“G-4 Baptism and Membership” from the Canada East and Headwater Mission Centers

Whereas, Community of Christ’s Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, 2018 states that “Christ’s Mission is our Mission” and calls the church to “Invite People to Christ”; and

Whereas, Growth in discipleship is a lifelong journey in response to God’s grace, which has led “…some people already committed to Jesus Christ through Christian baptism to further focus their response through church membership” (Doctrine and Covenants 164:2b); and

Whereas, Many of these committed Christians embrace their previous baptism as the first step on their journey as a disciple of Christ; and

Whereas, While policy changes from 2011 affirm some previous baptisms, the majority of the world’s Christians, having been baptized before the age of eight, continue to be excluded from Community of Christ membership without rebaptism, (Baptism, Confirmation, and Church Membership Policy, effective 1 October, 2011 and revised 14 February, 2012); and

Whereas, As expressed by the Theology Formation Team in its report to the 2016 World Conference on WCR 1301, Doctrine and Covenants 164 expanded the church’s understanding of baptism by reminding us that “the redemptive action of God in Christ—while uniquely and authoritatively expressed through the church—is not confined solely to the church” (164:2a); and

Whereas, We invite all to participate in the Lord’s Supper “in the love and peace of Jesus Christ” regardless of “different or added understandings within their faith traditions” (Invitation to Communion, 2019); and

Whereas, Our current practice of welcoming all Christians to the Lord’s Table (Communion) while denying the validity of baptisms prior to the age of eight is theologically incongruent and diminishes our affirmation of the Spirit of God present in other Christian faith traditions; and

Whereas, Our Enduring Principle of Continuing Revelation calls us to “assess past instruction in the light of new knowledge” and to “see sacraments not as rigid forms but as vehicles of the Spirit” (Theology Formation Team report to the 2016 World Conference on WCR 1301); therefore, be it

Resolved, That the World Conference request the president of the church to give additional prayer and study seeking divine guidance on the issue of the acceptability of persons who were baptized before the age of eight becoming members of Community of Christ via confirmation.

Community of Christ is blessed to have Enduring Principles that are essential components of our identity, mission, and message. They define who we are at our core, and some are especially foundational when we consider our baptismal practice and reflect on the question of accepting baptisms received before the age of eight years. We find the principles of Grace and Generosity, Worth of All Persons, All Are Called, Unity in Diversity, Pursuit of Peace, and Blessings of Community to be especially meaningful when we think about how our current practice can and does affect others. We hear the stories and testimonies of members for whom pain was caused by requiring them to be rebaptized. Additionally, non-members who are active in the Church have expressed hurt because rebaptism either denies the validity of their earlier baptism or is not possible for personal reasons.

In our journey together as a Mission Center, Headwaters has reflected on whether we are truly living out the principles we say we uphold. As a result, in 2012 we took an official step forward by submitting a resolution (WCR 1301) to the World Conference of 2013, which requested the First Presidency to continue exploration of the issue of rebaptism, specifically concerning those baptized by other Christian denominations before the age of eight, and also requested that the First Presidency provide periodic updates on ongoing discernment and issue a formal report no later than the next World Conference (2016). The resolution passed, and the Presidency asked the Theology Formation Team (TFT) to consider the theological issues related to the resolution. The Team’s role was to advise the Presidency on important theological issues facing the Church.

The TFT’s special report (H-7a) to the Conference of 2016 presented summaries of two approaches to baptism. The two views are 1) accepting only baptisms received at the age of eight or older and 2) accepting all baptisms, including those received before the age of eight. For each position, the Team listed arguments under the headings “Scripture,” “Experience,” “Tradition,” “Reason,” and “Continuing Revelation.” These are five sources of our Church’s theology and practice, as well as lenses through which the Church seeks to discern God’s will. (The sixth is Common Consent.)

In its main report (found in H-7), the TFT recognized the way Doctrine and Covenants 162 and 164 have broadened the Church’s theology of sacraments and also affirmed the value of our traditional practice of baptizing at age eight or older. The Team’s overall consensus, however, was that our practice of not accepting baptisms received before the age of eight is, in their words, “inadequate.” Their concerns mirrored our concerns: “It does not agree with our best current understandings of the nature of the Church; the nature of God; the nature of the human person; the development of sacraments; … pursuing the mission of Jesus Christ and living out our Enduring Principles.”

