2010 World Conference Actions

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


Request for Periodically Updated Information
Approved April 15, 2010

1294. Whereas, The church has been involved on one level or another in discussions about matters related to homosexuality for nearly fifty years; and

Whereas, Various methods (Temple School classes, Listening Circles) have been tried to facilitate the continuing conversations; and

Whereas, The civil and other human rights of homosexual persons are being advanced at an accelerating rate in many of the world’s nations; and

Whereas, We have been recently advised that the First Presidency, in consultation with other World Church leaders and the Standing High Council, are discussing what the most helpful processes may be for engaging the church in evaluating present church policies related to human sexuality; therefore be it

Resolved, That the First Presidency be requested to provide the Church an annual update on the progress and results of their consultations, using the Herald and other appropriate World Church communications.

Human Trafficking
Approved April 15, 2010

1295. Whereas, Human trafficking, a form of modern slavery taking place in all countries with at least 13 million victims at any time trapped in degrading, dangerous enslavement, is an international industry producing such large profits that it is conservatively the third largest illegal enterprise in the world, beginning to eclipse drug trafficking as a source of income for organized crime; and

Whereas, Human trafficking is destructive to individuals, families, and communities and is fundamentally incompatible with the life given to us by our loving Creator; and

Whereas, Our Eternal Creator weeps for and with those so enslaved and desires for us to act individually and as a church with a worldwide presence through individual and corporate efforts to confront and abolish slavery and end human trafficking; therefore, be it

Resolved, That members of Community of Christ, in organized groups or as a part of their individual stewardship, investigate what resources exist in their area to help them fight slavery and assist victims, and participate in those activities as appropriate given local considerations. Such activities might include participation in

• Rescue and Restore Coalitions (in the United States);

• groups such as Stop the Traffik, Polaris Project, Not for Sale, and the International Organization for Migration;

• gathering supplies for basic needs like food preparation, toiletries, and basic housekeeping to offer to freed victims through rescue groups;

• sponsoring community training on victim recognition;

• organizing and hosting movies, book clubs, or journal reading to sensitize and educate church members and community members; and be it further

Resolved, That the Human Rights Team identify and recommend resources to assist local congregations and mission centers to advocate for victims, assist with efforts to rescue and restore victims, and prosecute traffickers, and to participate in other appropriate ways to dismantle and abolish this modern day slavery.

Resolved, that the Presiding Bishopric and Human Rights Team work together to determine the way in which Community of Christ will financially support efforts against human trafficking.
 

Amendment to Bylaws
Passed April 16, 2010

1296. Because of the desire from time to time for fields, nations or cultural areas to hold conferences to consider matters of interest to the on-going growth and development of the church in their area, the First Presidency offers the following amendments to the Bylaws of the Community of Christ for the consideration of the delegates to the 2010 World Conference.

Whereas, The current Bylaws of the Community of Christ do not specifically mention the possibility of conferences being held in fields, nations or cultural areas around the world; and

Whereas, There is a growing need to provide venues for fields, nations, or cultural areas to meet together in conference assembled from time to time; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the following amendments to the Bylaws of the Community of Christ be adopted:

1. Amend Article III, Section 6 by adding the words, “field conferences, national conferences, cultural area conferences,” between the words “World Conferences” and “mission center conferences” in the first and second lines of that section.

2. Amend Article IV by adding a new section 5 to read as follows: “Section 5. Field, National or Cultural Area Conferences. From time to time field, national or cultural area conferences may be convened on the authority of the field apostle(s) concerned, with the approval of the First Presidency. These conferences are by their nature special conferences and so the call for a field, national or cultural area conferences will specify the purpose of the conference and only business mentioned in the call of the conference may be transacted. Field, national or cultural area conferences can be called with at least twelve (12) weeks notice to the congregations concerned.”

3. Amend Article VII by adding a new Section 3 as follows: “Section 3. Field conferences or in some cases national or cultural area conferences may be called on the authority of the apostle(s) concerned and under rules approved by the Council of Twelve, with the approval of the First Presidency. Such conferences will be special conferences. Only such business described in the notice of the conference can be considered.”

