Rebaptism is a topic in many countries, such as Columbia.

Conditions of Membership: Discernment Groups Find Process Challenging, Refreshing

People throughout the worldwide church are engaging in prayerful discernment about the church’s practice of rebaptism as a condition for church membership. The importance of this process is much greater than how we will resolve the issue.

Building our skills and experiences as a prophetic and discerning people is essential to helping us now and in the future. Find resources for individuals, families, and groups of all ages at www.CofChrist.org/CofM/.

The First Presidency wants to hear your thoughts on conditions of membership. Please send responses by November 30, 2009, to PresidencyResponse@CofChrist.org or mail to International Headquarters, c/o World Church Secretary Andrew Shields. Responses will be considered by the Presidency, which will provide guidance before the 2010 World Conference.

Groups and individuals have participated in these discernment experiences in reunions, priesthood meetings, living rooms, mission-center gatherings, and private spaces. Following are a variety of reflections from people who have taken part in one or more of the processes suggested by the church.

Mary

She reflected on a personal meaning:

“Our Monday-evening sharing group concerning conditions of memberships is enjoyable. After many decades since my baptism, it has caused me to pursue in greater depth the symbols and history of the sacrament of baptism.”

Hap

“As I submitted to the direction of the exercise, I became more aware of the important act of not simply listening to the speaker, but to ‘renouncing’ my own willful desire to inject or speak on the issue of discussion. The issue in this case of church membership is not the only thing to be considered.

“This self-renunciation, facilitated by the rule of the exercise, honoring the purpose of the ‘talking piece,’ was in fact an act of love. This submission to the principle is intentionally designed to ‘give place’ to another. Making a place for another’s expression is not simply to hear that person; it is also designed for the listener to hear one’s self.

“Internally, within the spirit of the soul, is a voice seeking to be heard. It is the voice of God’s Spirit ready and willing to nurture in God’s own silent patience for us to quiet ourselves so that we might ‘hear God.’ In quieting ourselves the powers of discernment become available to us.”

John

He honored the participation of the Holy Spirit in discernment:

“The material provided by the church to guide this process has been a significant help. While we have given significant expression to the understanding of our task to discern afresh God’s will for this matter today, we have also acknowledged together the human tendency to resort to previously established understandings.

“However, we have been blessed with the diverse insights and rich testimony shared by all: patience, empathetic listening, and, perhaps especially the input of the member of the group who is not baptized in Community of Christ.

“We are midstream of the process. This means of engaging the question before the church is both challenging and refreshing. We have been blessed with awareness of the Holy Spirit attending and participating in our gathering. The process will be an excellent and important preparation for coming together with the international gathering to address the question.”

Talitha
This facilitator of several small-group experiences said:

“I feel extremely blessed to hear people’s thoughts, life stories, and experiences. Whether these are stories of joy or pain, of blessing or struggle, they are real and heartfelt and I find it a privilege to hear them and to be enlightened by their life journeys.”

Other comments shared by participants include:

“The conversation enlightened my understanding.”

“I was amazed at the different things being said. The experience has broadened appreciation for diverse points of view.”

If you haven’t participated in individual or small-group study, prayer, and reflection, or a small-group dialogue, you are encouraged to start a group or sign up to join one in your area.