Pursue Peace - Christ’s Mission of Justice and Peace
“Above all else, strive to be faithful to Christ’s vision of the peaceable Kingdom of God on earth. Courageously challenge cultural, political, and religious trends that are contrary to the reconciling and restoring purposes of God.
Pursue peace.”
D&C 163:3
“Above all else, strive to be faithful to Christ’s vision of the peaceable Kingdom of God on earth. Courageously challenge cultural, political, and religious trends that are contrary to the reconciling and restoring purposes of God.
Pursue peace.”
D&C 163:3
Pursue Peace on Earth
Christ’s Mission of Justice and Peace
Community Peace Garden
Christ’s Mission of Justice and Peace
Community Peace Garden
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Topeka Community of Christ maintains a Community Peace Garden on our property, to provide a place to reflect upon the sacredness of God’s creation.
As a denomination we believe in the Sacredness of Creation and encourage disciples to seek out ways in which they can nurture God’s creation. We share the peace of Jesus Christ by caring for one another, for all people, and for the earth itself, and invite others to come, be transformed and then go forth to serve others.
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Produce is grown in this garden, with the harvest donated to those in need, which aligns with our mission initiative to Abolish Poverty and End Needless Suffering.
We work to Abolish Poverty & End Suffering by reaching out through compassionate ministries, in partnership with other faith communities and organizations that serve the poor and hungry and stop conditions that diminish the worth of persons.
We have added a boardwalk with a wheelchair ramp to make the garden more accessible to our developmentally and physically challenged friends.
If you would like to assist with this project, please contact Elder Joel Edwards.
We work to Abolish Poverty & End Suffering by reaching out through compassionate ministries, in partnership with other faith communities and organizations that serve the poor and hungry and stop conditions that diminish the worth of persons.
We have added a boardwalk with a wheelchair ramp to make the garden more accessible to our developmentally and physically challenged friends.
If you would like to assist with this project, please contact Elder Joel Edwards.
Plastic Bag Recycling Project
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We invite you to join the Topeka Community of Christ congregation in reducing plastic that would go to the land fill and reduce plastic pollution by recycling. Our goal is to place a bench made from recycled plastic bags, hopefully more than one, in our Topeka Congregation Community Peace Garden.
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Pursue Peace On Earth
Christ’s Mission of Justice and Peace
Prayer for Peace
Christ’s Mission of Justice and Peace
Prayer for Peace
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“Sue for peace, not only the people that have smitten you, but also to all people; and lift up an ensign of peace, and make a proclamation for peace unto the ends of the earth; and make proposals for peace, unto those who have smitten you, according to the voice of the Spirit which is in you, and all things shall work together for your good; therefore, be faithful, and, behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end. Even so. Amen.” D&C 102:11
Daily Prayer for Peace
The Daily Prayer for Peace is a powerful witness of Community of Christ’s commitment to peace. Such regular, public expression symbolizes the church’s unrelenting pursuit of peace as God’s intent for a bruised and divided world.
The Daily Prayer for Peace worship service is held at 1PM (central time USA), 365 days a year. Each day a prayer is offered for a specific country based on the World Council of Churches’ ecumenical prayer cycle, which joins our prayers with that of Christians throughout the world.
Please visit the Community of Christ website for additional information regarding the Daily Prayer for Peace.
Please join with us in prayer from wherever you are.
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You are invited to join us every Wednesday, online from the Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri, as we unite in prayer for a peaceful world, engaging in this transformative journey together.
Community of Christ Prayer for Peace Online.
Click on image for CofChrist Facebook page.
Click on image for CofChrist YouTube channel.
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Topeka Congregation Prayer for Peace
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The Topeka Community of Christ Congregation includes a Prayer for Peace in it's Sunday Worship Service. Our Peace Candle is located in front of our pulpit. |
Prayer for Peace at a Topeka Community of Christ Sunday Worship Service.
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Pursue Peace on Earth
Christ’s Mission of Justice and Peace
Topeka J.U.M.P
Christ’s Mission of Justice and Peace
Topeka J.U.M.P
Topeka Community of Christ is a new member of Topeka JUMP, a coalition of about 30 faith communities whose mission is to provide a powerful vehicle for marginalized groups in Shawnee County to fight for justice. Community of Christ proclaims the Enduring Principle Worth of All Persons and seeks to uphold and restore the worth of all people individually and in community, challenging unjust systems that diminish human worth. Our Mission Initiative Abolish Poverty, End Suffering acknowledges we are poised to be Christ's hands and feet, reaching out through compassionate ministries that serve the poor and hungry and stop conditions that diminish the worth of persons. What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8) JUMP allows local faith communities to act justly as we work to improve systems and policy that affects vulnerable individuals in our midst.
Each fall, member congregations hold listening circles to discover what challenges are facing individuals in our community. These opportunities are discussed at a Community Problems Assembly, and network members vote on the problem(s) they want to address in the upcoming year. Next is the research and coalition building phase where lay leaders and Clergy meet with public officials and experts to learn about the problem area and discover what best practices are being used across the country. The phase ends with a rally to inform everyone about the research and to prepare for the Nehemiah Action Assembly. At this Assembly of 800-1,200, decision makers create commitments to addressing the most serious problems in our community. This direct action increases accountability and demonstrates the level of support our public officials have to implement innovative policy and funding solutions. The year ends with a follow-up to continue meeting with officials to ensure follow-through and keep members informed of progress.
Pursue Peace on Earth
Promoting Peace in our Community
Promoting Peace in our Community
Topeka Community of Christ congregation promoting peace at our Community Carnival.
