Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President John 13:34-35 NRSV 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ We have just gone through Easter. Three days in the tomb and he rose up from the dead. He took away my sin. God sent his son to us through Mary who with Joseph, raised the baby Jesus to manhood. Jesus began preaching and teaching about God’s love for us. He gathered disciples to help spread his father’s love to all.
Our small church has plain glass windows. For the Easter season, the church had cellophane-stained windows, a gift from a talented member made over 20 years ago. Through her talent, she shared her love as a disciple. There are small things that people do almost automatically that are small offerings of LOVE. During this Easter season, my niece Joy has been in hospital. There have been so many expressions of love shared to Joy, her wife Haley and the family that may seem small but are so truly large. In this techno world, texts have come from all over. Cellphones have been placed by her head to hear words of love and encouragement from family in Australia, New Zealand and England. Food and mineral water has been provided to the family waiting for their chance to be in the ICU holding her hand. A ride to the hospital, a couch to rest on, a shoulder to lean on. Someone to check on and look after the family cats. All acts of LOVE. Today, I took down our cellophane-stained windows and the one of Jesus Christ on the cross was the last one. I was overwhelmed by the act of LOVE done for me. I need to be a true disciple, I need to share LOVE for one another. Written by Becky Middleton Canada West Mission Centre Co-President The Presiding Bishopric held a Q&A session on Monday, March 25, 2024 reporting on the completion of the Bridge of Hope Retirement Commitment.
The presiding bishops were very clear that the retirement responsibility was completed in February 2024, before the sale of the historic properties and that none of the proceeds from the sale were a part of the retirement commitments. The property sale goes to endowment fund for on going mission of the church. They were also clear that ongoing contributions to Bridge of Hope would be allocated to the endowment fund as well. It was noted that ongoing tithing contributions will continue to be extremely important for the life of the church as at its peak the endowment fund is predicted to supply about 35% of the church's budget. This is significant but certainly not all that is needed. There was much appreciation expressed for the generous contributors of the church as well as the need for encouraging ongoing contributions especially in a younger demographic to sustain and grow the important work of Community of Christ in the world. We are very thankful for our bishops and the complicated, important work they do! In my thought process our "Responsibility for the retirement fund" is cared for. NOW begins the "Hope" portion of the Bridge of Hope. Hope for the continuing mission of Community of Christ going into the future! Historians Corner Vol. 2 | No. 2c This issue of Historians Corner is coming to you a week later than I had planned. Leading up to last Wednesday my attention just seemed to get consumed by continuing discussions of the announcement on March 5 by church leadership of the sale of significant historic assets. I simply did not get back to drafting this column at that time. Quick review: this is Part 3 of what will now be at least a 4-part series of columns about how the leaders of Community of Christ were designated and approved in the Prophet-President role. We are going in reverse order from the present and into the past. In part 1 we dealt with the appointments and approval processes for Stassi Cramm, Stephen Veazey, Grant McMurray and Wallace B. Smith. In part 2 we dealt with W. Wallace Smith and Israel A. Smith. That was a rather “extended” column. I hope readers clicked on the button labelled: “Click Here to Read Full Article” to get the full story for both presidents. Both previous columns (along with all other previous Historians Corner columns) can be found in the archive here: Historians Corner. Frederick M. Smith (Prophet-President 1915 to 1946). Of all the Prophet-Presidents of RLDS/Community of Christ, the designation of Frederick Madison Smith to succeed his father in that office was the clearest – and were understood for a long time! Richard Howard, Church Historian Emeritus, has written: “Frederick M. Smith, born...in 1872, from earliest memories could recall the Saints’ expectation that one day he would be RLDS Church president.”[1] He must have understood what this meant for him as he watched his father, Joseph Smith III, perform his leadership tasks and responsibilities. It did not take long for these traditional and social pressures to begin to be made real. He was called into the First Presidency by his father through the recounting of an experience of a revelatory dream for the annual General Conference of the church in 1902.