We Share

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We Share

• The phrase we share is used in headings
  throughout this document. This phrase has two
  important meanings
• 1. What we share with one another, as members and
  participants in Community of Christ shapes
  identity, mission, message, and beliefs as a
  worldwide faith community.
• 2. Just as important, the phrase we share
  emphasizes our call and commitment to share our
  witness, ministries, sacraments, resources, and
  message with the world.
• So, the phrase we share defines both what we
  generally hold in common and what we generously
  offer to the world.

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Identity, Mission, Message and Beliefs

• God calls the church to,
• 163 3 a. You are called to create pathways in
  the world for peace in Christ to be relationally
  and culturally incarnate. The hope of Zion is
  realized when the vision of Christ is embodied in
  communities of generosity, justice, and
  peacefulness.
• Purpose for the church,
• 163 3 b. Above all else, strive to be
  faithful to Christs vision of the peaceable
  Kingdom of God on earth. Courageously challenge
  cultural, political, and religious trends that
  are contrary to the reconciling and restoring
  purposes of God. Pursue peace.

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Nine Enduring Principles

• Grace and Generosity
• Sacredness of Creation
• Continuing Revelation
• Worth of All Persons
• All Are Called
• Responsible Choices
• Pursuit of Peace (Shalom)
• Unity in Diversity
• Blessings of Community

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COMMUNITY OF CHRISTWORLDWIDE DEMOGRAPHICS

• WE ARE ESTABLISHED IN HOW MANY COUNTRIES
  THROUGHOUT THE WORLD?
• COUNTRIES WHERE WE HAVE RECOGNIZED PRESENCE?
• COUNTRIES WHERE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WORKING TO
  ESTABLISH A PRESENCE?

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We ShareUnity in Diversity

• The Community of Christ is a diverse,
  international family of disciples, seekers, and
  congregations.
• Local and worldwide ministries are interdependent
  and important to the churchs mission.
• The church embraces diversity and unity through
  the power of the Holy Spirit.
• We seek agreement or common consent in important
  matters. If we cannot achieve agreement, we
  commit to ongoing dialogue and lovingly uphold
  our common faith in Jesus Christ and the mission
  of the church.
• We confess that our lack of agreement on certain
  matters is hurtful to some of Gods beloved
  children and creation.

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In response to our scripture

• 1632
• a. Jesus Christ, the embodiment of Gods shalom,
  invites all people to come and receive divine
  peace in the midst of the difficult questions and
  struggles of life. Follow Christ in the way that
  leads to Gods peace and discover the blessings
  of all of the dimensions of salvation.
• b. Generously share the invitation, ministries,
  and sacraments through which people can encounter
  the Living Christ who heals and reconciles
  through redemptive relationships in sacred
  community. The restoring of persons to healthy or
  righteous relationships with God, others,
  themselves, and the earth is at the heart of the
  purpose of your journey as a people of faith.

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How diverse are Churches in the U.S.?

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called 1100 AM on
  Sunday morning the most segregated hour in
  America
• Some statistics show that racially mixed
  congregations account for only 8 of total
  American congregations
• Mainline churches argue for inclusiveness, but do
  little to support transformation at the local
  congregational level

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Unity in Diversity 1The Community of Christ is
a diverse, international family of disciples,
seekers, and congregations.

• How diverse are we?
• Who is not here?
• Are our congregations truly welcoming?
• Who do we invite to church?
• Do we celebrate worship in an open, inclusive
  style?

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Unity in Diversity 2 Local and worldwide
ministries are interdependent and important to
the churchs mission.

• What is your mission statement?
• Mission is
• The congregation taking the next faithful step.
• Grounded in missionwhat God is calling the
  congregation to do in the near future to advance
  the mission of God and the church.

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What is missing from our mission?

• Are we including others - how diverse do we look
  to others?
• And how we see ourselves?
• Congregational checklist
• Are we culturally competent?
• Do we celebrate worship in a open and inclusive
  style?
• Do we fellowship with other faiths or
  denominations?
• Do we welcome and affirm any person of race, age
  group, ethnic group, physical ability or culture?
• In our communities, are we known for our active
  witness, support or advocacy for peace and
  justice or outreach activities?

• When there is no vision the people will perish!

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EMBRACING DIVERSITY HOW CHURCHES BECOME
MULTICULTURAL
1. Review the continuum above, and identify where
you think your congregation should be
placed. 2. What can be done to move your
congregation or church to the right?
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• LETS TALK ABOUT..
• WHAT ARE BARRIERS TO DIVERSITY?
• WHAT IS PREJUDICED? HOW WORDS AND ACTIONS CAN
  HURT OTHERS
• THE TYPE OF MESSAGES WE USE
• HONORING DIFFERENCES IN PEOPLE

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Glossary of Words

• bias a personal and sometimes unreasoned
  judgment prejudice
• bigotry an intense form of negative prejudice
  that is often expressed in violence
• discrimination the act or practice of making a
  distinction or showing favor for one group or
  individual over another group or individual based
  on particular defining factors. It is used most
  often to refer to policies or behaviors directed
  against a group or individual.
• diversity the recognition of distinctions or
  differences between groups or individuals based
  on different factors

