| |
2002-2006
DISCIPLESHIP GOALS
Share
your witness
and resources.
- Each one, reach one.
- Honor God's call to tithe.
Allow the
Spirit
to fill you.
- Commit yourself to a
covenant discipleship group.
- Prepare for and experience
vibrant worship.
Extend
the hand of
Reconciliation.
- Learn and use conflict resolution skills.
- Work in cooperative endeavors
with other faiths.
"The road to transformation travels both inward and outward. The road to transformation is the path of the disciple."
--Doctrine and Covenants 161:3d
Learn
and
Teach
the sacred
story.
- Help revitalize church school and become
scripturally literate.
- Engage in learning programs to enhance
ministerial effectiveness.
Embody
Justice
and proclaim
Peace.
- Find ways to help the poor.
- Support neighborhood transformation
and justice projects.
- Seek peaceful solutions.
Create diverse
Communities.
- Strengthen family relationships.
- Establish congregational partnerships.
- Help expand WorldService Corps.
|
 |
 |
Share
your witness
and resources.
Each one, reach one. |
|
|
The Great Commission to proclaim the gospel and make disciples in all the world finds its model in the ministry of Jesus, who approached two brothers and said, "Come, follow me." In these few words the model for witnessing and invitation began. Prayerfully consider your neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family who yearn for a life of meaning and purpose, and find a caring community that will support them in their life journey.
Evangelism is the practice of genuine hospitality, friendliness, and inclusiveness lived out in your congregation as you encourage people to respond to the invitation to become disciples of Jesus Christ. The challenge, "Each one, reach one," calls you to tell your story of finding "living water" through Jesus Christ. If we each respond to the Great Commission to make disciples of all people, our testimonies will multiply, our congregations will grow, and many lives will be transformed by Christ's Spirit.
|
|
|
"Open your hearts and feel the yearnings of your brothers and sisters who are lonely, despised, fearful, neglected, unloved. Reach out in understanding, clasp their hands, and invite all to share in the blessings of community created in the name of the One who suffered on behalf of all."
--Doctrine and Covenants 161:3a
|
|
|
Share
your witness
and resources.
Honor God's call to tithe. |
 |
|
"Stewardship is the response of my people to the ministry of my Son..."
--Doctrine and Covenants 147:5a
|
|
|
Over many years church leaders and members have been exploring God's scriptural encouragement to view stewardship of temporalities in light of God's grace and love demonstrated in the life of Jesus Christ. In 1980, Section 154 of the Doctrine and Covenants revealed: "The Presiding Bishop and his counselors are encouraged to continue to seek ways of effecting a greater understanding of the meaning of the stewardship of temporalities as a response to my grace and love so that the understanding of the principle may stir the hearts of the people as never before. Redefinition of terms within the basic law of temporalities, for clarification and to meet the needs of a growing church, is in harmony with my will."
In Doctrine and Covenants Sections 147, 154, and 161, we find these common themes related to our understanding of the stewardship of temporalities:
- As response to God's grace and love
- Evaluation and further interpretation of principles
- To meet the needs of a growing church
- To provide more fully and joyfully for the great work
Tithing is deeply rooted in our scriptures and affirms God's generous gifts of grace and love. The spirit of generosity is not about formulas but about thankfulness. Therefore a disciple's generous response asks, "How much tithing can I hope to give?" rather than, "How much should I give?"
The needs of our growing church and the call to discipleship now call for a clarification and redefinition of our concept of tithing. The Presiding Bishopric's guidance to the church will be to include contributions to local congregational ministries, World Church ministries, church-affiliated organizations, and other charitable nonprofit organizations as our tithing response.
Implementation of "Tithing: A Disciple's Generous Response" will occur in January 2003. The Presiding Bishopric will be providing more specific information, including guidance regarding tithing, savings, and responsible spending, to the membership through pastors, leaders, and World Church ministers.
|
|
|
"...be generous and willing to share."
--I Timothy 6:18 NIV
|
|
 |
Allow the
Spirit
to fill you.
Commit yourself to a covenant
discipleship group.
|
|
|
It is not easy being a disciple of Jesus Christ. It takes hard work, discipline, and an intentional effort to link with Christ's Spirit. Your spiritual journey will be enriched as you commit yourself to a covenant discipleship group, where mutual support and faithful discipleship are shared.
A covenant discipleship group consists of six to eight people who meet regularly to support one another in deepening their discipleship through a covenant (sacred agreement) made with God and each other. They join with the Holy Spirit and support each other's journey to discover their spiritual identity as God's beloved and their unique missions as disciples of Jesus Christ. A covenant discipleship group may function as your support community, in which you are formed into wholeness and holiness through spiritual practices, scripture reflection, and worship, and then equipped and sent in mission to bring peace, justice, compassion, and healing to a troubled world.
