Giving thanks for your contribution - National Volunteer Week 2023

18th May, 2023

Dear Companions on the Journey;

Like many, whether as a participant or as a leader, I love church camps. A chance to retreat and be with like-minded people to centre on our faith and how it impacts our lives and the world. But, whenever I was involved in leadership of a camp, there was always a part I didn’t like. It made me feel uneasy, uncomfortable, and I would try to avoid it at all costs; the end of camp when the group was trying to personally thank me for my leadership.

In fact, it irked me so much that one day I had an idea at a youth camp I was directing. We had come to the end of camp, but instead of going around and individually thanking each of the leaders, I made a change. I shared that given each of the leaders were not there for individual praise or accolades, we were not simply going to go around and offer applause for each. Instead, we would gather in small groups with each of the leaders and share in prayer, giving thanks to God for the contribution made not just by the leaders, but thanks for each one as all made a difference into creating a sacred and meaningful experience.

This week, for me, it is in the same spirit that I give thanks for each and every one of you. It is not simply a few but is in fact all of us that have an important part in helping shape this wonderful community. I want to take this moment to give thanks to the Divine for your ongoing dedication and commitment, your time, your willingness, and your support. You indeed are a significant and special part of this sacred Community of Christ. Thanks be to God for you and all you do.

Further, as you recognise your value and significance to this sacred community, perhaps also take a moment to reflect on another, and reach out to someone and acknowledge and recognise their importance as an integral part of this community.

I give thanks that it is you, a part of all of us, who are making differences in the world and expressing God’s love through this faith community. And I am so very grateful.

Adam R. Wade

Australia Mission Centre President

President of Seventy PacifikAsia Quorum

Community of Christ

You are a change maker! Thank you

World Conference 2023 celebrates Leadership diversity

The Presidency wants to share a moment of joy with the conference about the expanded diversity reflected in this group of World Church Leaders. 

In this group, Apostle Mareva Arnaud Tchong is the first non-native English speaker chosen as the President of the Council of Twelve. Wim van Klinken is the first non-native English speaker to serve in the Presiding Bishopric. 

With the addition of Apostle Angela Ramirez, the current Council of Twelve Apostles reflects the broadest diversity of nations and cultures compared to any time in the past.

Karin Peter, who was elected by the Council of Presidents of Seventy, will be the first female to serve as the Senior President of Seventy. 

Ronald Viera Lopez will be the first high priest from Honduras in Latin America to serve on the Standing High Council. Issac Bennet Joshua will be the first high priest from India in Central Asia to serve on the Standing High Council. And high priest Vince Lewis from the USA is the first African American male to serve on the Council. This increases our Black American representation on the Council. 

The array of diversity among this leadership group includes factors such as age, gender, ethnicity and cultures.

In many ways, this is the most diverse group of World Church leaders the conference has considered. From the Presidency’s perspective, this is a moment that needs to be honored and celebrated as a global community

The Way to the Cross

The account of Jesus bearing his cross as he walked the road to Golgotha is recorded in the four Gospels of the Bible.  As I reread these accounts and imagined the deep anguish and suffering Jesus was experiencing as he staggered along this road to his sacrificial death, I was overcome with a feeling of deep sympathy as well as profound respect for the courage my Lord displayed throughout this ordeal.

            Prior to this walk to Golgotha, Jesus had been seized, mocked, beaten and blindfolded by men and then taken before the council of chief priests and scribes who conducted a bogus trial.  Despite the indignity placed on Jesus, his responses to the questions posed by the council I think, confused them.  And so they sent him to Pilate as well as to Herod to be judged on trumped up accusations of perverting the nation, forbidding the payment of taxes and saying that he was the Messiah, the King. 

            Eventually, Pilate could not make a decision on these matters, so he left it up to the angry throng to decide.  Their response was a cry of, “Crucify him!”  This decision made by a wild angry crowd set Jesus on the way to the cross.

            The suffering of physical and verbal abuse, ridicule and contempt that Jesus was put through in these trials could be similar to life’s experiences we encounter on our own personal life journeys. 

            Of course our life’s experiences are not just ones of suffering but I would hope also include loads of happiness, joy and self-fulfilment.  Throughout these final experiences of Jesus, he displayed stoicism, a belief in whom he was, as well as sticking to the godly calling he had come to earth to fulfil.

            Jesus calls us to walk the way of the Cross – the only way to the “abundant life” that he had come to earth to bless us with. At times this walk will not be easy for us.  It is not a walk without God, but the God who is there tends to be mostly in the background as a resource – a Quality of Being that provides the ideas and energy that we take charge of and arrange and use as we see fit.

            What are we called to do as we walk the path of the cross?

            In his book, The Wounded Healer, Henri Nouwen writes we must be able, “to recognize in others the face of the Messiah and make visible what was hidden, make touchable what was unreachable.

            “The Master calls us to act as wounded healers for those who are experiencing loneliness, alienation, separation, isolation, illness, to name a few. All wounds do not heal, but they may present openings for a new vision. I am so blessed for having recognized the Messiah in my friend Marilyn” wrote Nouwen.

            Nouwen certainly offers personal challenges to us through these words.  Can you relate to a calling to serve others as we walk your road of life?  If you can, that road will lead you along a life fulfilling journey as you walk the way of the cross.

            Wouldn’t it be wonderful for each of us as we walked this way to have similar experiences as the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus following Jesus’ resurrection? 

            These two men were accompanied on the way by a stranger who questioned them about why they were troubled.  They told him about the trial and crucifixion and the disappearance of the body of their friend Jesus.  When they reached their destination they invited him to sup with them.  As they walked along the road this stranger then told them what the scriptures had foretold concerning Jesus.  And then as the stranger sat with them, broke and blessed bread and talked with them, their eyes were opened and their hearts burned as they recognised the Living Christ.  And they said to each other: “Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”  (Luke 24: 32)

            The Christ now challenges us to walk this road with him and experience the blessings available through the Holy Spirit.

            Jesus was not walking to his death as he trod the road to Golgotha.  He was walking to bring life to all mankind through his personal loving sacrifice born on the cross.

            “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.”  (Galatians 6:9)

                                                                                                                        Bill Gillard