Unity in Diversity—lived in real time. Guided by the theme, “Hope Is Here,” the gathering became a living testament to renewal, calling each of us to embrace a Spiritempowered new community brimming with possibility. 

Whether you joined in Independence, Missouri, USA; at remote sites; or online, I hope you sensed the energy and inspiration. One attendee summed it up perfectly: 

“This is not a church that is dying; this is a church being reborn!” 

I am grateful—beyond words—for the church’s support of my call as prophetpresident and for entrusting me with this sacred role. Your ongoing prayerful support strengthens me, and I’m deeply grateful to serve alongside you in our unfolding story. 

This Conference was prayerfully planned as a shared sacred journey—a rekindling of our collective history and a recommitment to Christcentered hope. Every element, from worship and leadership transitions to legislation, came together to express living hope. The outcome surpassed every expectation, urging us to boldly imagine where God calls us and step forward in trust, confident in what the Spirit can accomplish through our faithful response. 

Delegates were reminded they are sent, like those first apostles, as carriers—not keepers—of the Spirit’s fire into homes, communities, and the world.

A powerful metaphor emerged: fanning the flames. Delegates were reminded they are sent, like those first apostles, as carriers—not keepers—of the Spirit’s fire into homes, communities, and the world. Our time together wove strategic principles and practical ideas for discipleship, community engagement, and global mission—equipping all to answer that call. 

We were invited to live as a people of possibility—citizens of God’s new community. This vision is rooted firmly in our history of striving to create God’s peaceable kingdom, Zion, wherever we live and serve. Today, the church must live as a signal to surrounding cultures: where our Enduring Principles are practiced, not just preached; and our beliefs embodied, not only professed. The church is not just surviving—we’re birthing a new way of being: an inclusive, Spiritinfused community embodying hope and transformation. 

An essential part of our momentum is the church’s intentional work on consent and collaboration. For six years, we engaged in exploring nonviolence—affirming that nonviolence, whenever possible, reflects the gospel of Jesus Christ. The alternative commonconsent process ultimately led to a strong endorsement of the Statement on Nonviolence. As we celebrate this achievement, we are challenged to allow the Spirit to transform our actions for justice and peace through the principles upheld in the statement. 

The church is not just surviving—we’re birthing a new way of being: an inclusive, Spirit-infused community embodying hope and transformation.

Likewise, several important resolutions were passed—each pointing toward justice in how we work internally, treat others, and support creation. These aren’t just resolutions—they’re beacons guiding our church’s path, equipping us to embody Christ’s peace and justice more fully. They echo our identity as a prophetic, collaborative people. 

Building on this, one perceptive delegate asked: “What does it mean to shift from being a people with a prophet to being a prophetic people?” The answer reflects the evolving role of shared leadership. While the prophetpresident and First Presidency continue to discern God’s will and guide the church, our role is to empower the prophetic voice of each one—through consent, dialogue, and shared decisionmaking. This doesn’t diminish leadership; it amplifies it as a communal journey. I invite you to observe how “we’re all in this together” was modeled in the way Communion was served, the legislative agenda managed, and field leadership assigned. 

Our new field organization reflects this collaborative spirit of shared leadership, laying a foundation the church can build on as we engage in culturally relevant, Christcentered missions rooted in local contexts. It’s not about adapting the church to culture—but sharing the good news in ways that transform hearts, attitudes, and behaviors. 

Hope is here—and it’s alive in us as we share it with the world.

In all these ways—worship, governance, leadership, crosscultural unity, Spiritempowerment, mission—the 2025 World Conference affirmed that Community of Christ isn’t facing obsolescence. We’re being reborn! 

We’ve been stirred by the fire of Pentecost and are leaning boldly into our Acts 2 identity. We are citizens of God’s diverse, Spiritdriven new community—not for the sake of the church alone, but to help restore the world to God’s vision of shalom. 

Together, we step forward as a prophetic people, ready to carry the Spirit’s fire into the world. Hope is here—and it’s alive in us as we share it with the world. 

Onward!