Take time to prayerfully prepare to commit to a covenant discipleship group. Study what it means to be in covenant, to be a disciple, to be spiritually transformed.
|
|
|
"Claim your unique and sacred place within the circle of those who call upon the name of Jesus Christ."
--Doctrine and Covenants 161:1b
|
|
|
Allow the
Spirit
to fill you.
Prepare for and experience
vibrant worship.
|
 |
|
People of old heard the voice of God speaking to them in worship because they prepared for and expected to hear God's message in the Word, in song, and in the touch of a person. With all the distractions of life, do you forget to prepare for congregational worship through such inner spiritual disciplines as prayer, study, and meditation? Or do you come to worship with a sense of joy and anticipation, thanking God for the times during the past week when you recognized the Spirit's presence in your life?
You will experience vibrant worship as you prepare for and approach worship with an open mind and a fresh spirit. As you fully engage yourself in thoughtful, prayerful, and carefully planned worship, you will be blessed by the Holy Spirit. As you probe the scriptures, you will experience the hope and freedom of the gospel, especially as it is expressed in the life of Jesus Christ. This worship experience will then equip you to go forth to help build the peaceable kingdom, Zion.
|
|
|
"O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods."
--Psalm 95:1-2 Inspired Version
|
|
 |
Extend the hand of
Reconciliation.
Learn and use
conflict resolution skills.
|
|
|
Through Jesus Christ, disciples are called to be "agents of reconciliation" and asked to resolve those conflicts that separate people from each other. The scriptures tell us to go to the others involved and work out disagreements in the spirit of humble reconciliation, with the help of a mediator when necessary.
It takes mediation skills to resolve conflicts and reestablish relationships with those who have hurt us and to whom we have brought discomfort and pain. The church offers a variety of training and ministries to help enable you to live out your call to be a disciple of reconciliation. There is a great need to expand the number of conflict resolution/mediation specialists. If you feel called to minister in this way, certified volunteer training is available to help develop your skills.
|
|
|
"So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."
--II Corinthians 5:17-19 NRSV
|
|
|
Extend the hand of
Reconciliation.
Work in cooperative endeavors
with other faiths.
|
 |
|
You may have an opportunity to work in cooperative interfaith endeavors that will benefit the community in which you live. Joining efforts can double the results and strengthen your ties with those of other faiths.
Our church's mission and witness are unique, yet we share many Christian principles and beliefs with other faith communities. In recognition that others are also called of God, prayerfully seek ways to work together with them, which will further your personal calling and the church's mission, to which we are all called. In doing this, you will serve the greater good and benefit from the insights and contributions that other organizations can provide.
|
|
|
"You who are my disciples must be found continuing in the forefront of those organizations and movements which are recognizing the worth of persons and are committed to bringing the ministry of my Son to bear on their lives."
--Doctrine and Covenants 151:9
|
|
 |
Learn
and
Teach
the sacred story.
Help revitalize church school and
become scripturally
literate.
|
|
|
Our three books of scripture have the power to transform your personal faith journey through theological reflection that can enable, energize, sustain, and provide vision. As you join others in worship each week and commit yourself to a covenant discipleship group, you seek the articulation of, motivation for, and inspiration to celebrate and participate in the kingdom of God.
To support your personal discipleship and your congregation's church school study, the church is committed to developing and recommending faith-building and scripture study resources based on sound theological principles and scriptural interpretation. These studies will help you grow closer in your relationship with God and others, as well as prepare you to witness of the Christ, bringing joy and hope into human relationships and community life.
|
|
|
"Be respectful of tradition. Do not fail to listen attentively to the telling of the sacred story, for the story of scripture and of faith empowers and illuminates."
--Doctrine and Covenants 161:5
|
|
 |
Learn
and
Teach
the sacred story.
Engage in learning programs to enhance ministerial effectiveness.
|
|
|
Today's complex world makes serious preparation for ministry essential for all who respond to God's call. God has endowed you with unique and sacred talents and gifts. Ongoing study and learning will magnify those gifts so you can better serve others.
The Community of Christ seminary, administered through Graceland University, will begin offering classes in the fall of 2002. This opportunity and other learning programs, such as Temple School, will enhance your knowledge of the scriptures and develop your ministry, skills, and competency.
|
|
|
"...seek learning even by study, and also by faith."
--Doctrine and Covenants 85:36a
|
|
|
Embody
Justice
and proclaim
Peace.