[2] Then four years later, a subsequent revelation through Joseph Smith III included this very clear declaration: …in case of the removal of my servant now presiding over the church (Joseph Smith III) by death or transgression, my servant Frederick M. Smith, if he remain faithful and steadfast, should be chosen…[3] Further, lest there be ANY doubt, in a document titled “A Letter of Instruction,” written by Joseph Smith III and published in the “The Saints’ Herald” on March 13, 1912, among other very important things stated about presidential succession, it is proclaimed: I, Joseph Smith, the present incumbent of the office of president of the Reorganized Church, definitely designate my eldest living son, Frederick Madison Smith, as the proper person to be chosen by the church as my successor in office, believing as I do that the Spirit of revelation and wisdom has manifested to me that such choice should be made as directed by the Spirit of the great Masterbuilder.[4] There was no question as to the designation of Fred M. as the successor to Joseph III. There was also no question about Fred M.’s desire to serve. And yet – there was still drama in the transition (what else would you expect!). Joseph III grew increasingly ill during 2014. At the same time Fred M. applied for and was accepted into a prestigious Ph.D. program at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He, along with his wife and two small daughters, moved there in the late summer. He was undertaking a two-year program consolidated into one year and he had a very serious program supervisor. Fred M. received word in November that his father was failing quite quickly. His program supervisor allowed him to return to Missouri, but only for a short time. A matter of days after his father’s passing on December 10, he was back at his studies. The annual General Conference at which Fred M. was to be approved as Prophet-President was scheduled for April 2015. As the conference approached both he and his wife became ill from the stress of the work they were undertaking. The conference began with the hope that Fred M. could get there sometime during the week. He ultimately could not. His call was approved by the Conference late in the week. His ordination was delayed for a month. On May 5, in a Stone Church, filled to capacity, Frederick Madison Smith was ordained as Prophet-President of the church. Next time – in two weeks (maybe three?!) we will learn about Joseph Smith III’s acceptance as Prophet-President. And I just have this feeling it will require another column to deal with how Joseph Smith, Jr., became the first Prophet-President of the church. Please feel free to contact me with any comments or questions. [1] Richard P. Howard, The Church Through the Years, Volume 2, Herald Publishing House, Independence, Missouri: p. 221
[2] See Book of Doctrine and Covenants (RLDS/Community of Christ version), section 126:7,8. [3] Ibid, section 127:8b. [4] Joseph Smith III, “A Letter of Instruction,” The Saints’ Herald, March 12, 1912. See this link, accessed on March 20, 2024: Letter of Instruction, 2012 Saints Herald, pages 241 to 248 Written by Shannon McAdam Canada West Mission Centre Co-President A Change in Seasons
I know it may not feel like it everywhere in Western Canada yet, but this past weekend I decided spring is definitely here! I was out for a walk without a jacket and enjoyed the feeling of sun on my face. Looking out at my patio I see bulbs coming up and leaves coming out on my little willow tree. And at work a client reminded me that our Iranian or Persian friends celebrate Nowruz this week – their new year festival that falls on the spring equinox. This year Easter feels like it is arriving at just the right time as “Now the green blade rises” seems to be happening right outside my window! This Lent I have spent time journeying with some church companions and exploring Psalms of lament. What has struck me most is the way the Psalmist writes of both sorrow and joy, right next to each other, in all of these beautiful poems. It has been beautiful to see how similar our human struggles of today are with those of the ancient writer. They write of the difficulty of finding connection and community and long for God’s presence. And while I’ve enjoyed this journey into the depths with these Psalms, they’ve made me very excited for Holy Week and Easter. The breadth of experience from sorrow to joy are all encapsuled in this week that is so central to the Christian story. And just as the bulbs in the cold ground that have been asleep are waking up, so too do we awaken to Christ’s living presence. As the words of hymn 482 share: When our hearts are wint’ry, grieving, or in pain, your touch can call us back to life again, fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been; Love is come again like wheat arising green. May your wintry heart find its awakening in the coming week as you gather in community. Even if you cannot see the green blades yet, I assure you, they will arise again. Darwood Morley Shepherdson July 1, 1953 – March 2, 2024 Peacefully and surrounded by family, Darwood passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at the age of 70. He faced multiple health challenges, particularly in the last months. He was born July 1, 1953 in New Liskeard, Ontario, the oldest son of Morley and Frances Shepherdson. He grew up in Dymond Township, attended Dymond Public School, New Liskeard Secondary School, and graduated from the New Liskeard College of