Chapter 16: every tradition · Christianity

Community of Christ

A congregation of Community of Christ, until 2001 the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: the second-largest church from Joseph Smith's 1830 movement, headquartered in Independence, Missouri, and a separate church from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Today it is much closer to the mainline Protestant churches (it joined the National Council of Churches in 2010): it affirms the Trinity, keeps the Christian year with the Revised Common Lectionary, and many of its congregations display the cross. The Bible is its foundational scripture, read beside the Book of Mormon and a Doctrine and Covenants to which its prophet-president still adds inspired counsel, accepted by common consent at the World Conference, which meets every three years beside the Temple. Sunday worship is planned from the church's Worship Resources, with a Prayer for Peace, the readings, and a sermon by a member of the priesthood or another member; on the first Sunday of the month the Lord's Supper, with bread and grape juice, is open to all who follow Christ. It keeps eight sacraments, among them the blessing of children and the evangelist blessing. About one member in ten is ordained, nearly all unpaid, and since 1984 women have been called to every office, now including prophet-president; most congregations elect one of their priesthood as pastor each year, and only a few large ones hire staff. Members are baptized by immersion from age eight; Christians baptized as believers elsewhere join by confirmation. Giving is taught as a Disciples' Generous Response, giving to one's true capacity to local ministries and to Mission Tithes for the World Church, with no tithing settlement. The church holds title to the buildings through its Presiding Bishopric; congregations belong to a mission center led by an appointed president, and many are small and ageing. Its Temple in Independence is dedicated to peace, open to all, and holds a Daily Prayer for Peace at 1 p.m.; peace and justice, reunions (summer family camps), and an open table mark its life. Intoxicants are not allowed at church events or on church property, but the Word of Wisdom is counsel, not a test. In the United States people of any sexual orientation may be ordained and married; practice varies by nation and congregation. Some details (church school before worship, the plate, how much goes to Mission Tithes) are the most common American practice rather than church policy.

All 80 traditions · its profile in Faiths and traditions, with how to play it; How people feel, what every factor is.

At a glance

Faith	Christianity
Its words	congregation, church, sanctuary; the pastor leads the worship; the sermon; Sunday; the scriptures
Worship	word focus, reserved, low formality (0.33 of 1); seated on pews
Music	piano expected; chant discouraged
The room's sound	no strong preference
Its year	western; full observance; fasts none
Leans	liberal on moral questions, liberal on economic ones
Polity	conference; leaders come by ordained from congregation; property denomination
Leaders	one leader, unpaid, trained by in house; marriage any
Belonging	moderate commitment, pastoral discipline, admitted by clergy
Giving	tithing taught; collected by plate, online
Way of life	alcohol moderation, dress casual, sabbath relaxed

The week's services

Day	Time	Service	Led by	People look for it
Sunday	10:45 am	Sunday worship	the pastor	expected

Leader: a pastor. With none (a vacancy, or no one hired), the services are still held, but each costs everyone at it 0.10; on sabbatical a supply pastor stands in ($800 a month) for a little less.
Communion (monthly), passed among the people: nothing needs to be placed to serve it. People receive from age 8; anyone younger who comes forward is blessed instead.
Baptism: needs a baptistry or an immersion font, built and installed; until there is one, those wanting baptism wait.
Lay helpers at each service: Expected: 2 servers (at communion).