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Glossarycontinued

• ism (for example, racism, sexism, ageism) a
  system of behaviors or beliefs that assumes one
  group has supremacy over another group.
  Generally such beliefs are found in personal
  attitudes, institutional structures, cultures, or
  guidelines for the purpose of denying groups or
  individuals human or legal rights, political
  power, or social/educational/economic
  opportunities. The combination of prejudice or
  bias with the power enforces that perspective.
• prejudice a pre-conceived judgment directed
  toward a group or individual before one has all
  the facts. The judgment can be positive, but
  usually it is negative and marked by suspicion,
  fear, intolerance, or hatred. The individual or
  group is usually placed an unfair or less than
  equal position in relation to others.
• stereotype an over simplification or
  generalization about a particular group, race, or
  gender that usually carries a derogatory
  implication and allows for the classification,
  limitation, or disempowerment of the group or
  individuals.

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What is the message (or signal) of a diverse
congregation?

• Creating messages to share with people that are
  sensitive, sincere and articulates clearly what
  we believe
• Creating and providing visual messages that
  demonstrates how we apply (praxis) our beliefs
• It is always welcoming and affirming of all
  persons
• Empowers the congregation to be a blessing to the
  Gods whole creation
• Provides hope, comfort and attracts people

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Barriers to avoid when creating messages

• Make it all about me, Us vs. Them
• Too narrow or too selective
• Does not take into consideration the needs or
  interests of others
• Is out dated

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Differences Between People

• People are different from one another in many
  ways. The diversity that makes us who we are is
  some-times evident at first sight (10) and at
  other times, it only becomes apparent after
  getting to know each other (90).
• Internal dimensions of diversity are
  characterized as being unalterable, powerful, and
  make up the core or foundational identity of an
  individual.
• External dimensions are framing factors of a
  persons identity which are shaped by social,
  economic, political, geographical, and other
  factors that are influential and affect social
  relationships and the acceptance or tolerance
  afforded by people of others.

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DIVERSITY ICEBERG
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10 INTERNAL
SEE, HEAR, TOUCH
BELIEFS VALUES THOUGHTS PERCEPTIONS
90 EXTERNAL
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INTERNAL DIMENSIONS (10)
RACE
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
DISABILITIES
NATIONAL ORIGIN
AGE
GENDER
APPEARANCE
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EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS (90)
EDUCATION
MARITAL STATUS
LANGUAGE
STYLE/EXPERIENCE
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
LOCATION
VALUES/RELIGION
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Unity in Diversity 3The church embraces
diversity and unity through the power of the Holy
Spirit.

• Scripture focus - 1633c
• There are subtle, yet powerful, influences in the
  world, some even claiming to represent Christ,
  that seek to divide people and nations to
  accomplish their destructive aims. That which
  seeks to harden one human heart against another
  by constructing walls of fear and prejudice is
  not of God. Be especially alert to these
  influences, lest they divide you or divert you
  from the mission to which you are called.

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SHAPING OUR ATTITUDES

• Put people first, not things or act out of fear.
• Vision an accepting church and world.
• Also seek to include rather than exclude.
• Value differences and celebrate them.
• Have high expectations for yourself and
  others.
• Trust and be open.

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We are called, and We share

• 163 8c
• As these ministries come to fuller expression,
  receptive congregations in the areas around the
  Temple and throughout the world will be revived
  and equipped for more effective ministry. Vital
  to this awakening is the understanding that the
  Temple calls the entire church to become a
  sanctuary of Christs peace, where people from
  all nations, ethnicities, and life circumstances
  can be gathered into a spiritual home without
  dividing walls, as a fulfillment of the vision
  for which Jesus Christ sacrificed his life.

• The Community of Christ is a diverse,
  international family of disciples, seekers, and
  congregations.
• Local and worldwide ministries are interdependent
  and important to the churchs mission.
• The church embraces diversity and unity through
  the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Our Nine Enduring Principles

• Grace and Generosity
• Sacredness of Creation
• Continuing Revelation
• Worth of All Persons
• All Are Called
• Responsible Choices
• Pursuit of Peace (Shalom)
• Unity in Diversity
• Blessings of Community
• Are all inter-connected and work together

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Bringing Diversity into your Congregations

• Where to start
• Open a dialogue on diversity and the importance
  of building multi-cultural competence in order to
  support transfor-mation in the life of your
  congregation
• Discuss your ideas and experiences of how to
  honor the worth of all persons and how you can
  promote the inclusion of everyone and their
  diversity, particularly ethnicity and culture in
  your congregation.

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What will I share and do?

• As pastor or congregational leader, I will.
• Q. Work to remove the barriers in my congregation
  and between my congregation and the community.
• Q. Model being more welcoming and hospitable to
  all people.
• Q. Encourage and teach others to be more faithful
  in responding to the call to help our
  congregation become a sanctuary of Christs peace
  by developing ministries that __________?

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Share the Peace of Jesus Christ
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Suggested Resources

• The Color of Faith Building Community in A
  Multiracial Society
• Author Fumitaka Matsuoka
• A House of Prayer for All Peoples
• Author Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook
• Doctrine and Covenants Section 163 and the
  Enduring Principles
• www.understandingprejudice.org
• Email dwilliams_at_cofchrist.org or phone
  773-330-4701