A short self-paced course on who we are, what we believe, and the mission we share.
Welcome
Community of Christ is a worldwide Christian church that grew out of the Restoration movement of the 1830s. Over the years it has grown into a welcoming faith community that values the worth of every person and invites people to follow Jesus Christ in compassionate service. In 2001 the church took the name Community of Christ, a name meant to remind us that Christ's mission is our mission.
Our mission: We proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace.
The foundation
Everything the church believes and does rests on one foundation: God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The Enduring Principles and the Mission Initiatives you'll meet in this course are our best attempt to respond faithfully to that foundation.
Enduring PrinciplesNine values that describe the heart and personality of the church, wherever you find it in the world.
Mission InitiativesFive focus areas that show how we join in the mission of Jesus Christ.
Pause and reflect: What drew you to learn more about Community of Christ? Take a moment to name one question you hope this course answers.
The nine Enduring Principles
The Enduring Principles are sometimes called our core values. They describe how it feels to be part of this community at its best. Select each one to read more.
Grace and Generosity
God's love and gifts are given freely, with no strings attached. Because we have received so much, we respond by giving generously of our time, talents, and resources.
Sacredness of Creation
The earth and every living thing are gifts from God. We are called to care for creation and to see our relationship with it as part of our faith.
Continuing Revelation
God did not stop speaking long ago. We stay open to the Holy Spirit's guidance today through scripture, prayer, worship, and discerning together as a community.
Worth of All Persons
Every person is a beloved child of God and of equal worth. No one has to earn a place in God's love, and we strive to treat everyone that way.
All Are Called
Everyone has gifts and a calling to serve. Ministry belongs to the whole community, not just to a few, and each person is invited to discover and use their gifts.
Responsible Choices
We are free to choose, and our choices matter. We are invited to make decisions that reflect our faith and consider their effect on others and on the world.
Pursuit of Peace (Shalom)
Peace is more than the absence of conflict. It means wholeness, justice, and right relationships. We work for peace in our hearts, our relationships, our communities, and the world.
Unity in Diversity
We are united in Christ without needing to be identical. Differences of background, culture, and perspective are welcomed and treated as a strength.
Blessings of Community
We grow in faith together. Worship, friendship, sacraments, and shared service shape us, and we offer that community to others.
Pause and reflect: Which principle speaks to you most right now, and where have you seen it lived out?
The Mission Initiatives grew out of Jesus' words in Luke 4, where he describes bringing good news to the poor and freedom to those who are oppressed. They help the whole church, from a single congregation to the world church, focus on the full mission of Christ. Select each one to read more.
Invite People to Christ
We share the good news of redemption, liberation, and restoration through what we say and how we live, and we welcome others into a relationship with Christ and into community.
Abolish Poverty, End Suffering
We respond to human need with compassion. That means relieving suffering today and also working to change the conditions that keep people in poverty.
Pursue Peace on Earth
We work for justice, reconciliation, and nonviolent peacemaking, building communities where all people can live in safety and dignity. In the Restoration tradition this vision is called Zion.
Develop Disciples to Serve
We help people grow in faith and prepare them to serve. Discipleship shows up in everyday life, at home, at work, and in the neighborhood, not only at church.
Experience Congregations in Mission
Congregations are places of hope and belonging that look outward. We are a community that exists to join in Christ's mission in our neighborhoods and beyond.
Pause and reflect: Which Mission Initiative could you or your congregation put into practice this month? What is one small first step?
Putting it into practice
The principles and initiatives are meant to be lived, not just learned. Here is how they connect:
Principles tell us who we areThey shape the atmosphere of our worship, our relationships, and how we treat one another.
Initiatives tell us what we doThey give our service, outreach, and ministry a clear direction.
Christ's mission ties them togetherBoth flow from the foundation of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