Agricultural Technology. He then entered into a partnership with his dad, Morley, at Sunny Ridge Farms for 19 years, where they raised Charolais and Simmental cattle. When he left the farm, he went back to school at Georgian College. After graduating with a business degree, he worked at Honda in Alliston for 19 years. He retired in 2014, but not for long, as he then worked for Community of Christ as Bishop of Canada until his death. Dar always cared about, and contributed to, the communities he was part of. He served on the Dymond Township council, was president of the Ontario Charolais Association, and served on the Board of Directors for the Georgian Bay General Hospital and Grace-Carman Senior Citizen’s Home. In his role as Bishop of Canada, Dar served as a director for Zerin Development Corporation, Sionito Community Development Corporation, and Encounter World Religions. Darwood is survived by his beloved wife of 30 years, Shari, his children Aaron, Kateri and Joe, his step-children Stacey, Kelly, Cory and Michael, 13 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. He is also survived by his mother Frances, brothers Lew (Carol) and Ed (Donna), sister Keri (Cindy), and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his father Morley (2011) and his oldest son Marc (2017). Dar loved “living the dream” with his family, children, and grandchildren at his home on Georgian Bay, and playing golf with his many long-time friends. If desired, a donation in his name to Encounter World Religions or Community of Christ would be appreciated. Cards of sympathy may be sent to Shari Shepherdson, 112 Mitchell's Beach Road, Victoria Harbour, ON L0K 2A0. Family will gather for a private ceremony. A public memorial service to honour Dar will be held in-person at Scarborough Community of Christ on April 13 at 4:30 pm ET. The service will also be broadcasted. Click the button below to register and receive the link. World Accord invites nominations from qualified candidates to serve as a Board Director for an initial three-year term.
We welcome applications from people across Canada and are committed to a governance board that models diversity, equity and inclusion. Written by Becky Middleton Canada West Mission Centre Co-President On March 5, 2024 the First Presidency announced the sale of the Kirtland Temple and The Joseph Smith Historic Site in Nauvoo as well as some other historic items. The sale was to the LDS Church for 192.5 million USD. More details can be found at cofchrist.org/faithfully-funding-our-future
The church's announcement regarding the sale of the historic sites in Nauvoo and the Kirtland temple came to the body of the church pretty much simultaneously. This to me is transparency. Anyone in business knows discretion is key until an agreement has been reached. Ongoing decrease of funds especially tithing is what precipitated the sale. The aftermath of the announcement revealed sadness and yes, even anger on the part of some, but excitement and hope for the future on the part of others. These sacred historic sites are and will continue to be accessible to each of us as individuals on an ongoing basis and as a corporate body for many years to come. We still have the historic connection. We don't have the expenses of upkeep to these sites. We do have the asset value which will help to insure the continuation of mission endeavors for the future. Sounds like a win, win to me! Written by Kat Goheen Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Friends, we are saying goodbye to our beloved Dar this week. When we met with Dar as a leadership team here in BC in January, he was full of stories about his beloved grandchildren and his beloved pups (well, Shari’s beloved pups!). With so much in his life he could be proud of, it was the fact that his grandkids wanted to spend time with him and weren’t shy about expressing love in public that lit up his face with joy. He got it right! It's easy to say that he held the whole church in Canada but hard to understand. Four years ago when I became co-pastor in Vancouver, I ‘held’ more concern and care than before – perhaps you’ve had this experience too. Then three years ago joining the Mission Centre President Team: more concern and care – a continuous call to attention and response. Dar not only served as financial officer for both Mission Centres and as bishop of Canada, he also carried the Canadian Corp and was financial officer for at least five congregations. What a scope of care and concern and ministry! He encouraged us at our last meeting to increase our vision too so that we are not limited by local concerns but turn our gaze to supporting the mission of Christ wherever it may be arising – the big picture of service. We are all touched by his passing. He was of invaluable service and support to us in the CWM, and as Gwyn just said, it’s hard to imagine him not in the picture with us. He kept the following words in his wallet to share in moments of grief. It is only fitting that we remember him through these words in our moment of loss. Grief never ends ... but it changes It's a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith. It is the price of love ... May you be held in love through your own process of remembering and letting go.
