Affirms
Christ's divine pre-existence affirmed; detailed LDS cosmology not required
Community of Christ affirms the pre-existence of Christ in a manner consistent with mainstream Christianity — Christ as the divine Word who was with God in the beginning. The specifically LDS cosmological framework — including the pre-mortal spirit world where all humans lived before birth — is not a required belief in Community of Christ, though some members retain this teaching from their LDS heritage.
The church's theological movement toward ecumenical Christianity has shaped a less cosmologically detailed Christology while maintaining Christ's divine pre-existence as the eternal Son.
Key Distinctions
- Preexistence affirmed:
- affirmed — the Son/Logos eternally pre-existed the Incarnation
- Ot identity:
- the eternal Word and agent of creation (John 1:1-3); identified with YHWH in various OT theophanies
Scripture References
Sources
- Community of Christ Basic Beliefs