2007 World Conference Actions

Conference delegates have taken the following action, which will be published as indicated.

World Conference Interval
Approved March 25, 2007

1288. Whereas, The Bylaws of the Community of Christ specify that conferences meet “as agreed upon by those who constitute their membership.” (Article IV, Section 1); and

Whereas, The issue of the frequency of the World Conference has been discussed from time to time by church leaders, the Conference Organization and Procedures Committee, and the World Conference (WCR 1253); and

Whereas, The church has a history of adjusting the intervals between World Conferences and the formats of these conferences as the church has grown and the needs for ministry have changed; and

Whereas, It is desirable that the church “meet together often” while still recognizing that the primary focus of church resources should be on ministries in the field; and

Whereas, The costs of attending World Conference are increasing both in terms of actual funds expended and in terms of the opportunities that are lost when leaders around the world are required to devote large amounts of time to conference planning and when members travel long distances to attend these events on a too frequent basis; and

Whereas, The World Church Leadership Council has given lengthy consideration to alternative ways to schedule World Conference and also accommodate the need for other educational and fellowship events, including those in fields, mission centers, and national settings; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That beginning with the upcoming inter-Conference period, World Conferences be scheduled to meet every three years; and be it further

Resolved, That the dates for the next World Conference be April 10-17, 2010, avoiding Easter, which is Sunday, April 4, 2010; and be it further

Resolved, That WCR 1277 be rescinded.

World Church Finance Board and Budget Development Process
Approved March 28, 2007

1289. Whereas, The World Conference has approved a change in the conference interval from two to three years; and

Whereas, The terms of the World Church Finance Board need to be adjusted to fit this new conference interval; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That WCR 1255 which established the composition and terms of the World Church Finance Board be rescinded; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the following World Church Budget Development Policy be adopted:

World Church Budget Development Policy

1. There shall be a World Church Finance Board established by the World Conference which shall have responsibility for annually approving the World Church budgets and for making recommendations to the World Conference concerning special appropriations. The board shall present projections to each World Conference for annual budgets for the next inter-Conference period. These projections shall be based on the best estimates of potential church income and expenses, but shall not bind the World Church Finance Board in the development and approval of annual World Church budgets should circumstance change and income levels vary. The World Conference shall discuss these projections, and the input gained shall be taken into consideration by the World Church Finance Board in the formulation and final approval of these annual budgets.

2. The World Church Finance Board shall serve as the board of directors for the Stewardship Foundation.

3. The World Conference may establish parameters to be followed by the World Church Finance Board in the development and approval of the annual World Church budgets.

4. The World Church Finance Board shall be presided over by the First Presidency and shall be composed of sixty (60) persons as follows:

First Presidency (3)
Council of Twelve (12)
Presiding Bishopric (3)
Bishops elected by the Order of Bishops (9)
President, High Priest Quorum (1)
Senior President of Seventy (1)
Presiding Evangelist (1)
Thirty (30) members elected by the World Conference to represent the church at large, with each being elected for a six-year term with terms staggered so that fifteen (15) are elected at each World Conference.

5. The First Presidency is authorized to appoint board members where vacancies occur in the period between World Conferences.

6. Elected members of the World Church Finance Board shall be church members in good standing and may not serve more than twelve (12) years on the board.

7. Funds to cover the travel expenses of members of the World Church Finance Board shall be provided from the World Church budget.

8. Nominations for the members of the World Church Finance Board to be elected by the World Conference shall be made by a nominating committee composed of five (5) of the fifteen (15) members of the World Church Finance Board who were elected at the most recent World Conference. The members of the nominating committee will be elected by a caucus of all the elected members of the World Church Finance Board. In addition to the nominees proposed by the nominating committee, at each World Conference there shall be provision for other nominations to be made from the floor sufficiently in advance of the election to allow for biographical sketches of the nominees to be printed in the World Conference Bulletin prior to the election. In the nomination process, attention shall be given to balanced representation including such factors as vocation, geographic residence, age, gender, church leadership experience, and church jurisdiction.

9. A Budget Planning Committee appointed by the First Presidency shall provide for the necessary preliminary preparation of the budget. This committee will be composed of World Church personnel responsible for church programming, finance and field ministries.

10. An annual report on the budget shall be published in the Herald and a report shall be made to each World Conference.

PROVISO: In order to move from the current election rotation based on a two-year conference interval to a three-year conference interval, the following will occur:

• The action of the 2005 World Conference to extend the term of service for those terms expiring in 2010 for one additional year be rescinded, so that these terms remain six (6) years.
• The terms of World Church Finance Board members expiring in 2009 be extended until 2010, so that those elected in 2002 serve a total of eight (8) years.
• The World Conference of 2010 will elect fifteen (15) members with six (6) year terms, and five (5) members with three (3) year terms.
• Those elected in 2002 may have up to fourteen (14) years of service.