Welcome to the inaugural edition of Creating Connection Corner, where we aim to keep you connected with upcoming events and much more each month. Discover effortless ways to amplify your voice within your congregation or community. We will furnish links to national and international interfaith events, climate and social justice activities, and walks that you and your community can effortlessly join. Consider initiating a Creating Connection group within your congregation or community, and we'll share inspiring success stories along with step-by-step guidance on commencing with the unwavering support of Creating Connection. Furthermore, delve into valuable tips and tutorials on harnessing the power of social media platforms integral to Creating Connection. Keep an eye out for Creating Connection Corner features in the Weekly Wire, and don't forget to explore our dedicated Creating Connection Corner page on the CWM website. There, you'll find our blog with an archive of all our Creating Connection Corner posts. In this edition, we are excited to guide you through the process of setting up a Meetup account, allowing you to stay informed about our diverse range of events. Our five Meetup pages cover online and in-person activities in Vancouver, Calgary, Chilliwack, and Edmonton, in addition to our Nurturing Spirit Meetup page. Join us on this journey of connection and community-building! How to Create an account on Meetup:
Why do we want to see your name and photo on meetup.com? It helps our hosts to know who is attending, if we know them, and is also very helpful for security purposes. So please add your name and photo to your account if possible.
Historians Corner Vol. 2 | No. 2b Here is Part 2 of what is going to end up being at least a 4-part series. There is just too much good stuff to share! Please click on the button below to read the full article. Enjoy! W. Wallace Smith (Prophet-President, 1958 to 1978): W. Wallace Smith was the Pastor of Portland, Oregon’s, First Street Church when he was ordained as an Apostle at the 1947 General Conference.[1] His call came through his older brother, President Israel A. Smith. In April of 1950 he was ordained into the First Presidency as a Counselor to his brother.[2] There is a significant and interesting backstory to his call into church leadership. Time and space constraints do not permit sharing that here. Israel A. experienced some significant health challenges in 1947 and 1948. He was to undergo surgery that could prove to be risky. He was aware of the confusion caused when his brother, and his predecessor as Prophet-President, Frederick M. Smith, died suddenly in 1946 without clearly and intentionally identifying his successor. Before he underwent his surgery, he drafted a letter identifying W. Wallace as his successor in the event of his death. The letter was witnessed and authenticated by the President of the Council of Twelve and the Church Secretary and was left in the hands of the Secretary to be brought forward in the event it was needed. It was not needed at that time.[3] In 1952, Israel A. set off on a tour to the mission fields of Europe and Great Britain. Again, he was concerned about the possibility of an untimely death during his travels (note: he was 76 years of age), and he revised his letter. This time he had it authenticated by one of his Counselors and the Presiding Bishop and left it with his Counselor (President F. Henry Edwards) to bring forward if it was needed. He travelled safely on this tour and returned home without incident.[4] However, on Saturday, June 14, 1958, the direction provided in the letter was finally, and sadly, required. On that date he was driving from Independence to a ministerial commitment in Lamoni, Iowa. Just south of the Town of Pattonsburg, Missouri, on Highway 69, he was involved in a head-on collision. Although he survived the crash, he was fatally injured and died in hospital shortly after.[5] From that point on, all the intended processes to identify and approve the next Prophet-President of the church kicked into gear. There was a meeting of the Council of Twelve Apostles on Monday morning – presumably to go over all that would happen in the next few months. The funeral for Israel A. Smith was held on Tuesday. On Wednesday a meeting of the “formal council of church officers” was held including the remaining members of the First Presidency, nine members of the Council of Twelve, the Presiding Bishopric, the presiding evangelist, the senior president of seventy, and the President of the Quorum of High Priests. The letter drafted by Israel A. in 1952 designating W. Wallace to succeed him was read. They agreed to present the letter and W. Wallace Smith’s nomination to the General Conference scheduled for October of that year. F. Henry Edwards and W. Wallace Smith were sustained as the Presidency to preside over the church until that conference. Finally, a formal letter to officially inform the church of the death of Israel A. and the processes to follow was drafted, signed by Edwards and Smith, and sent to all Pastors of the church.[6] On Monday, October 6, 1958, the General Conference was convened. Following the ceremonial opening processes and the initial call-to-order requirements of the business meeting, the announcement of the recommendation to approve W. Wallace Smith as “President of the High Priesthood and of the Church,” was read. Votes were taken (first, of delegates, then of all persons present) and they were deemed unanimously in favour. Then Israel A. Smith’s letter from 1952 was read. It was then approved to be added to the Book of Doctrine and Covenants as section 144. The business meeting was adjourned, and the ordination service was held that evening.[7] And that is how W. Wallace Smith became the fifth Prophet-President of the church. [1] Mark A. Scherer, The Journey of a People, Vol. 3: The Era of Worldwide Community, 1946 to 2015 (Independence, Mo.: Community of Christ Seminary Press, 2016), p. 86
