Theology Task Force Formed

The First Presidency is pleased to announce the formation of a World Church Theology Task Force. The task force is charged with giving focused attention to the significant theological issues facing the church. The initial goals will be:

1. Identify and define the key theological issues and questions facing the church.

2. Write and/or commission a series of short papers on key issues or questions. The papers will be presented to the First Presidency for World Church Leadership Council discussion and then to the church, probably via publication in the Herald.

3. Determine and recommend strategies and processes for enabling charitable, open, and safe exploration and discussion of theological issues throughout the church.

4. Examine the current Basic Beliefs statement and determine if changes are needed.

The Theology Task Force will be chaired by Peter Judd of the First Presidency who will be assisted in facilitating the work by Tony Chvala-Smith, theologian-in-residence, and Dale Luffman of the Council of Twelve who has a functional assignment related to theology.

The task force will consist of a core group of twelve persons who are available to meet in person with some frequency and who have theological training. In addition to those mentioned above, those appointed to the core group are Andrew Bolton (World Church Peace and Justice coordinator), Bunda Chibwe (Council of Twelve-Africa field), Don Compier (dean of the Community of Christ seminary), Stassi Cramm (Presiding Bishopric), Bruce Lindgren (World Church secretary), Shandra Newcom-Wolsey (volunteer coordinator, SHH Shelter, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.), Patti Page (World Church minister assigned to North Central Field, U.S.A.), Leah Sheppard (graduate student in divinity, Berkeley, California, U.S.A.), and Andy Shelton (graduate student in pastoral counseling and pastoral theology, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A.).

The core group will be assisted by an adjunct group consisting of thirty to fifty persons who represent a broad cross-section of members from around the world and who have the necessary background to engage in the work of the task force. The adjunct group will be used to respond and react to the work of the core group and to keep the work of the task force faithful to the needs of the church’s members.