Community of Christ - Emporia Ministry
  • About Us
    • Enduring Principles
    • Mission Initiatives
    • Sacraments
    • What is Church?
    • Who is Jesus Christ?
  • Worship
  • Activities
    • Abolish Poverty
    • Blessings of Community
    • Pursue Peace
    • Sacredness of Creation
  • Latter-day Seekers
  • Online Ministry
    • Advent
    • Lent
    • Pentecost
    • Spiritual Formation
  • Resources
    • 70craigblog
    • CofChrist Planned Giving
  • Contact Us

70CraigBlog: Blogging about
faith, ​spirituality and discipleship.

A World Without Violence

4/8/2019

1 Comment

 
This week is the Community of Christ World Conference held in Independence, Missouri. Every three years delegates from all over the world come and discuss policies of the church and give direction to where the worldwide church is going. Here are a few pictures of the Temple where part of the event is held.  It is open to anyone and dedicated for the pursuit of peace in the world. 
Picture
Picture
This year one interesting topic for discussion is related to resolution 1273 regarding nonviolence. I think its an interesting topic for dialogue for anyone which is why its the focus of our post today. 

​
The resolution "identifies Community of Christ as a peace church and encourages us to seek ways to achieve healing and restorative justice. Members recall the Christian Crusades, the colonial history of mother nations, and the nationalisms that led to world wars from 1914–1918 and 1939–1945. In addition, in 2018 the world commemorated the end of World War I."
​

"This resolution calls for Community of Christ to reject all forms of violence, including acts of terrorism, war, and the financing of wars.
It also calls the church to confront and resist injustice while rejecting the notion that violence on Earth and violence against Earth can be addressed separately. Further it urges Community of Christ to continue supporting peace education and inviting members to embody Christ’s nonviolence through local, global, ecumenical, and interfaith actions."
Picture
Picture

​Resolution 1273
​

​Whereas Jesus taught in Matthew 5:44 “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”; and

Whereas, No known Christian writings between 100 CE and 313 CE approve of Christian participation in warfare; and January 2019    

Whereas, The founding vision of Community of Christ was of the peaceable kingdom of God on Earth, a nonviolent Zion with economic justice for all; and 

Whereas, Community of Christ has been admonished from its earliest days to hear the words of the Living Christ and to listen again to the voice that calls us to the great and marvelous work of building the peaceable kingdom of God on Earth; and

Whereas, Community of Christ has a logo, inspired by Isaiah 11:1–10, that shows how nonviolence is central to the way we conceive of peace; and

Whereas, Community of Christ, today is called to become a prophetic people that embodies in the lives of its members the ministries of the Temple through the pursuit of peace, reconciliation, and healing of the spirit; and

Whereas, Community of Christ’s Enduring Principles and Mission Initiatives call us as a people to share Christ’s peace throughout all of creation and embody God’s love for all creatures; and

​Whereas, Previous World Church Resolutions such as WCR 1177, WCR 1216, and WCR 1227 have supported nonviolent methods in establishing peace; and 

Whereas, Biblical scholarship continues to highlight the potential for nonviolent peacebuilding inherent in the New Testament’s witness to Jesus; therefore be it

Resolved, That Community of Christ reject all forms of violence, including acts of terrorism, war, and financing wars, and act upon Christ’s invitation to practise nonviolence and (confront and resist) injustice; and be it further

Resolved, That Community of Christ reject the notion that violence on Earth and violence against Earth can be addressed separately and affirm the importance of addressing the environmental causes of conflict; and be it further

Resolved, That, through its Enduring Principle of Worth of All Persons, Community of Christ opposes all ideologies of violence and injustice, including those expressed in diverse forms of nationalism, populism, racism, and bigotry; and be it further

Resolved, That Community of Christ continue its support of peace education and invite its members to embody Christ’s nonviolence through local, global, ecumenical, and interfaith actions toward justice and peace for all. 
​
Picture

​4 Parts of Nonviolence


When I read through the resolution there are 4 identifiable parts that stand out.
​

1. Reject all forms of violence
2. Practice good stewardship of the earth by eliminating violence against it
3. Confront and resist unjust ideologies and actions promoting violence
4. Support and embody peace education


I think most people support peace and nonviolence in our world. However in regards to injustice and war, thoughts can change from the ideal of having no violence to the thought that some action (which may be violence) is necessary for the overall protection of peace and welfare for others.

​This is a really difficult line for some to figure out exactly where they stand. It seems we must genuinely ask ourselves what is peace and welfare for us and the world? Try to imagine what that would look and feel like if we lived this out.

We may also have to ask what is real peace and how is it acquired? Whose peace matters more? And is there such a thing as just war? If so what is it?
Picture
​I believe this statement strongly challenges the Community of Christ to firmly stand up for nonviolence in all settings no matter what circumstances may befall us or the world. This stance is no easy task as it falls on the members to answer the difficult questions presented by this resolution. Here are just a few:

How can I completely be nonviolent if I work in law enforcement or the military? 

How does our material consumption and industrial growth bring violence to the earth? And what responsibility do I hold in this?
Picture
What role should I play when I see wage disparities, lack of inclusive business policies, and/ or systematic abuse of individuals? 

How does this resolution impact personal ideology related to gun ownership? 

Ghandi stated "Poverty is the worst form of violence". In what ways does this challenge our actions as a church, congregation and people? 


​
Living Nonviolence

​
​Living nonviolence is one of the most powerful things we can do based on this Tedx Talk by Ken Butigan. Dr. Butigan is a professor at DePaul University teaching Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies. Dr. Butigan talks about his personal story, life of activism and how the world could actually live in peace. Take a few minutes and listen to his profound words and experience.

​Research Behind Nonviolent Movements


Throughout history there have been many violent and nonviolent movements. Forbes wrote an article in 2014 about the success of nonviolent resistance titled "The Proven Superiority Of Nonviolent Resistance". It's an interesting article based on the research of Erica Chenoweth and Maria Stephan who studied 323 movements throughout 1900-2006. They found nonviolent resistance was twice as likely to be a successful method when compared to violent movements. You might also enjoy checking out their article, "Drop Your Weapons: When and Why Civil Resistance Works" published by Foreign Affairs.  
Picture

What Do You Think?


Now that you have read the resolution with a few other resources, where do you stand? What is your stance on nonviolence in general? What earlier questions were challenging for you? What do you think about the resolution?

I encourage you to discuss this topic with others. Start the conversation and see where it goes. If nothing else leave a comment on this blog.  

Big thank you to all those following along each week! You all Rock! 

This week identify and write down what being nonviolent means to you and how that challenges you to live. 
1 Comment
Craig
4/13/2019 10:34:33 am

The resolution was discussed thoroughly this week with people holding a variety of perspectives. The wide spectrum shows the differences in lifestyles and experiences people have across the world. One woman discussed living in a crime strickened neighborhood where she keeps a weapon for protection. While another woman who has seen two wars in her country expressed how people die every year from explosions by past mines that have not been found.

Various questions still remain on how to hold to nonviolence when in self-defense, working in military (some countries require this), and how to not fiance it (Taxes pay for defense fund in USA).

But the important thing in all of this is we are wrestling with the tough questions that come through discipleship. I am glad to be working together through the tough questions that come from being a people of peace. It is through the dialogue where we begin to comprehend why people believe what they do.

The resolution was ultimately tabled to the First Presidency so they can review the information and study the issue more over the next 3 years.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Seventy Craig Hidy

    Author

    Craig Hidy like the majority of ministers in Community of Christ is a bi-vocational, self sustaining ordained minister.  He is a member of the Midlands Mission Center Emporia Team and an ordained Seventy.  He and his family, live in Topeka, Kansas.


    ​Please Note
    The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Community of Christ. We believe individuals should be allowed to have their own opinions and be at different places in their faith journey.

    Categories

    All
    Abolish Poverty End Suffering
    All Are Called
    Blessings Of Community
    Continuing Revelation
    Develop Disciples To Serve
    Experience Congregations In Mission
    Faith
    Grace And Generosity
    Guest Blogger
    Hope
    Invite People To Christ
    Joy
    Love
    Prayer
    Pursue Peace On Earth
    Responsible Choices
    Sacredness Of Creation
    Spiritual Practice
    Unity In Diversity
    Worth Of All Persons

    Archives

    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018

    RSS Feed

Emporia Ministry
c/o Midlands Mission Center
7615 North Platte Purchase Drive
Kansas City, Missouri 64118
Phone: (816) 221-4450
Picture
Copyright 2025 Midlands Mission Center
International Headquarters
Community of Christ

1001 West Walnut
Independence, Missouri 64050
Phone: (816) 833–1000 or (800) 825–2806
  • About Us
    • Enduring Principles
    • Mission Initiatives
    • Sacraments
    • What is Church?
    • Who is Jesus Christ?
  • Worship
  • Activities
    • Abolish Poverty
    • Blessings of Community
    • Pursue Peace
    • Sacredness of Creation
  • Latter-day Seekers
  • Online Ministry
    • Advent
    • Lent
    • Pentecost
    • Spiritual Formation
  • Resources
    • 70craigblog
    • CofChrist Planned Giving
  • Contact Us