Community Formation: The Witness of Community of Christ Scriptures Instructors: John Hamer, Robin Linkhart, JoAnn Fisher

Locations and Dates:

Arizona Mission Center January 25-27, 2013 Hamer/Linkhart Inland West MC (Spokane) February 15-17, 2013 Hamer/Fisher/Linkhart

I. Course Overview

Among religions of the book, among Christian denominations, and even among Latter Day Saint tradition churches, Community of Christ has unique scriptural heritage and a unique understanding of scripture. For the vast majority of Christians, the canon is closed; no new scripture has been written since the last portions of what is now the New Testament were composed in the 2nd century AD.

In Community of Christ, thirty-nine sections or chapters of scripture have been written and added to the Doctrine and Covenants since 1900, the most recent of which (D&C 164 was added in 2010). In the same time period, only one section has been written and added to the LDS D&C (LDS section 138, composed in 1918). 1

Community of Christ has inherited a canon all its own. In addition to the most recent and ongoing book of scripture, the Doctrine and Covenants, the church also recognizes the Book of Mormon as scripture. And, although the church shares the Bible with the rest of Christianity, Community of Christ has also canonized an original variant of that Bible, the “Inspired Version,” also known as Joseph Smith’s Bible Revision (JSBR).

In addition to a canon that is different in content and openness, recent Community of Christ scripture has offered the church new insights into the nature of scripture itself. For example, D&C 163:7a-b counsels that “scripture is not to be worshiped or idolized,” and that “scripture has been written and shaped by human authors…in the midst of time and culture.” This understanding differs radically from contemporary fundamentalist Christianity which demands

1 An “Official Declaration” was written and added in 1978, but this document was enumerated among the previously canonized sections. 1

an uncompromisingly literalistic interpretation of scripture, but it also seems to diverge remarkably from traditional Protestantism, which has long asserted that scripture is the sole source of divine authority.

In this course, we will examine the history and content of Community of Christ’s unique canon of scripture in the context of broader Christianity’s Biblical canon and we will examine Community of Christ’s unique insights into scripture in the context of historical and contemporary Christian perspectives.

II. Reading List

A PDF course pack will be provided online. Articles will include:

Andrew Bolton, “Utopian Vision and Prophetic Imagination: Reading the Book of Mormon in a Nineteenth Century Context,” Restoration Studies X (2009): 144-53.

Richard P. Howard, “Joseph Smith’s Bible Revision: Sources, Claims, and Present Role, 1830- 2009,” Restoration Studies XI (2010): 135-50.

Stephen M. Veazey, “Stepping into the River of Revelation in the Restoration Tradition,” Restoration Studies XI (2010): 1-11.

III. Pre-Course Assignment

An incredible breadth of material is included in the canon of scripture recognized by Community of Christ. Without creating an exhaustive list, we can note that there are chronicles, genealogies, laws, stories, fables, parables, maxims, poems, songs, sermons, visions, epistles, and administrative actions. In order to wrestle with the question, “what is scripture?” I would like to invite all participants in the class to try their hand at composing “scripture.” This assignment should not be approached flippantly or satirically; it should be done thoughtfully and respectfully. If you were called upon to write 1 page or less of scripture, what do you feel inspired to write?

You may not feel comfortable writing counsel of the type presidents of the church have given to the church in the D&C, but what about a letter of counsel such as the one from Mormon to his son Moroni (Moroni 8)? Omni considered himself “a wicked man,” but his journal record is canonized (Omni 1:1-5). What about a hymn or poem? A fable? How does this task differ from writing a sermon for church?

(If you do feel inspired to write more than 1 page of scripture, please select a 1-page or shorter portion that you are willing to share in a small group exercise and discussion.)

BRING your pre-course assignment with you to class.

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IV. Course Outline

Session 1: “What Is Scripture?”

Session 2: “The Biblical Context”

Session 3: “Joseph Smith and the Restoration”

Session 4: “The Book of Mormon”

Session 5: “The Inspired Version of the Bible”

Session 6: “The early Doctrine and Covenants”

Session 7: “The recent Doctrine and Covenants”

Session 8: “The Big Picture and Big-Picture Strategies”

V. Instructor

John Hamer is co-author of Community of Christ: An Illustrated History and co-editor of Scattering of the Saints: Schism within Mormonism . He is a past president of the John Whitmer Historical Association and was the founding editor of John Whitmer Books. He is a member of the Bathurst Street congregation in Toronto, Canada.

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