Rites

Confirmation (per joining, +0.025 to those there): After a season of classes, young people (and adults) are confirmed: they affirm the faith they were baptized into, and the bishop or pastor lays hands on them and prays for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Blessing of Children (per birth, +0.025 to those there): In Sunday worship, two elders hold a baby or young child (from birth to seven), or lay their hands on the child's head, and one of them offers a prayer of blessing, as Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them. Any family may ask for it, members or not.
Anointing of the Sick (on request, +0.02 to those there, asked for 0.03 times a year by a household, at home (20 minutes and half an hour's journey each way)): A priest or the elders pray over someone who is seriously ill, lay hands on them, and anoint them with oil, following James 5. It is usually done at home or in the hospital, sometimes at a communal service.
Holy Matrimony (on request, +0.02 to those there): A couple marries before God and the congregation, exchanging vows before the pastor after a course of marriage preparation.
Evangelist Blessing (on request, +0.03 to those there, asked for 0.03 times a year by a household, 45 minutes): After a time of preparation, a member (or a couple, a family, or a whole congregation) meets with an evangelist of Community of Christ, who lays hands on them and speaks a blessing of God's love and guidance for their life; it is written down for them to keep. Once called the patriarchal blessing, it may be sought more than once.
Priesthood Ordination (on request, +0.02 to those there): A member called to an office of the priesthood (a deacon, a teacher, a priest, an elder) is presented to the congregation, who sustain the call by raising their hands or vote on it, and is then ordained by those holding the priesthood, who lay their hands on the member's head and pray. In a Latter-day Saint ward the young men are ordained in January of the year they turn twelve, fourteen, and sixteen; in Community of Christ, women and men alike are called.

Baptism, confirmation, and joining

Baptized elsewhere: it recognizes a believer's baptism in the name of the Trinity (not one given as a baby). Someone so baptized is received at a service after about 4 weeks (a week from another of its churches).
Not baptized (or baptized where it doesn't recognize it): a candidate who prepares for 1 months (only months its class can meet count), then is baptized and received at the same service.
Joining age: 8.
The church's children are baptized as believers at about 8, most within a year or two of it.
Kinds of belonging: members (votes, may hold office); received by the pastor.
What it means: being baptized, confirmed, or received is worth +0.1 to the person, +0.05 to family there, and +0.03 to everyone else at the service. It roots them: a rooted household drifts away only 0.6 times as often, and if it does fall away, it has a 25% chance of coming home each Christmas Eve and Easter for ten years.

Giving, and what goes up

How its people give and what else comes in, as Money explains it for every faith.

How it's given: the offering, by a plate passed at each main service, and giving online. A visiting household puts $5 to $25 in the plate. Those who give online give whether or not they come (8% more a month).
Fundraisers: any it allows (below).
Owed above: Mission Tithes, 15% of its tithes, paid by its members, to the World Church (voluntary).

The pastor, the staff, and who decides

How the pastor comes: named from the members (Ask who'd serve): the longest-standing members are the candidates.
Paid: unpaid.
Who they are: trained in-house (they ask 90%); women among them (about a third); most married.
Tenure: settled for about 5 years, then may be called elsewhere.
Staff it can hire or name (see Staff and volunteers):
- Lay leader (unpaid; from the members; cares for 60)
- Local elder (unpaid; from the members; cares for 30 more)
- Choir director / organist / pianist ($15,000–$35,000; leads the music (up to +0.06))
- Caretaker ($18,000–$30,000; slows the building's wear)
- Congregation secretary ($20,000–$35,000; runs the office (+50 to the leader's reach, once))
- Youth director ($20,000–$40,000; up to +0.08 for households with young people)
Its boards: the congregational leadership team (deciding, over everything).
Renovations: The members vote.
New construction: The members vote, then the Mission center must consent.
Calling a leader: The members vote, consulting the Mission center.
Who votes: members, 16 and over.

Life together

What its Community screen offers it, with the dilemmas only its own faith or family meets; see The congregation in its community.

Ministries of its own: Choir.
Ministries every tradition can run that it's offered: Blood drive, Food pantry, Health clinic, Preschool, Youth group.
Fundraisers of its own: Soup supper.
Shared fundraisers it may hold: Auction, Bake sale, Bingo night, Car wash, Raffle, Rummage sale.
Tenants it can take: A Masonic lodge, A scout troop, A twelve-step group, Another congregation, Dance classes, Parties and receptions, Polling place and forums.
Outreach: invitation Sunday (Community → Evangelism).
Places beyond the congregation: reunion, the Temple in Independence.
Dilemmas of its own faith (besides those every congregation meets): A petition for cushions, The bells, again.
Dilemmas its code of life brings: A candidates' forum, A raffle for the roof, A recruiter asks for the hall, Champagne at the reception.

