Gatherings within the Mormon Community (Reform)

  1. The Mormon Community (Reform) is composed of individuals of equal value and equal standing, each of whom holds the Priesthood in equal measure.
  2. The Priesthood is the right of individuals to approach God for themselves and receive revelation, as well as the authority to bless and serve others in the name of God when they honestly deem themselves Divinely led.
  3. This Priesthood authority is inherent in all human beings by virtue of the eternal uncreated nature of the human mind and the indwelling Light of Christ which illuminates and quickens the minds of all who are born into the world.
  4. Each individual’s most sacred obligation is to be true to the leadings of the Light of Christ within.
  5. The Mormon Community embraces the Priesthood of all believers.
  6. The basic social component of the Mormon Community (Reform) shall be called a gathering.
  7. An official gathering of the Mormon Community (Reform) occurs whenever and wherever two or more Mormons gather together. This is based upon Jesus’s teaching that wherever two or more are gathered in his name, he will be in the midst of them.
  8. Gatherings may occur at any time. No single day needs to be designated as mandatory for gatherings of the Mormon Community (Reform). This is in harmony with Jesus’s teaching that “The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath.”
  9. Gatherings may occur in a home or any other convenient place. Meeting houses, chapels, churches, and temples are never required. A place is set apart as sacred by the intentions of the individuals gathering there and the Spirit present among them.
  10. Gatherings may occur for a variety of reasons. These can include a meal for taking the Sacrament; a study group or class; the celebration of a particular ordinance (such as a baptism, a marriage, the naming of a child, a prayer circle, the giving of a blessing, celebrating the life of one who has passed); the planning of an event; the planning and undertaking of a charitable endeavor, educational program, service project, etc.
  11. Gatherings may be designated by a name that describes their purpose—for instance, a Gathering for Baptism, a Gathering for Marriage, a Gathering for Study, a Gathering for Feeding the Homeless, a Gathering for Business, etc. All Gatherings with their designated names are temporary and are dissolved once they have completed their designated task.
  12. The business of any gathering shall be conducted by the common consent of those individuals gathered.
  13. The common consent of those gathered together is the highest authority within that particular gathering of the Mormon Community (Reform).
  14. Nothing shall be binding as belief, practice, or policy within a gathering of the Mormon Community (Reform) unless accepted by the common consent of those gathered there.
  15. Likewise, any existing practice or policy within a gathering can be changed or discarded by the common consent of those gathered.
  16. To better conduct the business of a gathering, the individuals gathered may, by common consent, choose to temporarily appoint officers.
  17. By common consent, the individuals gathered may choose a title for this temporary office that they think most clearly conveys the business or task assigned.
  18. That chosen title in no way endows the office with any Priesthood authority or spiritual power not already enjoyed by every other individual participating in the Gathering.
  19. All officers serve temporarily until completing the business or task assigned by the Gathering. Successful completion of that business or task in no way endows the former officer with any Priesthood authority or spiritual power not already enjoyed by every other individual participating in the Gathering.
  20. A Gathering may—by common consent and only after sincere prayer, honest and respectful discussions between all individuals involved, and charitable deliberation—choose to remove an individual from an office before the business of that office has been completed.
  21. Removing an individual from an office in no way lessens or alters their standing within the Mormon Community, their relationship with God and community members, or their inherent spiritual power and Priesthood authority.
  22. Gatherings are not ends in themselves. They are never compulsory. The sole purpose of any Gathering is the edification of the individuals who have freely chosen to gather with one another.