Christ's Mission, Our Mission
We proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace.
Our StoryWe have a rich history that reaches back more than 100 years in Calgary. Click the icon above to read more.
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Canada West Mission Centre (CWM)We are one of many congregations across western Canada. Click the logo to view the CWM website.
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A World ChurchCommunity of Christ is a worldwide faith community. Click the logo for more info.
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Community of Christ: An Egalitarian Culture
Gender Equality
Community of Christ has enjoyed gender equality worldwide since the 1984 World Conference (Doctrine & Covenants Section 156*), with women making up a considerable portion of all levels of the church’s leadership today. The church has been blessed by the significant contributions women have made to our movement - both before Section 156 and after. Women play an integral part in the mission and life of Community of Christ, providing indispensable perspective and ministry. To date, gender equality has been fully present in the lives of two generations of members, and we continue to benefit from Church President Wallace B. Smith’s careful guidance as well as the faithful discernment of the 1984 World Conference body’s decision.
*Scriptural reference: 156:9b: "I say to you now, as I have said in the past, that all are called according to the gifts which have been given them. This applies to priesthood as well as to any other aspects of the work. c. Therefore, do not wonder that some women of the church are being called to priesthood responsibilities. This is in harmony with my will and where these calls are made known to my servants, they may be processed according to administrative procedures and provisions of the law."
Queer/LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Community of Christ, in canonizing Doctrine & Covenants 164 as a World Conference body in 2010, established more culturally appropriate avenues to discuss certain topics on a country-by-country basis. With this new opportunity, Community of Christ members across Canada voted as a body in 2012 to become an affirming and welcoming church within its borders after several years of discernment and a significant investment of resources in intentional dialogue.
Community of Christ in Canada maintains fully inclusive policies recognizing the worth, dignity, and giftedness that all human beings, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, bring to God’s world and the life and mission of the church. In Canada, members of the priesthood are welcome to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies, upholding the sacrament of marriage as being freely given from God. Members of the Queer/LGBTQ+ Community enjoy full participation in the life of the church in Canada.
A full list of nations in which Community of Christ currently enforces fully affirming and welcoming policies, along with their respective dates of policy change, includes:
Statement of Inclusion
Community of Christ in Canada welcomes and celebrates people of every race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical and mental ability, national origin, ethnic background, economic status, and political ideology to full participation in the life of the church.
“Full participation in the life of the church” pertains to all members, without exception, ensuring each person is fully eligible to participate in the sacraments, priesthood, all levels of church leadership, as well as any other benefits and responsibilities guaranteed to church membership according to the Membership Manual.
Any individual member’s “full participation in the life of the church” does not bind any other individual member’s conscience on an issue about which they may differ, but rather requires honest commitment to life together in community, regardless of opinion. For everyone born, a place at the table.
It is in the spirit of transparency that we include not only the essence of the policy details above, but also the lived experience with Queer/LGBTQ+ individuals across the church in Canada. We are a people of diverse ideologies, backgrounds, and lived experiences. While this statement captures the essence of the national policy established by a vote of all congregations across Canada in 2012, there are a variety of opinions on the matter from coast to coast. We continue to learn and grow as a community, becoming a more welcoming, accepting, and educated faith tradition together.
Scriptural reference: 165:3d: “Be not consumed with concern about variety in human types and characteristics as you see them. Be passionately concerned about forming inclusive communities of love, oneness, and equality that reveal divine nature.”
Community of Christ has enjoyed gender equality worldwide since the 1984 World Conference (Doctrine & Covenants Section 156*), with women making up a considerable portion of all levels of the church’s leadership today. The church has been blessed by the significant contributions women have made to our movement - both before Section 156 and after. Women play an integral part in the mission and life of Community of Christ, providing indispensable perspective and ministry. To date, gender equality has been fully present in the lives of two generations of members, and we continue to benefit from Church President Wallace B. Smith’s careful guidance as well as the faithful discernment of the 1984 World Conference body’s decision.
*Scriptural reference: 156:9b: "I say to you now, as I have said in the past, that all are called according to the gifts which have been given them. This applies to priesthood as well as to any other aspects of the work. c. Therefore, do not wonder that some women of the church are being called to priesthood responsibilities. This is in harmony with my will and where these calls are made known to my servants, they may be processed according to administrative procedures and provisions of the law."
Queer/LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Community of Christ, in canonizing Doctrine & Covenants 164 as a World Conference body in 2010, established more culturally appropriate avenues to discuss certain topics on a country-by-country basis. With this new opportunity, Community of Christ members across Canada voted as a body in 2012 to become an affirming and welcoming church within its borders after several years of discernment and a significant investment of resources in intentional dialogue.
Community of Christ in Canada maintains fully inclusive policies recognizing the worth, dignity, and giftedness that all human beings, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, bring to God’s world and the life and mission of the church. In Canada, members of the priesthood are welcome to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies, upholding the sacrament of marriage as being freely given from God. Members of the Queer/LGBTQ+ Community enjoy full participation in the life of the church in Canada.
A full list of nations in which Community of Christ currently enforces fully affirming and welcoming policies, along with their respective dates of policy change, includes:
- Australia - 2013 (ordination) / 2018 (marriage)
- British Isles - 2014
- Canada - 2013
- Germany - 2019
- The Netherlands - 2017
- Norway - 2017
- United States - 2014
Statement of Inclusion
Community of Christ in Canada welcomes and celebrates people of every race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical and mental ability, national origin, ethnic background, economic status, and political ideology to full participation in the life of the church.
“Full participation in the life of the church” pertains to all members, without exception, ensuring each person is fully eligible to participate in the sacraments, priesthood, all levels of church leadership, as well as any other benefits and responsibilities guaranteed to church membership according to the Membership Manual.
Any individual member’s “full participation in the life of the church” does not bind any other individual member’s conscience on an issue about which they may differ, but rather requires honest commitment to life together in community, regardless of opinion. For everyone born, a place at the table.
It is in the spirit of transparency that we include not only the essence of the policy details above, but also the lived experience with Queer/LGBTQ+ individuals across the church in Canada. We are a people of diverse ideologies, backgrounds, and lived experiences. While this statement captures the essence of the national policy established by a vote of all congregations across Canada in 2012, there are a variety of opinions on the matter from coast to coast. We continue to learn and grow as a community, becoming a more welcoming, accepting, and educated faith tradition together.
Scriptural reference: 165:3d: “Be not consumed with concern about variety in human types and characteristics as you see them. Be passionately concerned about forming inclusive communities of love, oneness, and equality that reveal divine nature.”