What the building needs

required BaptistryBeliever's baptism by immersion needs a baptistry: a tank large enough for an adult, with plumbing to fill and drain it.
required Communion tableThe Lord's Supper is served from a communion table, recalling the table of the Last Supper.
required PulpitPreaching is the center of worship, so the pulpit stands at the center of the platform.
expected Communion traysThe bread and cup are carried to the pews in trays and passed along the rows.
expected Upright pianoThe congregation expects singing led from a piano.
discouraged CrucifixThis tradition uses an empty cross, proclaiming the risen Christ, rather than a crucifix.
discouraged Flag of the churchThis tradition doesn't fly a flag in worship.
discouraged Flaming chaliceThe flaming chalice is another tradition's symbol.
discouraged IconIcons are not part of this tradition's worship.
discouraged StatueStatues are not part of this tradition's worship space.

What people here feel

Architectural style: Colonial brick +0.052; Modern synagogue +0.034; Gurdwara +0.028; Japanese temple +0.016; Islamic +0.01; Shinto shrine +0.01; Chinese temple +0.004; Dravidian temple -0.002; Nagara temple -0.002; Thai temple -0.002; Jain marble -0.008; Gothic -0.014.
Building fit: up to ±0.15 for everyone, the average fit of the characterful items in its worship rooms (the table below).
Acoustics: it wants a room between ringing and dry, about 2.2 seconds of reverberation: neither bare stone nor a carpeted low room. Up to ±0.05.
Seasonal decor: it keeps the church year: paraments and the season's decor are worth up to ±0.013.
Solar panels: leaning liberal, it's glad of them (+0.02 at every service).
The sermon lands by its topic and the tradition's leaning (below); the pastor's preaching adds or costs up to 0.08 more.
Communion: each communion service runs longer; a slow one costs 0.05 for every 10 minutes the service runs over (0.2 at most).

How each sermon lands

The topics its leader can choose from (some are only for one faith or family), and what each is worth.

Racial Justice & Reconciliation+0.06
Radical Inclusion+0.06
Social Justice Call+0.06
Care for Creation+0.04
Healing for All+0.04
Interfaith Understanding+0.04
Reading Scripture in Context+0.04
Swords into Ploughshares+0.04
The Prophets' Call+0.04
Wealth & Poverty+0.04
Welcome the Stranger+0.04
Women Who Led+0.04
Biblical Stories+0.015
Blessed Are the Peacemakers+0.015
Called by Name+0.015
Doubt & Faith+0.015
Eternal Life & Resurrection+0.015
Grace & Forgiveness+0.015
Gratitude+0.015
Hope & Comfort+0.015
Joy in All Things+0.015
Love One Another+0.015
Sabbath Rest+0.015
Saints & Witnesses+0.015
Servant Leadership+0.015
Songs of the Psalms+0.015
Stewardship & Generosity+0.015
The Church Year+0.015
The Life of Prayer+0.015
The Parables of Jesus+0.015
Faith & Family-0.05
Faith of Our Fathers-0.05
Obedience & Discipline-0.05
Personal Holiness-0.05
Resisting Temptation-0.05
Spiritual Warfare-0.05
The Authority of Scripture-0.05
The Great Commission-0.05
Marriage as God Designed-0.075
Sanctity of Life-0.075
The Last Days-0.075
Fire & Brimstone-0.1

Every item, for this tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); the building fit is the average over the characterful items in the worship rooms. An item with no character (a table, a toilet) has no fit. A rule applies wherever the item is.

