The Christian Community – what it is and what it's not
In the midst of many religious and worldviews today, The Christian Community brings its very own kind of Christian path to community life.
The service of worship
The Eucharist meal, the sacrament of bread and wine that has found different forms in the Christian churches, lives in the Act of Consecration of Man in a new form.
The Sacraments
The Act of Consecration of Man is the centerpiece of sacramental life. In addition, there are six other sacraments that give renewal and direction to the natural course of our lives.
The Gospel
The whole of the New Testament, especially the four gospels, is a powerful source of revelation and inspiration for life. However, modern minds are often unable to access this source of life. The gospels require of modern minds a different way of reading, listening, and hearing.
Proclamation and Teachings
The human being is a citizen of two worlds: a supersensible-spiritual one and an earthly-natural one. During life on earth, we can forget our heavenly origin and become solely attached to the world that passes away.
Immortality and Pre-Existence
The question of immortality is closely connected with the question of human existence before birth. Just as our inner being is not destroyed by death, it does not arise for the first time with the body. Human beings have an individual pre-existence before their earthly life begins.
Religious Upbringing
We come from a world of spirit. For children baptized in The Christian Community, and for those whose parents choose it, the Sunday Service for Children and religious instruction keep alive and renew children's awareness of their origin in the spirit, their heavenly home.
Founding and Growth
The completion of the first Act of Consecration of Man constituted the birth of The Christian Community. It was preceded by the immeasurable and selfless help of Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), whose science of the spirit, Anthroposophy, is an essential component of theology for priests in The Christian Community.
Structure
The Christian Community consists of independent congregations. The priests in each congregation have responsibility for what should take place sacramentally in their community. Priests' teaching arises from their priestly experience and insights, and is not required to conform to any dogmatic structure.
Membership
The kind of person who can no longer find what he or she is seeking in existing traditional forms of religion, or who has become disillusioned with Christianity, can feel stimulated towards a renewed search through contact with The Christian Community.
Financial Considerations
The Christian Community is financially independent and meets its expenses solely through the voluntary contributions and donations from its members and friends. Those who are committed to supporting its work pledge a regular monthly amount. Other possibilities include contributing to collections after services and events, making donations, and leaving legacies.