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.
