Community, Common Consent, and the Issue of Homosexuality

October 2002

Dear Friend,

The World Church Leadership Council met in a retreat setting September 15-19 to seek God's direction as we discussed important issues facing the church. The Holy Spirit united us as we spent time reflecting on our personal call to discipleship and how we can support you and your congregation in achieving the sharing goal--Share your witness and resources. The Council of Twelve Apostles brought personal testimonies of congregations that are growing as they live out their witness and "Each one, reach one." The Presiding Bishopric provided new insights into how we can each "honor God's call to tithe," recognizing the strong relationship between witnessing and generosity, which both flow from our response to God's love and grace. The sharing goal challenges us to lives of hope by grasping opportunities to witness and giving generously in the midst of economic and political uncertainty.

During our retreat we also discussed other key issues, such as mission center process, budget projections that initially show a decrease in tithes and offerings, and improvement of interquorum functions and working relationships. As the Council reviewed a dialogue process to advance understanding on the issues surrounding homosexuality, we recognized the need to develop a statement to provide further guidance to the church on this sensitive and important matter and clarify our intent to follow the provisions of the 1982 policy. “Community, Common Consent, and the Issue of Homosexuality” accompanies this letter and will be printed in the November Herald and be available on the church’s Web site on October 2. Please feel free to share it with your congregation.

As church leaders we commit our lives to serving God and you. As we unite in the Good Spirit may we embody the life and ministry of Jesus as we live our witness and invite others to join us in the building of the peaceable kingdom–Zion.

Warm personal regards,
W. Grant McMurray, President
Community of Christ

The World Church Leadership Council met in a retreat setting September 15–19, 2002. During that time extensive attention was given to implementation of the sharing goal, interquorum functions and relationships, review of budget projections, and a variety of other significant issues. The Council also participated in a discussion of the church’s processing of the homosexuality dialogue since the 2002 World Conference. From those reflections the Council developed the following statement as further guidance to the church on this sensitive and important matter.

The church has been called to a loving and respectful dialogue on the difficult and often divisive issue of homosexuality. We have traveled to scores of camps and reunions this summer and are aware that many people are troubled by the questions and conflicted over how to handle them. We are saddened by the pain and confusion that some are feeling. As church leaders we are determined to both grapple prophetically with issues before us and yet process them in a way that honors our community and the principles of common consent that govern us. Such challenges have confronted the church in every generation.

If the church is to be faithful to the demands of the gospel it will often be called beyond the boundaries of certainty to explore its implications in a complex world. We are deeply committed to seeking God’s direction and embodying the life and ministry of Jesus in our own personal ministry and in the lived-out witness of the church. Even while doing so, God’s people are also called to live together in love and to embrace the rich diversity of our global family. A creative and challenging tension will always exist between the desire for unity within the body and the need to press the limits of our understanding. We embrace both those principles in exploring the issue of homosexuality within our community.

In terms of policy we are aware that some are concerned that a few exceptions have been made to the 1982 Standing High Council statement guidelines that have governed us in the matter of homosexuality and ordination. That discomfort is shared by all of us in leadership, even in our awareness of the exceptions and the human and pastoral issues surrounding them.

As indicated by President W. Grant McMurray in his 2002 World Conference sermon we are asked to seek issues on which we can agree and shape dialogue in areas where we do not agree. As we continue this exploration we want the church to know that we will follow the provisions of the 1982 guidelines regarding calling and ordination. This will not affect those ordinations that have been previously provided for, even if they were exceptions to the guidelines. We will not make further exceptions to the guidelines on calling and ordination unless they are adjusted through the common consent of the people.

In terms of further processing and dialogue, we understand very well that various areas of the church need to approach the matter differently. In some nations it is not possible to even discuss it because of cultural and legal issues. In other places, regardless of how individuals may feel, the question is very much a part of the culture in which the church is ministering and we have no choice but to talk together about it. Each field apostle, in consultation with local leaders, will be responsible for determining whether that field will participate in the dialogue and what methods will be used. The World Church staff specializing in conflict resolution is designing a dialogue process that can be adapted to each area as appropriate. This process honors all viewpoints and provides abundant time and opportunity for each perspective to be heard and understood.

In our deliberations within the World Church Leadership Council we focused primarily on how we can effectively implement the two components of the sharing goal: "Each one, reach one" and "Honor God’s call to tithe." This is fundamental to the fulfillment of our church’s mission. There will always be issues upon which substantial disagreement will exist among faithful members of our community. Our task as a community of God’s people is to invite all to share in the fellowship, respect one another in our diversity, listen and learn from each other in love, and look beyond the things that may divide us to embrace our essential unity in Jesus Christ. The church has been counseled that "the path will not always be easy, the choices will not always be clear," but we have also been promised that "the cause is sure and the Spirit will bear witness to the truth, and those who live the truth will know the hope and the joy of discipleship in the community of Christ" (Doctrine and Covenants 161:7).

As church leaders we live willingly in the tension between certainty and the demands of faith. We proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and pledge anew to work tirelessly to build the communities of joy, hope, love, and peace that are at the heart of our mission. To do so requires openness and transparency, unconditional love and respect for one another, and a willingness to rely on the leadings and assurance of the Holy Spirit in all things. We commit our personal ministry and our collective leadership to that end.

World Church Leadership Council
September 2002