[2] Scherer, Journey, Vol. 3, p. 88 [3] Scherer, Journey, Vol. 3, p. 85 [4] Scherer, Journey, Vol. 3, pp. 90-92 [5] Scherer, Journey, Vol. 3, pp. 107-109 [6] Scherer, Journey, Vol. 3, pp. 109-112 [7] Scherer, Journey, Vol. 3, pp. 138-144 Written by Becky Middleton Canada West Mission Centre Co-President As a follow up to the official announcement of Sam Smalldon’s appointment to Associate Bishop of Canada we want to share Sam’s bio. Some may not know Sam and this will introduce him to you. Many of us know Sam well and it’s still a very interesting read! We thank Sam for his dedication in stepping into this role. He is a blessing to Dar for being able to concentrate on his recovery and indeed to us all! Samuel (Sam) Smalldon currently lives in Calgary, Alberta. He grew up in St. Thomas, in southwestern Ontario, where he enjoyed attending church youth camps and reunions. He moved west to Alberta shortly after graduating from Graceland in 1978 with an undergraduate business degree and a psychology minor. Sam considers himself a lifelong learner. He continued his education with an MBA in 1991 (NWMSU), a CPA, CMA (Alberta) professional accountant designation in 2002, an MS in Data Science and Analytics in 2022 (Graceland), and is currently enrolled in a graduate PhD program (Capella) studying strategy and innovation in social enterprises. Sam has been in seniors housing for the past 15 years as chief administrative officer and president for two non-profit housing management boards in rural Central Alberta. Before this, he was part of executive management in chief financial officer roles for post-secondary, healthcare and municipal organizations in the public not-for-profit sectors across Alberta and Saskatchewan. Sam has been involved in leadership and financial management, overseeing many capital projects, working for large and small operations, and with various organizational models. Volunteering has always been part of who Sam is. He learned early to consistently work hard, not worry about having enough, and always be open to new ways to share and give back. He is currently a High Priest and Bishop within the Community of Christ, where he has been in leadership roles for local congregations in Calgary and Edmonton, campgrounds, as mission centre financial officer for western Canada and has been involved with both Canada and World church boards. Sam volunteers with Graceland University; he first served as president of the Alumni Board and is currently a member of the Board of Trustees, where he is an officer and committee chair for several committees. Sam also serves as a volunteer director for SkillPath, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Graceland. Sam and his wife, Shauna, have four adult children and three grandsons. They enjoy two grand puppies and two grand cats as part of their family. Sam tries to care for his well-being by enjoying various recreational activities, including road and mountain bicycle riding, road and dual motorcycle riding, pickup hockey games, and canoeing. Nothing he does for recreation is serious; it’s just about fun and getting a workout. As an accountant, he knows balance is more than just about numbers. What: Nurturing Creativity of the Soul Retreat
Where: Stillwood Retreat Centre at Cultus Lake When: March 8-10, 2024 Register no later than March 1st and learn more at: www.NurturingSpirit.CreatingConnection.ca Cost: $275 per person Believe it or not, creativity isn’t a stable personality trait, nor a rare power possessed by only the chosen few with artistic temperaments. Creativity is also not limited to specific domains, like music, theatre, dance, or visual arts. And we all go through times when we feel hopeless to create change or a cultivate creativity in our lives. Perhaps you feel like you used to be creative but have somehow lost it. Or too busy, too rushed, too poor, or too boring, or too afraid, to benefit from exploring creative practices. Whether you consider yourself creative or not, it is possible to cultivate personal creativity. Improved health, increased joy and wellbeing, financial abundance are only a few of the benefits of cultivating creativity. But what exactly is the relationship between creativity and a well-nourished soul? To find out, join special guest facilitator Lana Cullis, in retreat March 8th to 10th at Stillwood Camp and Retreat Centre near Chilliwack BC. Hosted by Creating Connection and Nurturing Spirit Retreats. Package includes six meals, lodging, sessions and all workshop supplies. Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Put the dates on your calendar for the events you would like to attend!
