Community of Christ

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Community of Christ
Abbreviation	CoC
Classification	Restorationist
Orientation	Latter Day Saint movement
Scripture	Bible Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants
Theology	Trinitarian Mormonism
Polity	Hierarchical
President	Stephen M. Veazey
Associations	National Council of Churches
Headquarters	Independence, Missouri, United States
Founder	Joseph Smith III
Origin	April 6, 1830 (Church of Christ) April 6, 1860 (Reorganization) April 6, 2001 (Community of Christ) Fayette, New York, United States Reorganized: Amboy, Illinois, United States
Separations	Josephite denominations (such as Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Restoration branches and Church of Jesus Christ (Zion's Branch))
Congregations	1,100[1]
Members	250,000[1]
Other name(s)	Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (legal name)
Official website	cofchrist.org

Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS), is an American-based international church,^[2] and is the second-largest denomination in the Latter Day Saint movement. The church reports approximately 250,000 members in 1,100 congregations in 59 countries.^[1] The church traces its origins to Joseph Smith's establishment of the Church of Christ on April 6, 1830.^[3] His eldest son Joseph Smith III formally accepted leadership of the church on April 6, 1860^[4] in the aftermath of the 1844 death of Joseph Smith.

Community of Christ is a Restorationist faith expression. Still, various practices and beliefs are congruent with mainline Protestant Christianity. While it generally rejects the term Mormon to describe its members, the church abides by a number of theological distinctions unusual outside Mormonism, including but not limited to: ongoing prophetic leadership, a priesthood polity, the use of the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants as scripture, belief in the cause of Zion, the building of temples, and an interpretation of the Word of Wisdom.^{[5][6][7][8][9]} In many respects, the church differs from the larger Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and most other Latter Day Saint denominations in its religious liberalism, belief in the traditional conception of the trinity (as opposed to a godhead of three separate and distinct beings), and rejection of exaltation and the plan of salvation. Salvation is considered a personal matter and not subject to dogma, but salvation by grace alone is emphasized. The church considers itself to be non-creedal and accepts people with a wide range of beliefs. Church teachings emphasize that "all are called" as "persons of worth" to "share the peace of Christ".^[2]

Community of Christ worship follows a free-form worship placing more of the foundation on scripture based on the Revised Common Lectionary.^[10] From its headquarters in Independence, Missouri, the church offers a special focus on evangelism, peace and justice ministries, spirituality and wholeness, youth ministries and outreach ministries.^[11]