Church History Without Boundaries
Online Lectures Series: October 7 - Nov. 18, 2021
Lecture times vary to accommodate the guest speakers' time zone
Lecture times vary to accommodate the guest speakers' time zone
The popular lecture series from 2020 is back for another exciting exploration of Community of Christ's global history. The new series will feature church history from around the world: Australia, France, Japan, Germany, England, and Wales. The storytellers featured in the series are not only great speakers, many of the special guests reside in the regions of the world featured in their lecture. Travel with us this October and November, from the comfort of your own home, as we learn Community of Christ history without boundaries. Each Thursday lecture includes a period of open Q & A with the featured storytellers. Online space is limited. Please be sure to register below to save your online seat today!
Helping Preserve the Historic Sites, One Lecture at a Time
Although the online lectures are free and open to the public, donations received from the lecture series go to support the educational programs and ongoing preservation and maintenance of Community of Christ historic sites. Thank you for helping preserve church heritage with your generosity.
Although the online lectures are free and open to the public, donations received from the lecture series go to support the educational programs and ongoing preservation and maintenance of Community of Christ historic sites. Thank you for helping preserve church heritage with your generosity.
October 7 Lecture:
Church History and Christ's Mission Panel Discussion with John-Charles Duffy How can lovers of history preserve and share Community of Christ's history in ways that support church members in their ministry as disciples? At a time when Community of Christ is making difficult choices about how to dedicate the church's limited resources to its mission priorities, how much of a priority should church history be? Lecture begins at at 7:00 pm (Central USA) |
October 14 Lecture:
Life and Legacy of Apostle Kisuke Sekine with Andrew Bolton and Phillip Caswell Apostle Kisuke Sekine from Japan was the first Asian apostle, ordained at World Conference in 1980. He was a courageous pioneer on our journey to be an international church. The presenters Phil and Andrew both knew him personally and worked with him. They tell on his deep Christian commitment in an Asian context. He faced racism and misunderstanding in the church, but to those who understood and knew him he was a capable and very loving brother in Christ. His wife, Sister Saku, was also an amazing disciple. Together they also founded and led Zion Kindergarten in Okinawa that continues today. Both were insightful child centered educators. Lecture begins at 7:00 PM (EUR) / 6:00 PM (UK) / 12:00 PM (Central USA) |
October 21 Lecture:
A History of the RLDS Church / Community of Christ in Continental France with Chrystal Vanel Members from French Polynesia are often present during Community of Christ World Conferences, and today one Apostle is even Tahitian. But Community of Christ is also present in Continental France as a micro religious minority, mainly through the presence of Tahitian members living there. This lecture will present the history of the RLDS Church / Community of Christ in Continental France. Lecture begins at 7:00 PM (EUR) / 6:00 PM (UK) / 12:00 PM (Central USA) |
October 28 Lecture:
Community of Christ History in Wales: From the hell of the coal face and the iron and tin-plate works to Zion with Richard James Join Apostle Richard James as he explores the history of Community of Christ in his beloved Wales. Why did the Restoration message resonate with Welsh people? What impact did the economic conditions have that enabled the restored gospel to give hope to people living with extreme hardships, crime, disease, and squalor? Why did so many people leave Wales, or leave the RLDS (Community of Christ) church? Have the “hills and the valleys of Wales resounded again with the news of the gospel?” Lecture begins at 7:00 PM (EUR) / 6:00 PM (UK) / 12:00 PM (Central USA) |
November 4 Lecture:
The Church Behind the Iron Curtain with Eva Erickson and Kerstin Jeske Kerstin Jeske and Eva M. Erickson share stories of church life in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) during the time of the Iron Curtain. Church life in East Germany was restricted by the government. Churches were under constant observation and church members at times experienced reprisals. Nevertheless, as you will hear in the stories, East Germany church life was vibrant and influential even in today’s Community of Christ in Germany. Lecture begins at 7:00 PM (EUR) / 6:00 PM (UK) / 1:00 PM (Central USA) |
November 11 Lecture:
Green Shoots - Tiona and the Green Cathedral, From Inception into Tomorrow: A Continuing Legacy of Camping Ministry and Sharing the Sacredness of Creation with Ben Smith Tiona and the Green Cathedral (located in Australia) are often referred to as a spiritual home for so many. Its past is full of wonderful moments of ministry, and yet the future is calling – join us to look further into its mission. Lecture begins at 11:00 AM (AUS) / 7:00 PM (Central USA) |
November 18 Lecture:
The Morbid Spirit of Revolution: A Reevaluation of Early Latter Day Saint Conversions in England with Peter Gaffney In a theological world view that affirms the importance of free will, how do we explain what makes one person change their religious identity and another person refuse to do so? Pete Gaffney is a historian of the 19th century transatlantic world who will explore how early Latter Day Saint missionaries won converts in England not only because of the spiritual appeal of their message, but because of the promise of social and economic transformation early converts may have seen in it. Drawing upon hundreds of previously untouched materials from the 1830s and 1840s, Pete's work highlights how early Latter Day Saintism was perceived as socially radical - in part because of the efforts of early missionaries themselves to connect with working class communities and movements. Lecture begins at 7:00 PM (EUR) / 6:00 PM (UK) / 12:00 PM (Central USA) |