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Reverend Laura Guy speaks to the Topeka Community of Christ congregation about the Topeka JUMP coalition.
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Pursue Peace on Earth
Christ’s Mission of Justice and Peace
Midlands Mission Center Activities
Christ’s Mission of Justice and Peace
Midlands Mission Center Activities
Pursue Peace on Earth
Christ’s Mission of Justice and Peace
Christ’s Mission of Justice and Peace
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Project Zion Podcast
Matt Frizzell: Open Letter to Community of Christ 
Many look to their faith for direction and answers to things happening in the world while others suggest that the church should stick to theology and spirituality. The reality is that churches are speaking up about justice issues facing the world and especially in the United States, but where is Community of Christ’ voice in all of this?
There are people who wonder why Community of Christ seems silent in the midst of injustices being experienced by so many. Matt Frizzell, Matt makes it clear that the church has spoken. As a matter of fact, we the church, have been speaking for decades through legislation and conference action. The only thing left to wonder is when we will use the words, witness, and vision of our prophetic voice to stand against the injustices whose existence we have long acknowledged as a people.
14 February 2025
An Open Letter to Community of Christ USA RE: Community of Christ’s Voice in Current Politics Over the last few weeks, I spoke to friends and colleagues deeply concerned. They are disturbed by the news of executive orders and actions targeting immigrants, American citizens, and government agencies. These actions seem unprecedented in our lifetimes. They are frustrated at Community of Christ’s silence. While other churches are making statements, even suing the administration, they wonder where their church is. Some have asked about statements from the USA Apostles, First Presidency, or other World Church teams. I am empathetic. I also want to speak out with our own voice. We already have. WCR 1161, Human Freedom and Injustice, was adopted in 1980. It states that “we consider it the requirement of the gospel to proclaim justice.” WCR 1161 calls for our commitment to pray and work to eliminate inhumane conditions that nations and peoples heap upon the poor, the dispossessed, and the imprisoned. It recognizes discrimination by race, tribe, age, or sex limits freedom. WCR 1161 calls the church to call on national governments to increase their efforts to secure conditions of peace, justice, liberty, and to support international agencies which seek the same. This is the voice of the church.
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WCR 1177, entitled Peace, calls the church to uphold law which support individual and group dignity and freedom, and to oppose oppression and tyranny. The resolution goes further to state that it is a “Christian duty to participate responsibly in governmental processes and to support good and wise people in positions of governmental leadership.” (WCR 1177 references Doctrine and Covenants 95:2a-d) It reminds us that we, the church, share responsibility for the world’s conditions. WCR 1177 exhorts us to speak “out against human inequity wherever and whenever it is found.” It emphasizes that “peace is not attained by mere nonparticipation in violence.” Rather, “the best form of Christian witness strives to promote peace and remove the causes of aggression.” I commend anyone concerned to revisit this important resolution.
WCR 1226 Human Diversity was adopted in 1992. It is a clear and unequivocal affirmation of human diversity. It calls the church to “accept the responsibility to resist fear and hate in all forms and to strive continuously to eliminate expressions of prejudice and discrimination.” WCR 1184 Human Rights adopted in 1984 states “Community of Christ affirms that all people have essential rights, including the right to peaceful assembly, free speech, specific cultural identities and self-determination, the formation of intentional mutually cooperative human communities, freedom from fear and threats to personal safety and well-being, and the right to fulfill personal potential through continued growth and development.” This is our voice as a church. Those of us who forget or ignore this voice ignore our politics and who we are. I encourage individuals with a passion for the politics of the Gospel to review each World Conference Resolution (WCR) I’ve included in my letter. I’ve provided a list of thirty resolutions concerning diversity and inclusion, anti-racism, basic human rights, peace and justice making, indigenous rights, climate emergency, refugees, and capital punishment. These resolutions unite our theology and politics with the ethics of Christ’s peace. In a situation of intense partisanship, consumer news driven by profits, and unregulated social media, we can have clarity. Jesus turned his face to Jerusalem, the center of Israel’s spiritual and political life. (Luke 9:51) Followers will do the same in our own cultures and contexts. No passage of the bible is free from politics. Every book and passage speak to us of God’s vision for creation and society, God’s covenant with the people of Israel, God’s love for the world and Christ’s mission. The peace of Jesus Christ lies beyond political party. The Gospel’s prophetic voice also speaks directly to politics today. We claim this story as our story as people of Restoration. In conclusion, I invite the Community of Christ USA to reacquaint ourselves, study, and embrace our church’s collective voice. World Conference Resolutions reflect Community of Christ’s voice as a body. They state our values and inform our politics with the ethics of Christ’s peace. Community of Christ is a global movement with historical roots in American democracy. Let us use the words, witness, and vision of our shared prophetic voice. Blessings, Matthew J Frizzell Aspiring Disciple of Jesus |
Pursue Peace on Earth
Christ’s Mission of Justice and Peace
The Peace Pavilion: Building Peace by Creating Peacemakers
Christ’s Mission of Justice and Peace
The Peace Pavilion: Building Peace by Creating Peacemakers
Peace Pathways, a 501c3 organization, is dedicated to building peace by equipping children and adults to learn about peace, cultivate peaceful environments, and take actions that lead to peaceful outcomes.
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The Peace Pavilion is the main program of Peace Pathways and teaches these principles through lessons and activities in an interactive museum focused on children.
The lessons are focused on the peacemaking themes of Peace for Me, Peace for Us, Peace for Everyone, and Peace for the Planet.
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