The church of Christ is open to all. Yet we have placed obstacles in the way of this good news. We need to repent.
Temporal human ideas, world views, and maxims are not basic truths of faith. The church has always had to re-evaluate them: Jesus himself abandoned the tradition of the elders; Luther did away with priestly celibacy; and we are called no less to re-evaluate our positions today.
Nor are the functional structures of the church fundamental truths. Non-transparent decision-making gives rise to bad solutions. Open communication gives church members the opportunity to participate in shared decision-making. We need open-minded initiatives, and to build trust and reconciliation between opposing factions in the church. We should be determined to encourage honest discussion; courageous in dismantling the facades of success and propriety; strive together to find ways to share our wealth with others.
It is especially important that those who feel they need the church, but who in their disappointment have abandoned it, can again take their place in its fellowship. Delayed action to prevent the decline in church membership is not enough: the church must also win back those who have already left. The church can only change when we change.
All of us who long for renewal can come together and take greater responsibility for our church. We invite everyone to cross all boundaries of revivalism and party to join in our programme for renewal. It is our hope that our movement will serve to enhance our commitment to the church and its work.
We will make way for Christ
- when discussion and decision-making in the church are transparent.
- when the church becomes a community of neighbourly love and righteousness.
- when we end discrimination against female priests in every parish.
- when those who belong to sexual or gender minorities are welcomed unconditionally as parish members and workers.
- when the life decisions of those who have divorced, chosen cohabitation, or who live alone are respected.
- when we share our wealth with the poor of our country and the world.
- when we build trust and reconciliation between opposing factions in the church.
Our motto: The church of Christ is for all.
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The Come All movement calls for the day when the church is open to all. In the words of our programme, published in March 2006: “Temporal human ideas, world views, and maxims are not basic truths of faith.” The movement embraces all who seek renewal and who are openhearted, who want to work for a church that focuses on its true mission and to build reconciliation between its opposing factions. We encourage those who have already abandoned the church to come back and share in the task of its renewal.
The movement demands transparency in the church’s decision-making. Discrimination against female priests must cease in every parish. Those who belong to sexual or gender minorities must be welcomed unconditionally as parish members and workers. The life decisions of those who have divorced, chosen cohabitation, or who live alone must be respected. We must share our wealth with the poor of our country and the world.
The Come All movement is a network for all who strive in various ways for the same goal. Our goal is to encourage all who have become frustrated and to promote honest discussion in the church. The movement participates in parish elections and in synod and diocesan council elections in order to influence the church’s decision making.
The movement works mainly through the internet. We need to spread our message at the grassroots level. All who share our goals are welcome to sign the programme and join our mailing list.