Community of Christ?

[Maureen]

I was curious as to what happens nowadays in the CoC services. Do you pass the Communion Sacrament? Are there girl Deacons? Female Bishops?

Good questions!

[Dale]

We have women elders, and women who serve in all parts of the priesthood. Although they tend to be adult women deacons. We have women who serve as apostles.

We do get communion passed. We use grape juice in our version of the sacrament. The bread tastes the same as i remember from the LDS services. We use the same sacrament prayers. Although i have seen a modernized version that some in the church toyed with. These may, or may not be officially approved versions as i am not certain whether conference ever approved their use in worship.

--------------

Our Inland West Mission Center recently put up a website. The new website has some technical problems with it. Inland West Mission Center It gave my congreation i attend when my health permits its own page. Nampa Congregation I have Multiple Sclerosis which stops me from driving. So i keep in touch with people at church via e-mail mostly.

[Guest User-Removed]

I think i'll jump in here and stir the pot a wee bit...

when the Prophet joseph was martyred, his son JSIII was only 11 years old. The canard about Joseph wanting his son to succeed him has been proffered by the Reorganites for years. One can read Roger Launius' book on JSIII and get a clearer picture of how JSIII became the leader of the Reorganites. The current CofC is a shell of it's former "glory"...as there have been 2 splits since the last Smith to hold the reigns of power failed to produce a male heir...and then proceeded to have a "revelation" to give the Aaronic Priesthood to women. The second split came, when women were allowed to be called to be apostles.

If you go to their website, you'll see that they've reduced the first vision to some type of hallucenogenic event. Totally denying the divinity of the event. Additionally, in order to receive funds from the NCC, they've become pro homosexual and have basically they've abandoned the BoM in favor of the Bible.

W. Grant MacMurray resigned a few years back...although no one knows exactly why?

[JLFuller]

I have read with some interest what has been said by a few here in this thread. As we find in almost all non-LDS sources, decisions are made about correctness based on the beliefs and understanding of human beings also known as the arm of man. If we rely solely on human understanding and leave God out of our decision making process we leave ourselves open to error.

By living the Commandments as we know and understand them and as they have been revealed to us, we have a right to enlist the aid of the Holy Ghost in understanding these things. It is analgous to turning a light on in a darkened room. With each commandment we live and make a part of our life, another greater light is turned on and we are able to see and understand more. With greater light, additional rooms become apparent with more knowledge and understanding being given us. It is this light that enables us to move from one understanding to a greater understanding in a never ending process of learning new things. It is the real-life application of having precept added to precept and line upon line.

The searcher who looks for a church that supports just his beliefs and in which he can be comfortable, will only find worldy understanding. The challenge is to find what God wants of us though active daily and constant communication. Most tradftional churches teach some variation of man's understanding. They tell you thier version of correct doctrine rather than how to find out for yourself and get your own confirmation.

Succesful connection to the living God requires that we change us. We must be willing to open our minds to His promptings by forgoing our prejudices and approach God with faith that He will answer our prayers for understanding and enlightenment. I suggest we have to be humble and sincere. We must be willing to learn and accept. We must be willing to act upon that which is confirmed to us. Mere curiosity is not sufficient and may not get what we seek. Once given we are accountbale for what we know. If all we seeks is a comfortable place to worship as we understand, then any church will do.

[Dale]

I found a link to the differering sacrament prayers used by the Community of Christ. My Nampa congregation uses the traditional ones.

World Church News Community of Christ, We proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace.