Community Of ChristEdit
The Community of Christ is a denomination within the Latter Day Saint movement that traces its roots to the 19th century and to the family of Joseph Smith III, the son of the church’s founder. Today, the denomination is headquartered in Independence, Missouri, and it presents itself as a restorationist church with an emphasis on continuity with early restoration ideals, practical ministry, and a broad ecumenical mission. It was known for many years as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a name it carried until it adopted the current title in the early 2000s. The shift reflects a desire to signal alignment with a wider Christian ecumenism while maintaining a distinctive tradition within the broader Latter Day Saint movement.
Origins and history
The movement’s origin lies in dissenting factions that formed after the death of Joseph Smith, Jr., in 1844. The group that would become the Community of Christ ultimately organized under the leadership of Joseph Smith III and established a center of gravity in the Midwest. Over time, the church distanced itself from practices associated with the main body of the Latter Day Saint movement in the 19th century, most notably polygamy, while reaffirming its own interpretation of restorationist principles. In 2001, the church adopted the name Community of Christ to reflect its global mission and its emphasis on ecumenical cooperation, education, and humanitarian service. The Independence Temple complex, opened in the 1990s, underscored the church’s commitment to a visible, communal presence in its historic Missouri heartland. For historical context, see Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the church’s links to early leaders such as Joseph Smith III.
Beliefs and practices
The Community of Christ identifies itself as part of the broader restorationist tradition, seeking to renew early Latter Day Saint impulses while adapting to contemporary life. Scripture in the church’s canon includes the Bible and the Book of Mormon, read together with the Doctrine and Covenants in a form that reflects the church’s own historical editions and interpretations. The church emphasizes ongoing revelation and the belief that God continues to speak to the church through inspired leadership and congregational discernment, while maintaining essential Christian disciplines.
Worship centers on regular sacramental practice and a commitment to discipleship in local congregations. Baptism by immersion remains a formative rite for new members, and the weekly sacrament is a focal point for communal worship. The church’s approach to ministry stresses lay participation and accountability to local congregations, with ordained ministers and regional church governance intended to balance spiritual authority with practical stewardship.
A distinctive feature of the Community of Christ is its progressive posture on several social and ecclesial issues. Women are eligible for ordination and have served in high leadership roles within the denomination. The church has pursued inclusive policies toward LGBTQ members, reflecting a broader commitment to dignity, justice, and participation in church life. These positions have attracted both praise from advocates of religious liberty and inclusion and criticism from more conservative quarters, illustrating a broader tension within the movement between tradition and reform. For more on the church’s ecumenical aims and public witness, see World Council of Churches and the denomination’s own statements on mission and outreach.
Organization and governance
The Community of Christ operates with a structure that blends centralized leadership and local autonomy. The church has a President/ Prophet who head the church, a First Presidency, and a Quorum of Twelve Apostles, along with regional leadership that oversees congregations across the globe. General Conference assemblies authorize major decisions, including doctrinal clarifications and policy changes, while local congregations retain substantial governance over worship, outreach, and pastoral assignments. The denomination emphasizes stewardship and accountability, with a robust program of humanitarian aid and development projects that reflect its broader social mission. See General Conference for more on how the church makes governance decisions.
Social and cultural positions
In line with a pragmatic, reform-minded strand within the movement, the Community of Christ has pursued a program of social service, education, and interfaith cooperation. Its humanitarian and educational efforts extend to communities around the world, and its ecumenical engagement places it in dialogue with other Christian groups and world religions. These activities are framed as expressions of faith in action—an insistence that religious belief should translate into concrete service and moral responsibility.
Within this framework, debates over social policy have been persistent. Advocates contend that the church’s inclusive practices and emphasis on justice reflect sound religious stewardship and a responsible civic posture. Critics, particularly those who favor a more conservative reading of restorationist teachings, worry that broader inclusion may strain long-standing traditions or complicate doctrinal clarity. Proponents argue that the church’s path preserves core Christian virtues—charity, neighborly love, and personal integrity—while delivering practical benefits through humanitarian work, education, and community building. The church’s position on these issues is often explained as an expression of religious liberty—faith communities should be free to govern themselves and to interpret scripture in light of contemporary moral understanding—while respecting the rights of individuals to live according to their consciences.
Controversies and debates
Controversies surrounding the Community of Christ tend to center on how far the church should broaden its definitions of membership, authority, and marriage, as well as how its ecumenical stance interacts with broader Latter Day Saint history. On the one hand, supporters argue that inclusive policies strengthen religious liberty, attract a broader base of members, and enable the church to fulfill its humanitarian and educational missions in a pluralistic society. On the other hand, more conservative observers worry about a drift from foundational restorationist assumptions or a loosening of doctrinal boundaries. The church has sought to navigate these tensions by maintaining a clear sense of its distinctive identity while embracing reforms that its leadership believes serve the common good. Critics sometimes describe these shifts as part of a broader cultural shift in society; supporters counter that religious truth is not in tension with compassion or practical competence in public life. The debates themselves reveal the ongoing effort to reconcile faith, tradition, and social responsibility in a changing world.