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“It is not pleasing to God when scripture is used to diminish or oppress races, genders or classes of human beings” April 2007 INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - Delegates to the Community of Christ World Conference voted overwhelmingly Friday to add a passage to church doctrine that, among other things, says scripture should not be interpreted in ways that lead to discrimination. “It is not pleasing to God when scripture is used to diminish or oppress races, genders or classes of human beings,” wrote First President Stephen M. Veazey, who also is the church's prophet. “Much physical and emotional violence has been done to some of God's beloved children through the misuse of scripture,”Veazey said. “The church is called to confess and repent of such attitudes and practices.” The passage was added to the Doctrine and Covenants, one of three books considered scriptural by the Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The original Mormon church splintered after founder Joseph Smith Jr. was killed in 1844, with several groups based in the Kansas City area - where Smith believed that God's earthly kingdom of Zion would be established. With about 250,000 members in 50 countries, the Community of Christ represents the largest of the factions that did not go to Utah. The Independence-based church still considers the Book of Mormon, as well as the Bible, to be inspired scripture. Doctrine and Covenants is the only book of scripture subject to ongoing addition, but prophets’ “letters of counsel” must be approved by the larger body. “We've never had the perception that any president-prophet or prophetic leader of the church is infallible,” Veazey said after the vote. “That's not who we are. We have checks and balances.” Much of the four-page document is an exhortation to the Community of Christ to more closely pursue its core values of peace, justice and environmental responsibility.
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www.affirmation.org