Find ways to help the poor.
|
 |
|
The best way to help others improve their lives is by helping them find ways to solve their own problems. Outreach International has successfully used this methodology with Participatory Human Development (PHD) programs. This strategy can be used in your community to help the poor or underprivileged lead more abundant lives.
|
|
|
"And the Lord called his people, Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there were no poor among them."
--Genesis 7:23 Inspired Version
|
|
 |
Embody
Justice
and proclaim
Peace.
Support neighborhood
transformation and justice projects.
|
|
|
As you live your life in a Christ-centered worshiping, covenanting, and fellowshiping community, you see the world through spiritual eyes--aware of the inequality and injustice experienced by others who may live in your neighborhood. Informed by the prophetic tradition found within our three books of scripture, it is natural for you to seek ways to express the worth of all persons and the sacredness of all creation as you partner with others in neighborhood transformation and justice projects.
Discover ways you and your congregation can have a "Temple vision" that pursues peace, challenges injustice, and facilitates reconciliation and healing of the spirit of all.
|
|
|
"Become a people of the Temple--those who see violence but proclaim peace, who feel conflict yet extend the hand of reconciliation, who encounter broken spirits and find pathways for healing. Fulfill the purposes of the Temple by making its ministries manifest in your hearts."
--Doctrine and Covenants 161:2a, b
|
|
 |
Embody
Justice
and proclaim
Peace.
Seek peaceful solutions.
|
|
|
With your brothers and sisters in Christ from many different races, nations, and cultures, seek together the good of all. Embraced by Christ's love, follow him, take up the cross, and work to end economic injustice, racism, and violent conflict. The gifts of peace, justice, reconciliation, and healing of the spirit are for people living in all nations. These gifts are human rights given by God, who loves all people. Peaceful solutions include finding ways to live simply so the earth's environment might be passed on and entrusted to our children and grandchildren.
|
|
|
"And blessed are all the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God."
--Matthew 5:11 Inspired Version
|
|
|
Create diverse
Communities.
Strengthen family relationships.
|
 |
|
As Christ's disciple, you are called to strengthen family ties through mutual respect and the building of healthy relationships. Support is available through church and other good resources to empower your family to tackle any difficulties with courage, love, and skill. Families in all their diverse forms are the foundation for strong communities.
Family ministry includes helping parents bring up children with faith in God, healthy values, and a strong sense of self-worth so that when they have families of their own they can form long-lasting, happy relationships and develop disciples for Jesus Christ.
|
|
|
"Do not neglect the smallest among you, for even the least of these are treasures in God's sight. Receive the giftedness and energy of children and youth, listening to understand their questions and their wisdom. Respond to their need to be loved and nurtured as they grow. Be mindful of the changing of life's seasons, of the passage from the springtime of childhood and youth to the winter years of life. Embrace the blessing of your many differences. Be tender and caring. Be reminded once again that the gifts of all are necessary in order that divine purposes may be accomplished."
--Doctrine and Covenants 161:4a, b
|
|
 |
Create diverse
Communities.
Establish congregational
partnerships.
|
|
|
If you have ever attended a congregation different from your own--rural or urban, in Seattle or Sydney, Hispanic or African American--that experience may have brought you new understanding and respect for differences, built new relationships, and brought multiple blessings. The church encourages your congregation to be one of the 1,000 congregations that will establish cross-cultural partnerships to enrich discipleship. Through these partnerships, you will catch a glimpse into another congregation's "world" and learn how the gospel is lived out and shared there.
Partnerships will be for a specific period of time and for a variety of missional purposes. Interactions may vary--through correspondence, the Internet, video exchange, sharing ministries, and more. These partnerships are not for the "haves" to give and the "have-nots" to receive, but for the mutual blessing of both.
|
|
|
"Heed the urgent call to become a global family united in the name of the Christ, committed in love to one another, seeking the kingdom for which you yearn and to which you have always been summoned. That kingdom shall be a peaceable one and it shall be known as Zion."
--Doctrine and Covenants 161:6b
|
|
|
Create diverse
Communities.
Help expand
WorldService Corps.
|
 |
|
You can help the church identify volunteers age twenty and older who seek to grow and learn in new, cross-cultural settings and support WorldService Corps's ministry without boundaries. These volunteers experience profound personal growth while serving for specified times in cultural settings unlike their own. As WorldService Corps opportunities expand to include, for example, retirees, you may sense a call to serve in this life-changing way. Visit their Web site at www.CofChrist.org/worldservice for more information.
|
|
|
"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."
--Matthew 5:14-16 NRSV
|
|