Another concern shared by both the TFT and our Mission Center is viewing our current practice in the light of our relationship with other Christian churches. The 1992 World Conference endorsed the church’s participation in local and national interfaith and interdenominational bodies, and the 2002 World Conference supported joining the National Council of Churches. It also created a standing World Church committee on ecumenical and interfaith relations (WCR 1275). We hold formal membership in the National Council of Churches (US) and are a committed ecumenical partner worldwide. This membership attests to our Church’s commitment to valuing and respecting the faith and shared witness of our ecumenical partners, and it does not lessen the value of our faith and traditions. The call in Doctrine and Covenants 161:1b to claim our “unique and sacred place within the circle of those who call upon the name of Jesus Christ” affirms that our place is not in any way endangered by accepting the variety of baptismal forms expressed in the universal body of Christ. Accepting baptisms received before the age of eight would neither change requiring children to wait until the age of eight to be baptized nor change requiring anyone not baptized to be baptized. The church would also only receive as a member through confirmation anyone the age of eight or older.

As requested in WCR 1301, the First Presidency provided updates about implementing this resolution through the Herald and issued a report to the 2016 Conference. Numerous discussions had been held with Church teams and councils, reports were received, and diverse perspectives were shared. The result was that World Church leaders disagreed on whether revising our current membership policy was needed. Therefore, no changes in the policy were made. The Presidency concluded the report by saying that they understood “the need to continue to study, discuss, and prayerfully reflect on the issues raised.”

Community of Christ’s history has always been one of journey and ongoing discernment as evidenced by our belief in continuing revelation. We are called to be a prophetic people in the midst of the continual evolving of our identity and mission, and this call was heard in 2004 in Doctrine and Covenants 162:6b: “The One who created all humankind grieves at the shameful divisions within the human family. A prophetic people must work tirelessly to tear down walls of separation and to build bridges of understanding.” More recently, in his “Metamorphosis” article in the January/February 2020 Herald, President Veazey stated that, “given the massive changes in culture and people’s perceptions of church, spirituality, faith, and their own participation in such endeavors, we are in a new time that includes unprecedented change.”

This resolution requests the President of the Church to give additional prayer and study seeking divine guidance on rebaptism and membership. There is precedence for this. Unpublished research by Dr. Leonard M. Young, based on a review of World Conference minutes, summarizes the eight times in church history that the Church or one of its bodies (Councils, Quorums, Orders, and the Conference) directly requested that the President of the Church give prayerful consideration to one or more matters that resulted in revelation on these matters shortly thereafter. Specifically, these times resulted in Doctrine and Covenants sections 116, 117, 119, 120, 122, 124, 128, 149, and 149A.

Our current practice and policy is based on Doctrine and Covenants 164:2c, which states, “Individuals previously baptized of water in an attitude of humility and repentance and as an expression of faith in Jesus Christ may become Church members through the sacrament of confirmation of the Holy Spirit.” This implies that the individual needs to be able to have repented and expressed faith in Christ at the time of their original baptism in order to be confirmed as a member of the Community of Christ without rebaptism. This excludes a person baptized as an infant or younger than the age of eight from membership without rebaptism as the First Presidency currently interprets it. Our resolution does not seek to change the Church’s established practice of baptism. Instead, it requests the President of the Church to seek divine guidance. The only way a change in the acceptance of baptisms received prior to the age of eight may be made in the context of Doctrine and Covenants 164:2c is through further revelation, and only the President of the Church can bring that guidance to the Church as a whole.

Whereas, Community of Christ’s “Sharing in Community of Christ,” 4th Edition, 2018 states
that “Christ’s Mission is our Mission” and calls the church to “Invite People to Christ”; and

Whereas, Our Enduring Principles of Grace and Generosity, Worth of All Persons, All Are
Called, Unity in Diversity, Pursuit of Peace, and Blessings of Community speak to the role
model of Jesus and his relationship with all of God’s people; and

Whereas, Growth in discipleship is a lifelong journey in response to God’s grace, which
has led “…some people already committed to Jesus Christ through Christian baptism to
further focus their response through church membership” (Doctrine and Covenants
164:2b); and

Whereas, Many of these committed Christians embrace their previous baptism as the first
step on their journey as a disciple of Christ; and

