“Onwards and forwards — not as soldiers, but organizers, and activists for Zion”
– Eliza Horning, Guelph, Ontario
Community of Christ is part of who I am. I choose to keep on this path, being part of Community of Christ, due to what I see when I look to the past, and what I see when I, in a spirit of hope, look to the future. Community of Christ is part of who I am, from growing up in the church to even, the ancestors I call mine who met Joseph Smith, and who were captivated then with the call and the story presented then. But more to the point, Community of Christ is who I choose to be today.
As I look back, captivated by the sacred story of the denomination I call mine, I affirm that this is where I wish to be. As I look forward to a hopeful and better tomorrow, looking out at the possibilities for my denomination, I affirm that this is where I wish to be. I look out upon the messiness of the history of Community of Christ, captivated, and say that though imperfect, it will nevertheless create a beautiful, strong alloy, to build our bold future upon.
But I cannot forget the present as well. Here, now, I love getting to know the diverse, messy, collective of people that make up this denomination.
I love getting to know each’s story. I love having gotten and getting a church family. I love the persevering spirit that I see through so many, both of our past and our present. It is that spirit, in part, that I hope we can continue, carrying it with us into our bold tomorrow. For that is in part, what gets me most excited about Community of Christ: our bold, vibrant, future of tomorrow.
In Community of Christ, I see a community, a collective, daring, hoping, for a better tomorrow — a peaceable kingdom — Zion — a Kingdom of Heaven, here on Earth — each of that and all of that. Each of these calls have been used throughout our history — describing our vision and path — what we are striving for.
Though, it may not be the same for each of us, for me — without a doubt — these calls bring to mind clear visions: that the world may be a more just place; that the world may be a more welcoming place; that the world may be not only more just and more welcoming in some grand, poetic fashion, but in real, lived ways; that the world work to move forward in this way first, without needing to understand every iota of one before asking if and how one can help.
For us to include and welcome and be one with — people of colour among us, those of any, all, or no genders among us, those of any, all, or no sexual, romantic, identities and expressions among us, those of any and all ethnic backgrounds among us and many more. For what is more important to me in my envisioning of Zion is not someone’s status, especially not as granted by those in power such as the state or those capitalism has elevated.
No. What is more important, to me, is the recognition of each’s humanity and value, the power of self-identification and self-determination, particularly, when these are allowed to fall to the wayside by those in power. For it is in Jesus’ example that I do believe our praxis should be rooted.
And more to the point, when I look toward our, Community of Christ’s bold and dare I say, bright, tomorrow, I see us being a beacon, a bright light, comprised of many individual bright lights, shining forth, going forth through Canada and our individual communities. All while united in our hope and vision for tomorrow.
I see the Community of Christ of tomorrow united in initiatives working in tandem with the various peoples that make up our communities and country and land, asking if and how to help and then working to make that vision a reality. For the glorious Zion, I believe, comes through the people, God’s people, and God’s people must work that power we are given. Without God the people have no power, but without tools such as education, mutual aid, and imagination, the power is wasted.
Onwards and forwards — not as soldiers, but organizers, and activists for Zion. This I proclaim as my hope and prayer.
As I look back, captivated by the sacred story of the denomination I call mine, I affirm that this is where I wish to be. As I look forward to a hopeful and better tomorrow, looking out at the possibilities for my denomination, I affirm that this is where I wish to be. I look out upon the messiness of the history of Community of Christ, captivated, and say that though imperfect, it will nevertheless create a beautiful, strong alloy, to build our bold future upon.
But I cannot forget the present as well. Here, now, I love getting to know the diverse, messy, collective of people that make up this denomination.
I love getting to know each’s story. I love having gotten and getting a church family. I love the persevering spirit that I see through so many, both of our past and our present. It is that spirit, in part, that I hope we can continue, carrying it with us into our bold tomorrow. For that is in part, what gets me most excited about Community of Christ: our bold, vibrant, future of tomorrow.
In Community of Christ, I see a community, a collective, daring, hoping, for a better tomorrow — a peaceable kingdom — Zion — a Kingdom of Heaven, here on Earth — each of that and all of that. Each of these calls have been used throughout our history — describing our vision and path — what we are striving for.
Though, it may not be the same for each of us, for me — without a doubt — these calls bring to mind clear visions: that the world may be a more just place; that the world may be a more welcoming place; that the world may be not only more just and more welcoming in some grand, poetic fashion, but in real, lived ways; that the world work to move forward in this way first, without needing to understand every iota of one before asking if and how one can help.
For us to include and welcome and be one with — people of colour among us, those of any, all, or no genders among us, those of any, all, or no sexual, romantic, identities and expressions among us, those of any and all ethnic backgrounds among us and many more. For what is more important to me in my envisioning of Zion is not someone’s status, especially not as granted by those in power such as the state or those capitalism has elevated.
No. What is more important, to me, is the recognition of each’s humanity and value, the power of self-identification and self-determination, particularly, when these are allowed to fall to the wayside by those in power. For it is in Jesus’ example that I do believe our praxis should be rooted.
And more to the point, when I look toward our, Community of Christ’s bold and dare I say, bright, tomorrow, I see us being a beacon, a bright light, comprised of many individual bright lights, shining forth, going forth through Canada and our individual communities. All while united in our hope and vision for tomorrow.
I see the Community of Christ of tomorrow united in initiatives working in tandem with the various peoples that make up our communities and country and land, asking if and how to help and then working to make that vision a reality. For the glorious Zion, I believe, comes through the people, God’s people, and God’s people must work that power we are given. Without God the people have no power, but without tools such as education, mutual aid, and imagination, the power is wasted.
Onwards and forwards — not as soldiers, but organizers, and activists for Zion. This I proclaim as my hope and prayer.