Ecumenical/Interfaith Memberships
Adopted 12 April 2002
Whereas, Community of Christ has a long history of involvement in ecumenical and interfaith organizations and activities dating back as far as the participation of Joseph Smith III, W.W. Blair, and other church leaders in the Parliament of World Religions in 1893; and
Whereas, The 1980 World Conference endorsed the participation of the World Church in interdenominational Christian ministries where such participation did not require the World Church to “(1) alter or abandon any of the traditional beliefs and practices of the church, (2) endorse any creeds or theological positions which are inconsistent with any of the traditional beliefs and practices of the church, or (3) commit a disproportionate share of the church’s resources of time, money, or personnel (WCR 1170);” and
Whereas, The National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States (NCCC-USA) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) have demonstrated positive leadership in facilitating dialogue between faith movements; and
Whereas, The witness of Community of Christ will be enhanced by cooperation with other faith movements in the pursuit of peace and justice while allowing the unique message of Community of Christ to be given wider voice through ecumenical and interfaith ministries; and
Whereas, the First Presidency has called the church to work in cooperative endeavors with other faiths; and
Whereas, Without a single national church jurisdiction in the United States, there is no appropriate conference other than the World Conference for the church in the United States to consider the question of membership in the NCCC-USA; and
Whereas, The NCCC-USA and the WCC do not require the endorsement of creeds or require the alteration or abandonment of any traditional beliefs and practices of Community of Christ; and
Whereas, Membership in the NCCC-USA and the WCC would not require the commitment of a disproportionate share of the church’s resources of time, money, or personnel; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the World Conference express its support for Community of Christ entering into membership with the NCCC-USA and the WCC within the next two years; and be it further
Resolved, That Community of Christ enter into dialogue with the NCCC-USA and the WCC regarding an appropriate relationship between Community of Christ and these ecumenical/interfaith organizations; and be it further
Resolved, That the World Conference urge national churches in the various nations in which Community of Christ is formally established to investigate and consider membership in appropriate ecumenical/interfaith organizations in those nations; and be it further
Resolved, That the First Presidency appoint a standing World Church committee on ecumenical and interfaith relations to serve as a link between Community of Christ and interdenominational, interfaith, and other carefully selected mission-oriented groups.