Item	Fit	Rule
Seating
Box pew	-0.333
Choir stalls	-0.167
Meeting bench	no fit
Oak pew	no fit
Row of chairs	+0.333
Liturgical furniture
Altar	-0.333
Baptismal font	-0.333
Baptistry	no fit	required Believer's baptism by immersion needs a baptistry: a tank large enough for an adult, with plumbing to fill and drain it.
Bishop's chair	-0.333
Brass eagle lectern	-0.333
Columbarium niches	-0.333
Communion rail	-0.333
Communion station	no fit
Communion table	no fit	required The Lord's Supper is served from a communion table, recalling the table of the Last Supper.
Communion trays	no fit	expected The bread and cup are carried to the pews in trays and passed along the rows.
Confessional screen	no fit
Coptic cross	0
Epitaphios	-1
Flaming chalice	-1	discouraged The flaming chalice is another tradition's symbol.
Foot-washing basins	no fit
Haikal screen	-1
Iconostasis	-1
Immersion font	-0.333
Lectern	no fit
Litany desk	-0.333
Mercy seat	no fit
Octagonal stone font	-0.333
Paraments	no fit
Pulpit	no fit	required Preaching is the center of worship, so the pulpit stands at the center of the platform.
Readers' desks	no fit
Rood screen	-1
Sanctuary lamp	-0.333
Tabernacle	-0.333
Three-bar cross	0
Thurible and stand	no fit
Music
Brass band stands	0
Chanter's stand	-0.667
Drum kit	+0.167
Electronic organ	0
Grand piano	+1
Hammond organ	0
Handbell table	0
Pipe organ	-0.167
Sound system	+0.167
Upright piano	+1	expected The congregation expects singing led from a piano.
Decor
Advent wreath	no fit
Banner	0
Christmas Eve candles	no fit
Cross	0
Crucifix	-1	discouraged This tradition uses an empty cross, proclaiming the risen Christ, rather than a crucifix.
Easter lilies	no fit
Eternal flame	no fit
Flag of the church	-1	discouraged This tradition doesn't fly a flag in worship.
Great dome	-0.333
Icon	-1	discouraged Icons are not part of this tradition's worship.
Memorial plaque	no fit
National flag	0
Painting of Christ	0
Paschal candle	no fit
Plain spire	no fit
Small dome	no fit
Stained glass window	-0.333
Statue	-1	discouraged Statues are not part of this tradition's worship space.
Steeple and bells	-0.333
Votive candle stand	no fit
Furnishings
Alms box	no fit
Coffee pot	no fit
Commercial coffee pot	no fit
Computer	no fit
Crib	no fit
Desk	no fit
Desk chair	no fit
Folding table	no fit
Full-length mirror	no fit
Pillar	-0.333
Prie-dieu	-0.333
Projection screen	+0.333
Vestment cabinet	-0.333
Wooden table	no fit
Utility
A/V rack	no fit
Camera	no fit
Cast-iron boiler	no fit
Central air conditioner	no fit
Commercial HVAC plant	no fit
Commercial stove	no fit
Congregation van	no fit
Ductless heat pump	no fit
Electric wall heater	no fit
Gas furnace	no fit
Hearing loop	no fit
Lift	no fit
Packaged heat pump	no fit
Plumbing stack	no fit
Ramp	no fit
Shuttle bus	no fit
Sink	no fit
Solar panels	no fit
Stairs	no fit
Toilet	no fit
Used school bus	no fit
Wall camera	no fit
Window air conditioner	no fit
Grounds
Evergreen tree	no fit
Flower bed	no fit
Fountain	no fit
Garden bench	no fit
Hedge	no fit
Lychgate	-0.333
Playground	no fit
Shade tree	no fit
Standing cross	no fit

Sources

Our Beliefs (Community of Christ) (link)
About Us (Community of Christ) (link)
Community of Christ (Wikipedia) (link)
Sacrament (Community of Christ) (Wikipedia) (link)
Priesthood (Community of Christ) (Wikipedia) (link)
Culture (Latter-day Seekers, Community of Christ) (link)
Worship (Latter-day Seekers, Community of Christ) (link)
Faithfully Funding Our Future: FAQ (Community of Christ) (link)
World Conference Resolution 1314, Mission and Tithing (2016) (link)
Thirty Years of Praying for Peace (Community of Christ) (link)
Worship Resources Year C 2024-2025 available (Community of Christ) (link)
Mission Center President, California USA (Community of Christ job posting) (link)