Initiation and Consideration of Legislation
Approved March 28, 2007

1290. Whereas, The World Conference is the highest legislative body in the Community of Christ (Bylaws of the Community of Christ, Article IV, Section 2); and

Whereas, The Community of Christ is an international church that recognizes the worth of all persons; and

Whereas, It is essential to the principle of common consent that all delegates to the World Conference be able to understand legislation that is to be considered by the conference; and

Whereas, World Conference materials are currently published in English, French, and Spanish as well as translated and printed in many other languages; and

Whereas, There must be sufficient lead time for the available human resources to translate materials for World Conference in order for them to be adequately considered by delegates who do not speak English; and

Whereas, The World Conference has for many years been making strides in attempting to transform itself into a truly international body that honors the participation of all delegates in the legislated processes of the conference; and

Whereas, The time required for translating the materials for World Conference taxes the human resources available to accomplish this task under the current requirement that proposed legislation from the field be submitted sixty (60) days in advance of World Conference; and

Whereas, The initiation of World Conference legislation by the councils, quorums, orders, mass meetings, and caucuses during conference makes it nearly impossible for proper translation of materials to take place in a timely fashion; and

Whereas, WCR 1214 and 1218 which govern the initiation and consideration of legislation for World Conference use language no longer consistent with the field organization of the church; and

Whereas, WCR 1214 refers only to the Delegate Caucus without mentioning the language caucuses as well as the Children and Youth Caucus (WCR 1254) which have been authorized to initiate legislation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That proposed legislation shall come before the World Conference only upon the approval of a mission center conference or from quorums, councils, the Presiding Bishopric, or orders of the World Church or committees of the World Conference; and be it further

RESOLVED, That in order for legislation to come before the World Conference, such legislation must be submitted to the First Presidency no later than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the opening day of each World Conference.

RESOLVED, That during World Conferences, provision shall be made for meetings of quorums, councils, the Presiding Bishopric, and orders of the World Church and of caucuses authorized by the First Presidency for fellowship, spiritual growth, educational pursuits and to consider presubmitted legislation and other matters to be brought before the World Conference; and be it further

RESOLVED, That with the approval of the First Presidency legislation from councils, quorums, the Presiding Bishopric, and orders of the World Church and of authorized caucuses may be submitted during the World Conference if such legislation is of an urgent nature or is required because of actions taken during the current World Conference; and be it further

RESOLVED, That World Conference Resolutions 1214, 1218, and 1254 be rescinded.

Extension of Native American (First Peoples) Ministry
Approved March 29, 2007

1291. Whereas, For many years the Community of Christ has been involved in native (first peoples) ministry in the USA and Canada; and

Whereas, The current implementation of ministries with native (first peoples) is centered only in the USA/Canada; and

Whereas, Geographically the term “America” includes the entire hemisphere, not only the United States/Canada; and

Whereas, There are hundreds of first peoples in Mexico, Central America and South America who are American first peoples who have been baptized as well as not-yet-baptized participants of the Community of Christ; and

Whereas, In parts of the world, certain ethnic terms are used in a very negative way and are considered to be an insult, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Community of Christ expand its ministries to the native/first peoples of America to include all those people of America of indigenous origin; and be it further

Resolved, That members of the Community of Christ be counseled to use care in their use of specific ethnic terms when referring, either formally or informally, to people of various cultural, national, or racial backgrounds.
 

Assistance in Obtaining Visas
Approved March 30, 2007

1292. Whereas, The obtaining of visas for non-US citizens from many nations to attend World Conference has grown increasingly difficult in recent years; and

Whereas, Currently World Church staff members spend a considerable amount of time and the church spends considerable sums of money in the months prior to each World Conference in preparing documents and making appropriate contacts in order to assist applicants to obtain visas; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the World Conference express its support for continued efforts to find all legally possible ways to assist persons to obtain visas in order for them to attend future World Conferences, leadership training events and other World Church and mission center activities.
 

Conditions for Membership
Approved March 31, 2007

1293. Whereas, The First Presidency is the authority that interprets the scripture and law of the church, including the requirements for church membership; and

Whereas, The Community of Christ invites all disciples to the communion table regardless of their baptismal circumstances; and

Whereas, There is incongruence in our theology as it embraces those Christians not yet baptized in the Community of Christ and yet does not view their baptism as acceptable for church membership; and

Whereas, Our requirement that individuals must be rebaptised is problematic and growth-inhibiting in many parts of our worldwide church; and

Whereas, For some individuals who desire to be considered members, this requirement for rebaptism diminishes the power, value, and beauty of their previous baptism and commitment to Christ; and

Whereas, The church has received instruction saying, “Be respectful of tradition and sensitive to one another, but do not be unduly bound by interpretations and procedures that no longer fit the needs of a worldwide church. In such matters direction will come from those called to lead.” [D&C 162:2d]; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the World Conference request the First Presidency to examine the issue of rebaptism in the context of the worldwide mission of the Community of Christ; and be it further

Resolved, That following prayer, reflection, and discernment of God’s will, for the Community of Christ, the First Presidency issue instructions relevant for today regarding requirements for church membership.