Canadian National Conference -
A Journey of Trust

by Susan Skoor, Herald, September 2011

Soon after I became the apostle for Canada, I began receiving requests for a Canadian National Conference:
“We have wanted to confer across Canada for a long time about peace and justice issues, like slavery, the Darfur situation, and the war in the Middle East. This is an opportunity to do that.”

“Canadian law allows same-sex couples to marry, but the priesthood of our church cannot officiate at such a ceremony. Can we consider that issue at a national conference?”

“As Canadians we need to advocate with one voice for nuclear disarmament. We need a Canadian National Conference to discuss it. And what about adding some environmental issues?”

Months earlier, inspired counsel delivered to the church by Prophet-President Stephen M. Veazey prompted interest in national conferences. World Conference delegates affirmed the document as revelation in April 2010, and it became Doctrine and Covenants 164. The following verses are part of that document:

7 a. A worldwide prophetic church must develop cultural awareness and sensitivity to distinguish between issues that should be addressed by the World Conference and those that are best resolved nationally or in other ways.
b. Fundamental principles of ethical behavior and relationships should be addressed by the World Conference.
The Conference should not decide specific policies for all nations when those decisions likely will cause serious harm in some of them.
c. However, timely resolution of pressing issues in various nations is necessary for the restoring work of the gospel to move forward with all of its potential. Therefore, let the proper World Church officers act in their callings—as already provided in church law—to create and interpret church policies to meet the needs of the church in different nations in harmony with the principles contained in this counsel.
d. Where possible and appropriate, convene national or field conferences to provide opportunities for broader dialogue, understanding, and consent. In those gatherings, let the spirit of love, justice, and truth prevail.

This revelation provides direction to the church in broad strokes. The task of implementing such direction rests with church leaders. Moving toward a Canadian National Conference involved close dialogue among the First Presidency, the Council of Twelve Apostles, and the staffs of the two Canadian mission centers. Which issues are appropriate for dialogue and consideration? Which are not?

Doctrine and Covenants 164 directs national conferences to deal with issues that can create harm in the global church if discussed at World Conference. National conferences also deal with issues uniquely appropriate to one nation or culture, rather than issues that cross national boundaries. Those
two criteria eliminate many topics first proposed for a Canadian National Conference.

Nuclear disarmament, environmental concerns, and human trafficking are topics of great concern, but they are
not unique to Canada, nor are they so controversial they will create harm if people discuss them in the World Conference. Thus the decision was to focus on issues of moral behavior and relationships, as expressed in Doctrine and Covenants 164. Because Canada is a nation where same-sex couples can marry legally, the Canadian National Conference will center on two key issues:

• What is the level of support among the Canada church membership for Community of Christ priesthood members to perform same-sex marriages in Canada?
• What is the level of support for ordaining people who are in same-sex marriages and who receive a call by God to serve in the priesthood according to our standard procedures?

Both questions are controversial in Canada. The level of support is not known, and a great diversity of opinion exists. To aid discussion, key evangelists and high priests received training as facilitators of dialogue in the early spring of 2011. Each has been assigned to lead the discussion in a cluster of congregations.

In the coming year, congregations, clusters, and small groups will have an opportunity to hear one another with love and compassion as differences of opinion emerge. At each session, the level of support will be tested and included in a report to the First Presidency and the Council of Twelve Apostles. The result will be entirely open-ended.

The leadership quorums affirm that the responsibility of setting policy rests with the First Presidency in consultation with the Council of Twelve, whose members are responsible for applying it in their fields. In light of that truth, the Canadian National Conference will not make a final decision, but will join in a decision-making process that involves members and World Church leaders.

It will be an opportunity to hear diverse views and survey the membership in attendance to discover the level of support on the topics. Those results will be summarized with surveys from the dialogue sessions as part of the report for the First Presidency and Council of Twelve. These World Church leadership quorums will affirm, change, or create policies for Canada based on the recommendations and the level of support.

The Canadian National Conference is scheduled June 16, 2012. It will occur in multiple places, linked by the Internet through conferencing technology. At this writing, mission center officers are creating a team of consultants to wrestle with the technology and logistics of handling a virtual conference across the vast Canadian geography. Conference sites and details will be published when the team completes its
work. All Canadian church members will be invited, so all voices can be heard.

This is an important opportunity for Canadian church members to practice listening to one another and to be sensitive to the leadings of God’s Holy Spirit. This is an opportunity to consider important issues about moral behavior, relationships, and the nature of the sacraments of marriage and ordination.

From the Canadian National Conference will come more than recommendations concerning those in same-sex marriages. We also will gain a greater appreciation for one another, a hands-on opportunity to experience unity in diversity, and the chance to build foundations for living out the reign of God in new ways as the future unfolds.

It will be a journey of trust, with the result undetermined. May God’s Spirit of understanding bless the journey
and empower the voices on all sides to be heard with clarity and compassion.