New Community of Christ President Offers Sermon
For Immediate Release
Phone: 816-521-3041
June 4, 2005
Community of Christ President Stephen M. Veazey, ordained to this office on
June 3, offered his sermon to the 2005 World Conference on Saturday, June 4,
during a full-house 7:00 p.m. worship service at the Community of Christ
Auditorium in Independence, Missouri.
Titled “Share the Peace of Jesus Christ,” the congregation broke into
applause as Veazey explained that the focus of the denomination as it moves
forward following this international gathering will not be about any special
program, goals, or themes, but about “just being faithful. Being faithful to
God, being faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and being faithful to the
central mission of the Restoration.”
He told the Conference, “Our identity and mission must always arise from the
revelation of God in Jesus Christ or we will find ourselves off on tangents that
eventually lead to a rigid legalism that snuffs out life, rather than a dynamic
faith that brings us to abundant life.” Veazey encouraged congregants to
consider the distinctive element of the Community of Christ faith to “seek to
bring forth and establish the cause of Zion,” which he described as “the ongoing
call to enflesh the peace of Jesus Christ in all dimensions of life.”
Veazey challenged the worldwide denomination not to allow polarization to
prevail in its relationships. “We are much more alike than we are different; our
destinies are intertwined on this planet,” he implored. He also humbly offered
apologies on behalf of the church and himself to “all those who have been
offended or injured,” including “those who have experienced any type of attitude
or behavior that diminished their sense of worth as a child, a beloved child of
God.”
Veazey said, “We are called to bear witness, through word and deed, of the
cause of Zion, the peaceable kingdom, the vision of hope for this desperate
world.” Attendees answered Veazey’s closing charge, “I am ready to respond to
the call. Are you?” with a standing ovation and thunderous applause.
Conference attendees were also excited by the announcement that offerings
collected throughout the event had already surpassed the $70,000 Conference
goal. All offerings above that total, will benefit the church’s International
Travel Fund. Other foci of the service included the setting apart of Kristin
Phillips Judd as a President of Seventy by Apostle James E. Slauter and
President of Seventy John S. Wight. Slauter was then set apart as President of
the Council of Twelve Apostles by Kenneth N. Robinson of the First Presidency
and Apostle Leonard M. Young.
In celebration for the 10th birthday of the Children’s Peace Pavilion, a
hands-on non-sectarian children’s museum housed in the Auditorium, every family
was invited to take home an origami peace crane. These favors were created by
the 80 children, ages 6 to 11, who participated in a daily Peace Camp sponsored
by the Pavilion throughout the World Conference. Attendees were also given the
book Go with Peace for use in their communities. It contains 80 hands-on
activities that teach peacemaking skills, and educational and inspirational
statements which connect peacemaking, Christ, and the mission of the church in
empowering ways.
This worship service was broadcast live via local cable, Dish Network, and
the World Wide Web at www.CofChrist.org. The World Conference is being
held June 2-5 at Community of Christ World Headquarters in Independence,
Missouri. Visit www.CofChrist.org/wc2005/ for more information from the
event.