Dates for the 2013 World Conference
Approved April 17, 2010

1297. Whereas, The Bylaws of Community of Christ specify that Conferences meet “as agreed upon by those who constitute their membership” (Article IV, Section I); and

Whereas, Easter is on March 31, 2013; and

Whereas, coordinating a date that avoids Easter and is close to April 6 may constrict the flexibility of scheduling Conference at a time that works best for the church in the future, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the dates for the next World Conference be April 13–20, 2013; and be it further

Resolved, That WCR 1263 be rescinded.

Abundance
Approved April 17, 2010

1298. Whereas, God’s generous gifts to humankind include spiritual, mental, emotional, and material aspects, and as disciples of Christ we are called to magnify and develop all such good gifts; and

Whereas, The current stewardship program of the church, “A Disciple’s Generous Response,” provides good guidance for using God’s generous gifts wisely, but lacks guidance on how to create, magnify, and accumulate material abundance; and

Whereas, The mission and ministry of the church depend on the creation, collection, and effective deployment of such material abundance for the sake of others; therefore, be it

Resolved, That an appropriate resource development team be identified to explore the feasibility of developing culturally sensitive and language specific teaching materials and practical guidelines to encourage and enable members to develop healthy and righteous attitudes and practices toward creating, magnifying, and accumulating material abundance; and be it further

Resolved, That this Conference requests the Presiding Bishopric to explore sources of funding both inside and outside the budget to fund such a project; and be it further

Resolved, That the resource team and the Presiding Bishopric report their findings at the next World Conference.
 

REFERRED LEGISLATION

Abolition of Nuclear Weapons
Referred to the World Church Peace and Justice Team to discuss these important issues and provide a resolution to the 2013 World Conference for consideration.

World Trade Day
Referred to the World Church Peace and Justice Team to act if it sees fit or fail to act as it seems wisest.

Structural Support for Holistic Ministries
Referred to the Presiding Bishopric for consideration and action as appropriate in consultation with appropriate jurisdictional leaders.

 

OTHER ACTIONS

Letter of Counsel about the Presiding Quorums

On April 12, 2010, the Conference approved each call indicated in the Letter of Counsel on individual votes and by voting on the letter as a whole. In summary, the letter called for the release of Leonard M. Young and Mary Jacks Dynes from the Council of Twelve Apostles, and the ordination of Leonard M. Young to the office of evangelist; Richard C.N. James to the office of apostle and a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles; and K. Scott Murphy to the office of apostle and a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

The letter can be found on pages 6–7 of the March Herald, and at www.CofChrist.org/wc2010/counsel/quorums.asp.


Graceland University Board of Trustees

The Conference elected W. Gary Howard, Lori A. Kaleikau, and Sharon D. Graybill to serve on the Graceland University Board of Trustees.


World Church Finance Board

The Conference elected the following individuals to serve six year terms expiring June 30, 2016: Jorge Omar Cerrato, Richard L. Argotsinger, Noel E. Sherer, Charles L. Woodstock, Dena R. DeVormer, Rachel J. Bradford, Debra A. Sullivan, Kirt D. De Haan, Rairii B. Tama, Evan Jenkins, Michael G. Giardina, Dean T. Wight, Michael J. Hewitt, Jimmie L. Andersen, and Chad D. Ormsbee.

The Conference elected the following individuals to serve three year terms expiring June 30, 2013: Darwyn Copa Caceres, Diana J. Hansen, Stephen E. Dunagan, Jeremy J. Sellars, and Randall A. Carlson.


Section 164

The Conference accepted the document titled “Counsel to the Church” dated April 11, 2010, as inspired counsel and direction to the church, and authorized its inclusion in the Doctrine and Covenants on April 14, 2010.

The text of the Counsel to the Church can be found on pages 6–8 of the February Herald, and the approved Section 164 can be found at www.CofChrist.org/D&C164.


Presidents of Seventy

The following individuals were sustained as presidents of seventy and members of the Council of Presidents of Seventy: Luis Dias, Robin K. Linkhart, Amson Mallick, Urbain M.L. Mbenga, Larry M. McGuire, Keith E. McMillan, and Karin F. Peter.

John S. Wight was set apart as the senior president of seventy.


Standing High Council

The Conference approved David M. Byrn, Valerie K. Brennan, Matthew J. Frizzell, and Marilee A. Martens being set apart as members of the Standing High Council.