Whereas, While policy changes from 2011 affirm some previous baptisms, the majority of
the world’s Christians, having been baptized before the age of eight, are still excluded
from Community of Christ membership without rebaptism, (Baptism, Confirmation, and
Church Membership Policy, effective 1 October, 2011 and revised 14 February, 2012); and

Whereas, Community of Christ’s formal participation in the ecumenical movement, as
embodied, for example, in its membership in the National Council of Churches, attests an
institutional commitment to valuing the faith and shared witness of our ecumenical
partners; and

Whereas, Claiming our “unique and sacred place within the circle of those who call upon
the name of Jesus Christ” (Doctrine and Covenants 161:1b) is not in any way endangered
by accepting the variety of baptismal forms expressed in the universal Body of Christ; and

Whereas, As expressed by the Theology Formation Team in its report to the 2016 World
Conference on WCR 1301, Doctrine and Covenants 164 expanded the church’s
understanding of baptism by reminding us that “the redemptive action of God in Christ—
while uniquely and authoritatively expressed through the church—is not confined solely
to the church” (164:2a); and

Whereas, Our Enduring Principle of Continuing Revelation calls us to “assess past
instruction in the light of new knowledge” and to “see sacraments not as rigid forms but
as vehicles of the Spirit” (Theology Formation Team report to the 2016 World Conference
on WCR 1301); and

Whereas, We invite all to participate in the Lord’s Supper “in the love and peace of Jesus
Christ” regardless of “different or added understandings within their faith traditions”
(Invitation to Communion, 2019); and

Whereas, Our current practice of welcoming all Christians to the Lord’s Table
(Communion) while denying the validity of some baptisms is theologically incongruent
and diminishes our affirmation of the Spirit of God present in other Christian faith
traditions; and

Whereas, “The One who created all humankind grieves at the shameful divisions within
the human family. A prophetic people must work tirelessly to tear down walls of
separation and to build bridges of understanding” (Doctrine and Covenants 162:6b); and

Whereas, President Veazey states that “given the massive changes in culture and people’s
perceptions of church, spirituality, faith, and their own participation in such endeavors,
we are in a new time that includes unprecedented change” (“Metamorphosis,” Herald,
January/February 2020); therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the World Conference request the President of the Church to give
additional prayer and study seeking divine guidance on the issue of the acceptability of
persons who were baptized before the age of eight becoming members of Community of
Christ via confirmation.

“…[Don’t] be captive to time-bound formulas and procedures. Remember that instruction given in former years is applicable in principle and must be measured against the needs of a growing church, in accordance with the prayerful direction of the spiritual authorities and the consent of the people.”

“…As a prophetic people you are called, under the direction of the spiritual authorities and with the common consent of the people, to discern the divine will for your own time and in the places where you serve. … The spirit of the Restoration is not locked in one moment of time, but is instead the call to every generation to witness to essential truths in its own language and form. Let the Spirit breathe.”

“4A. Listen carefully to the many testimonies of those around the world who have been led into the fellowship of the Community of Christ. The richness of cultures, the poetry of language, and the breadth of human experience permit the gospel to be seen with new eyes and grasped with freshness of spirit. That gift has been given to you. Do not fail to understand its power.

4B. It is for divine purpose that you have been given the struggles as well as the joys of diversity. So must it always be in the peaceable kingdom.

5A. Do not be defined by the things that separate you but by the things that unite you in Jesus Christ.

5B. Over and over again you have been counseled to be reconciled, to seek the unity that is imperative to the building of the kingdom. Again the Spirit counsels the church to not allow the forces of division to divert you from your witness.

5C. Listen together to one another, without judgment or predisposition. Do not assume that the answers to matters of conflict have yet been perceived. There is much labor to be done. Reason together in love, and the Spirit of truth will prevail.”

“2A. Instruction given previously about baptism was proper to ensure the rise and cohesiveness of the church during its early development and in following years. However, as a growing number have come to understand, the redemptive action of God in Christ—while uniquely and authoritatively expressed through the church—is not confined solely to the church.

2B. God’s grace, revealed in Jesus Christ, freely moves throughout creation, often beyond human perception, to achieve divine purposes in people’s lives. In harmony with God’s will, the Holy Spirit leads some people already committed to Jesus Christ through Christian baptism to further focus their response through church membership.

2C. Individuals previously baptized of water in an attitude of humility and repentance and as an expression of faith in Jesus Christ may become church members through the sacrament of confirmation of the Holy Spirit.“

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