Attendance will benefit you and everyone else at the campgrounds! The value we have in our campgrounds is beyond our measure and comprehension. Both Hills of Peace and Samish Island bring us nature at its best! Along with nature, we gather and enjoy each other in a way that does not happen with a Sunday morning worship. We eat together, do chores together, sing together, pray together and say good night only to sleep and then say good morning! For the youth camps, we are looking for volunteers! Camps happen when we have campers and counsellors. Consider helping out at a camp. Family and youth camps will be an experience in sharing and caring with old friends and new friends! Join us at Hills of Peace and Samish Island! Written by Becky Middleton Canada West Mission Centre Co-President This week is the beginning of Lent. For some in the Christian world lent is a season of observing 40 days of "fasting" which imitates Jesus' 40 days of fasting in the desert before starting his ministry. For others it is a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's resurrection at Easter.
Through lent, we seek the Lord through prayer and scripture, serve through alms (charitable acts) and practice self-control through abstinence of luxuries. Many in the faith say that a true inner conversion of heart seeks to follow Christ's will more faithfully. What is your understanding of lent? Has lent been part of your faith tradition? Do you observe lent? If so how? We talked about this in our Tuesday virtual visiting group this week. Several people had varying thoughts about the practice or not of lent. Basically it was decided that we respect all practices of observing worship whether we 'adopt' them or not. One thought that really resonated with me was shared by Nancy Panting. She said she liked to focus on the positive aspect of 'giving' rather than 'giving up' something. Her encouragement was to take on some positive action during lent that might be continued even afterwards. I liked that idea and thought it could be as simple as taking on the practice of phoning someone each day - just to visit and see how they're doing! Or it might be taking on the practice of making babies bibs for a daycare like Svea Mountenay does or knitting hats and mitts for the homeless like the Chilliwack crafting group does. The possiblities are endless! What positive action might you 'take on' during lent? Historians Corner Vol. 2 | No. 2a At the next World Conference of Community of Christ, scheduled for Friday, May 30 through Friday, June 6, 2025, a significant chapter in the history of the church will be written with the approval and ordination of the next Prophet-President of the denomination. On January 17, 2024, the Council of Twelve Apostles of the church announced the completion of their discernment process concerning identifying the next church leader and identified Stassi D. Cramm, currently a Counselor in the current First Presidency, as the person to succeed current Prophet-President Stephen M. Veazey. New chapters in church history are started whenever a new Prophet-President is ordained. Assuming no unforeseen circumstances get in the way, this new Prophet-President will be the first woman ordained to this office. I thought it would be timely, and hopefully interesting to readers, to review the processes by which each of the Prophet-Presidents have come to hold that office. I will split this description into two parts. In today’s Part 1 I will describe the processes by which the last four people have been named to the church’s most senior leadership position. In Part 2 (currently scheduled to be published in two weeks, rather than next month) I will describe the processes for the first five people to arrive into this position. Interestingly, although there are similarities in the processes, none are exactly like any other. Stassi D. Cramm (Prophet-President-Designate) : The discernment process that has led to the naming of Stassi Cramm is recent and may already be familiar to you. However, there was at least one major “twist” in the process. In a letter to the church on March 6, 2023, President Stephen M. Veazey gave notice of his intention to retire as of the 2025 World Conference AND provided an outline of a church-wide discernment process to arrive at the name of the person to succed him which was to start immediately and conclude by February 2024. As it was described, the process would provide input to President Veazey and allow him to then decide on and name the individual. The “twist” in the process occurred with President Veazey encountering a significant health issue, announced to the church on July 27, 2023, which required him to withdraw from his leadership duties, including leading the discernment process. On August 30, 2023, the two Counselors to the First Presidency, Scott Murphy and Stassi Cramm, announced to the church in a letter that had asked the Council of Twelve Apostles to assume leadership of the discernment process. The letter stated, “The council will follow the current timeline and process previously announced to the church.” The significant change is that instead of President Veazey essentially taking on the responsibility of naming his successor, the Council of Twelve collectively took on that responsibility. Inevitably that meant variations in the original process that included meetings of the Twelve and purpose-specific retreat at a church campground as a last step in the process before the announcement on January 17. Stephen M. Veazey (Prophet-President, 2005 to, presumably, 2025): On November 29, 2004, President W. Grant McMurray delivered a letter of resignation, effective immediately, to his two Counselors. It fell to them, Peter A. Judd and Kenneth N. Robinson, to inform the Council of Twelve and then the church at large. This was uncharted territory for the church as this was the first time that an incumbent Prophet-President had not named a successor. Fortunately, such a potential situation had been foreseen by President Joseph Smith III, who drafted “A Letter of Instruction,” published in the Saints’ Herald on March 13, 1912. Several sections of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants were also cited to give support and guidance to the process. The Council of Twelve Apostles was tasked with leading a discernment process to determine the name of the person to be presented to the church for consideration. The Council requested the participation of the First Presidency, the Presiding Bishopric, the Presidents of Seventy, and the President of the High Priest Quorum to support and advise them. In addition they