Community of Christ - Proclaiming Jesus Christ

Powered by Google required graphic

SITE 
 SEARCH 

SITE MAP

CONTRIBUTE ONLINE
Printer
Friendly
Printer Friendly Version
 


Community of Christ World Conference Officially Opens

For Immediate Release
Phone: 816-521-3041
June 2, 2005

Nearly 6,000 people from more than 50 nations of the world filled the Community of Christ Auditorium Conference Chamber for the opening worship and legislative meeting of the church’s 2005 World Conference on Thursday, June 2 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. Of this number, 2,800 are serving as delegates who will represent their geographic areas of the church and vote on legislative items.

In celebration of the many peoples represented among the worldwide Community of Christ denomination, flags of the countries where the church is officially established were unfurled and displayed from the balcony. Indigenous and aboriginal peoples of the world were honored through the use of the earth flag. An eagle feather staff represented the native peoples of this continent, placed on the wall by Native American church members to signify the hosting of this Conference on their native soil.

Independence Mayor Rondell F. Stewart welcomed delegates and visitors to the community. United States Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II also brought a welcoming statement. Cleaver was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Graceland University by Norman Swails, vice-chair of the Graceland board, and board member Kenneth B. McClain.

Conference attendees celebrated in worship and reflected on the church’s actions over the last decade, celebrating their pursuit of the mission to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace.

As Conference business, delegates approved the presiding officers of the Conference and standing rules of the Conference. All activities were simultaneously translated into American Sign Language, French, Tahitian, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. The event was broadcast live via local cable and the World Wide Web at www.CofChrist.org.

print this page