Community of Christ - Southern California USA Mission Center

To: Southern California Mission Center Priesthood

From: Terry Read, Mission Center President

Subject: Priesthood Leadership in Growing the Community of Christ

Priesthood is a sacred covenant involving the highest form of stewardship of body, mind, spirit, and relationships. The priesthood shall be composed of people of humility and integrity who are willing to extend themselves in service for others and for the well-being of the faith community. Truly authoritative priesthood ministry emerges from a growing capacity to bring blessing to others. Doctrine and Covenants 163:6a-b

Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God's 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 God's peace and discover the blessings of all of the dimensions of salvation. 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. Doctrine and Covenants 163:2a-b

While we recognize that all members of our faith community are gifted by God and called to serve, the church has always looked to the priesthood to provide vision, leadership, and example for others as we pursue the cause of God's kingdom. It is therefore appropriate for us to ask ourselves a question as we think about our desire to grow the Community of Christ in the greater Los Angeles area. How do we see ourselves, as members of the priesthood, participating in and helping to lead this effort?

The recent counsel to the church cited above suggests that all of the ministries of the church, not just the so-called missionary or outreach ministries, are the means through which people can encounter the living Christ. In turn, that suggests that each of our priesthood offices, as we engage in and lead those ministries, contribute to "sharing the invitation, ministries, and sacraments" that restore "persons to healthy or righteous relationships with God, others, themselves, and the earth." We all have something to contribute to growing our faith community.

The plan for growing the Community of Christ in this area involves an ambitious and comprehensive approach made up of a number of different ministries. We are working to revitalize and grow our existing congregations. We are looking to reconnect and reconcile with those who have become separated from us. We are looking to expand the church into new locations and among new peoples, and to create new expressions of Christ-centered faith communities through Internet ministries. And we are looking to better equip our people to serve in these various ministries. Somewhere within these diverse ministries is a place for each one of us to apply our passion, our calling, our gifts as ordained ministers.

During this Advent season, we anticipate anew the coming of our Lord. Perhaps not coincidentally, we have also entered a period of preparation between the mission center conference and the launch of the church growth plan in January. We will be asking all of the mission center's people to spend time in guided prayer and reflection. And we are asking you, the priesthood of the mission center, to encourage people and lead the way in your congregations during this preparatory period. In addition, we are asking you to reflect upon your own sense of calling and giftedness, and how you may be able to contribute to this renewed effort to grow the church.

Those of us who worked to develop the church growth plan deeply believe that we have received inspiration in creating the plan and we feel strongly that God is going before us to prepare the way to grow the church. We ask that you seek the confirmation of the Spirit as well so that you can enthusiastically choose to share in this endeavor and can lead the people in your congregations in moving forward to translate the plan into tangible ministries and growth.

Let us, as a unified and passionate priesthood, lead the renewal and expansion of our faith community. And let us, in the spirit of this Advent season, prepare the way of the Lord.

Yours in the spirit of God's shalom,

Terry A. Read