invited the prayerful and active participation of the church membership at large to support them in this process. On March 2, 2005, unanimously confirmed their decision to name Stephen M. Veazey as their recommended candidate. Veazey at the time was the President of the Council of Twelve Apostles and had served the church in a variety of ministerial roles for several decades. A special World Conference was convened from June 2 to 5, 2005, for the express purpose of approving this nomination, then implementing the ordination of Stephen Veazey to the office of Prophet-President, and then approving other changes in church personnel that flowed from that process. W. Grant McMurray (Prophet-President, 1996 to 2004): On September 19, 1995, President Wallace B. Smith met with the church headquarters staff to announce his pending retirement as of the upcoming World Conference in 1996 and to identify his successor as W. Grant McMurray. McMurray had been a member of the First Presidency since 1992 and had previously served the church as Church Secretary and in the Church Historian’s Office. Although there were many things to “juggle” in this nomination by Wallace B. Smith, perhaps the most difficult and emotional issue was passing church leadership outside of the Smith family for the first time. He cited the “Letter of Instruction” drafted by Joseph Smith III (his grandfather) as providing principles for succession and he stated his own three criteria that followed from that. They were: the person must be called by revelation through the present prophet/president; the call must be approved by a vote of the people in conference assembled; and the person must be properly ordained by those having the authority to do so. At the 1996 World Conference President Smith presented his final inspired document to the church naming W. Grant McMurray as his successor. This was approved a vote of the conference. And McMurray was then “properly ordained” to the office by those having authority. Wallace B. Smith assumed the title of “Prophet Emeritus” and left the job of leading the church entirely to his successor. Wallace B. Smith (Prophet-President, 1978 to 1996): In the spring of 1975, President W. Wallace Smith called his son, Wallace B. Smith, and asked if he could come over for a visit. In that visit the father asked the son to consider succeeding him as Prophet-President. He gave him a year to decide as he wished to announce his intended retirement date at the 1976 World Conference. (reference: Scherer, Journey of a People, Vol. 3, p. 400) Wallace consented after many months of consideration. At the 1976 World Conference, his call was presented in a document to the church giving a two-year timeline of preparation for the position, after which he would be ordained at the World Conference of 1978. The challenge of history and tradition that had to be overcome was the fact that every other prophet-president had died in office. W. Wallace did not want to do that and the conference (both 1976 and 1978) finally accepted this. Wallace B. had not previously held church employment, although he had certainly been active in his local congregations all his life. After a hectic two years of preparation, the 1978 World Conference accepted the call and he was ordained to the office. **In two weeks: I will complete this description with the first five presidents of the church.** Sources:
Written by Gwyn Beer Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Lent starts next week and I want to give up Gratitude to everyone. Community of Christ is exactly that! A community! I am grateful for everyone in this community. To keep things going for everyone, many pieces must fit together. There is a puzzle on the go in the Chilliwack church (there is ALWAYS a puzzle). This one is all clocks and it will probably be complete in another week. Craft night ladies have been working on it. Early Sunday morning arrivals work on it. Coffee morning people grab their coffee and some head to the puzzle table. Often someone will walk over and put in a piece right away and leave while others look and look for a piece but they don’t give up. The puzzle will be completed. So what does this have to do with Gratitude? I am one piece in this community. If I have a problem, I can ask one of the team that make up the Community of Christ in Chilliwack. As a member of the Canada West Mission Centre President team, I am grateful for the others on the team. When someone in the mission centre has a problem, there is usually someone they can ask or call for help. Community of Christ in Guelph, Ontario has been a large part of the puzzle and they have provided answers to all the financial questions that have been asked. We have many people who are volunteers that are pieces of the Community of Christ and who, together, work till any task is completed. I am grateful for all those volunteers who come to a meeting when Shannon calls it. I am grateful for a team of church members who join together once a month and pray for our mission centre and any special thing we ask them to. I am grateful for those who have stepped up and are planning our summer camps. I am grateful for all the volunteers who have made our camps happen over all the past years. I am grateful for all the volunteers who will help with camps now. I am grateful for all those pastors out in our mission centre who lead congregations in mission. I am grateful for all those who have become congregation recorders and our Canada West Mission recorder who uses Shelby. I am grateful for all who use Shelby to keep us connected as Community of Christ. I am grateful for all the members of Community of Christ who may not have a home congregation anymore but remain in touch. I am grateful for all the congregations that zoom their services so others may attend virtually. I am grateful for my heritage in Community of Christ, for those who established this church. We are all pieces in the puzzle that is Community of Christ. I am grateful that new pieces will be added as we ask more volunteers to be part of the future plans for the church in Canada. Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. We are grateful for the discernment process that has just concluded and are pleased to support Stassi D. Cramm as our new Community of Christ prophet/president designate. Stassi has given tirelessly of herself to our community, especially through the Council of Twelve, Graceland Seminary, Presiding Bishopric, and First Presidency. She is knowledgeable of our people and polity and will continue to bless us through her intelligence, experience, and pastoral heart.
