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President Stephen M. Veazey shares this letter of counsel with the church detailing changes in the World Church Leadership Council.
As announced 26 May 2020, 18 paid, full-time-equivalent positions at International Headquarters, in the field, and the World Church Leadership Council will end by 31 December 2020 to achieve the new budget levels for 2021. Notifications to field and International Headquarters employees will be completed by 9 June 2020. Details about the changes in ministries and services caused by these reductions will be provided in the December 2020 Financial Update after the World Church Finance Board approves the 2021 Worldwide Mission Budget. This is a difficult time for the church and especially for its employees. Please be prayerful and compassionate as we mourn the departure of friends and colleagues.
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In the USA, headlines blast the most recent incident of racial violence and subsequent protests. As disciples of Jesus Christ, traveling together in Community of Christ, we are called to seek peace and justice, end needless suffering, and uphold the worth of all people. Let us join in the practice of lament and let our hearts be open to the leading of the Spirit. Lament is an expression of our grief, sorrow, and confession to God amid the brokenness, injustice, and suffering of the human family. Lament is a major theme of the psalms, and an invitation to “let our hearts be broken” as we humbly pray for awareness of right and restorative action.
President Veazey shares his conviction and experience of peace and assurance that God is moving us toward fuller embodiment of the gospel, even in the midst of difficult situations.
As governments begin to reopen economies and social life, the Presidency is providing this resource to assist congregations in preparing to resume in-person gatherings when appropriate. These guidelines are not telling congregations they must reopen beginning 1 June.
Community of Christ is a global community. This means the basic guidelines will be reviewed and modified, as needed, by local leaders and field apostles to address the specific criteria established by each government. In ALL cases, congregation leaders need to work with their mission center president and supervising apostle to develop plans to reopen congregations for in-person gatherings. In the May 2020 financial update the Presiding Bishopric shared details about the church’s current economic situation and other information from the 21 May meeting of the World Church Finance Board. The next financial board report will be in December 2020.
Learn more at https://www.cofchrist.org/financial-updates. This week we enjoyed another opportunity for connection and fellowship via Zoom. When we set out to offer a weekly online fellowship gathering, we were unsure how long social distancing measures would be in place. Now, some two months later, we took stock of current guidelines and brainstormed new ways of connecting while remaining safe and healthy. Some ideas included: - Focused discussions/presentations on pre-announced topics - Monthly online prayer meeting - Online games night - A socially-distanced outdoor activity Can't wait to dig into this a bit deeper and make some decisions for future gatherings! If you have any ideas, please email Parker at [email protected].  The First Presidency has continued to monitor the progression of COVID-19 and the recommendations from professional health organizations and local governments. While health organizations continue to express caution, local governments are beginning to relax stay-at-home orders and make provisions for businesses and churches to reopen with modified in-person gatherings. The Presidency has been prayerful in how to guide the church in this next phase.
After consulting the World Church Leadership Council, which provides a global perspective, they are offering these recommendations. The recommendations are also available in French and in Spanish. As we continue to explore the guiding question, “Are we moving toward Jesus, the peaceful One?” a yearlong series of interlinked Herald magazine articles, videos, and live online discussions begins this month.  The guiding question first was asked by President Stephen Veazey in his closing sermon at the 2019 World Conference. The series is an entry point to ongoing conversation about nonviolence by reclaiming and deepening our understanding of first-century Jesus and how that impacts us as followers of the peaceful One today. The multimedia connection points are intended to create opportunities for discussion and education in response to World Conference Resolution 1319.
Join us Read The Herald series begins in the May/June issue with “Toward the Peaceful One: Jesus Christ in Restoration Perspective.” It is also online at www.CofChrist.org/guiding-question. The series continues through May/June 2021 with topics drawn from Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a-b exploring what nonviolence looks like from the perspective of the poor, displaced, mistreated, diseased, and more. Watch Matt Frizzell, Human Resource Ministries director at International Headquarters and a Community of Christ minister, will share a reflection on each Herald article in videos. View them on IGTV on Instagram or Facebook. The videos also will be shared on CofChrist.org. Discuss Online groups will be offered via Zoom on the first Mondays of June, August, October, December, February 2021, April, and June. The first online discussion group will be held on Monday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. (CDT). This is a free event hosted on Zoom. Apostle Janné Grover will lead a discussion with Matt Frizzell, author of the first article in the series. Opportunties for questions to the author and small-group discussion will be provided. This event is free but registration is required for the online discussion. “Whether someone starts with a belief in Jesus or concern for the world’s pressing problems, the hope we can find in divine possibilities is something we search and yearn for,” Frizzell said. ------------------ These articles, the video series, and Zoom gatherings are made possible by Worldwide Mission Tithes. Your contributions are welcome online or by mail to the Presiding Bishopric, 1001 W. Walnut St., Independence, Missouri, USA. Are you attending our weekly online fellowship gatherings? We meet on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. MDT. These are one-hour in length and include the following elements:
Full details can be found here.  Each week CWM staff distribute a weekly digest email containing everything you need to know. From event details, to COVID-19 updates, to general updates, this email is a quick way to stay up-to-date on all things CWM.
Check It out here, and if you aren't already subscribed please do so here. To the Calgary Congregation:
While many of us are financially impacted during the pandemic, I want to remind you that the financial needs of the church continue and that your support is important. For those who are set up for electronic giving, thank you, and for those who prefer to give by means of cheque or cash, you can continue to give by mailing (preferably cheques, as cash through the mail is not advised) via our Calgary Congregation mailing address, which is: Community of Christ Calgary Congregation ATTN: Sam Smalldon, CFO PO Box 71113 Silver Springs Calgary, AB T3B 5K2 If you are interested in contributing online, please visit www.communityofchrist.ca/give to view all of your giving options. Financial support for the church at all levels is important now, maybe more than ever. Also, I have been asked by a couple of people already if we are required to continue to pay rent on our Lions Village space and the answer is no. We are only charged when we are actually able to use it. We all look forward to seeing each other again in person. Blessings, Doug Hayden Pastor Calgary Community of Christ |
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