We support her fully and ask for your prayerful support of her through this time of transition. Signed, Canada West Mission Centre President Team Gwyn Beer Kat Goheen Shannon McAdam Becky Middleton Are you missing some Samish Island in your life right now? Come help us wake up the Campgrounds from its winter slumber! You are invited to join us on Saturday, February 10th as we open up the dining hall kitchen and freshen up the sleeping cabins in preparation for the 2024 camping season.
We are offering overnight accommodations for those wishing to arrive on Friday or stay through Sunday, although only Saturday lunch will be provided. Contact Camp Manager Christine Campbell at samishislandcamp@gmail.com or 360-510-5724 to register. Written by Kat Goheen Canada West Mission Centre Co-President Dear friends, thank you for sharing in our prayer service for Dar on Saturday. It was a blessing to see you all and share together in mutual concern. He is in ongoing need of our prayerful support. Somehow Dar got hold of his laptop in the hospital and sent our ministry team a reading he often uses in memorial services. He read it to us in our recent leadership retreat that Shannon wrote about last week in our column, and he remembered that we wanted a copy of it to meditate on. How wonderful! Grief never ends... but it changes It's a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith. It is the price of love... This week in the Mission Centre we lost our dear Seventy and former Recorder Linda Klughart suddenly to a fall. Here in Vancouver we lost three dear ones this month: Inez Thederahn and Joan and Dennis McKelvie. We also grieve when we sell church buildings and dissolve congregations. This poem feels timely, especially in a dark time of year when the sun makes fewer appearances.
What is the wisdom for us here? Maybe grief, even in its ruthless and terrible guise, can also be beautiful. Grief is not a multi-tasker; it takes all our attention and pins us to one spot. Isn’t this also what worship does? True communion? We would not shun love in order to avoid pain, so our grief is a celebration of the size of our hearts and the span of the life we have chosen to live. Grief is a passage, we travel through it together. If you are in need of compassion and listening, please reach out to our community. Let us hold one another lightly, knowing that we each face burdens seen and unseen. Let us support the flourishing of life in our corner of the Kin-dom of God. Historians Corner Vol. 2 | No. 1 As Mission Centre Historian, one responsibility is to encourage congregations to have a Congregational Historian to track the major events in their congregation each year. Some congregations have a long, consistent history of having historians appointed. Others seem to have had more occasional appointments, perhaps whenever someone expresses interest in the task after a year or two (or more) of having no one taking on the task. Chilliwack Congregation is one with a long tradition of having a historian appointed each year. I have in my files reports from 1984 to 1999. And I know that reports have been filed for most, if not all, years since then. All the reports I have were prepared and submitted by Vilda Fetterly. I believe Vilda continued in that role until relatively recently when the “torch” was passed to Lorelei Dean. I thought I would share a few of the happenings in the Chilliwack Congregation as reported by Vilda in her 1984 report. Membership as of January 1, 1984, was 118 persons. There were 3 marriages, 2 baby blessings, 1 ordination, 2 deaths, 1 “transfer in,” 2 “transfers out,” and 1 membership withdrawal recorded that year. Membership at year end was 114. Guest ministry on January 29 was a distinguished trio including Howard S. (Bud) Sheehy, Jr. (Counselor to the President of the RLDS Church – as we were known at that time), BC District President Carl Bolger, and Seventy R. Skoor. Many members did many good things:
That was 1984 in Chilliwack in a nutshell. Thanks Vilda! |
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