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The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ is a Latter Day Saint church that was founded in Los Angeles, California by members of Gay and Lesbian Mormons in 1985. It was set up primarily to attend to the spiritual needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersexual Mormons.
History
The church was founded in 1985 by Antonio A. Feliz, a social worker, who was a former bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as the former Director of Church Welfare for the Andean Region of the LDS Church. It is sometimes called the "Gay Mormon Church", although of course, anyone of any sexual orientation may join. It is also called the "Liberal Mormon Church". Others refer to it as the "Reformed Mormon Church". Some in the RCJC, by analogy with the three major sects of Judaism, refer to the RCJC as "Reform Mormonism", the Community of Christ as "Conservative Mormonism", and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as "Orthodox Mormonism".
Antonio A. Feliz was originally going to call the church the Church of Jesus Christ of All Latter Day Saints, but when the LDS church threatened a lawsuit, he changed the name to the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ.
At a church conference in Sacramento, California, in May 1987, Antonio A. Feliz resigned as president. He was succeeded by Robert A. McIntier, an engineer, current president of the church (as of 2006).
Scripture
The scriptures of the church are the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants (both the LDS version and the Community of Christ version), the Pearl of Great Price, and a book called The Hidden Treasures and Promises, which are revelations given through the president of the church.
Beliefs and practices
In the RCJC, women hold the priesthood. The Heavenly Mother is regarded as an equal member of the Godhead (Mormonism) along with the Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. The Heavenly Parents (i.e., the Heavenly Father and the Heavenly Mother) are worshipped in prayer (in the name of Jesus Christ). The priesthood leaders of the church are called General Officers as in the Community of Christ, not General Authorities as in the LDS Church.
The church practices endowments, the Law of Adoption, and celestial marriage. In addition to heterosexual Celesstial marriages, the church also offers the opportunity to be sealed in a Celestial same-sex marriage. Until at such time as the church dedicates a temple, the marriages are performed in members' homes.
Membership
The total membership of the church is about 500 on the rolls and perhaps 50 active members. It has one "family" (ward) in Salt Lake City, Utah. There are members on the rolls in Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, but these areas in California have not yet been organized into "families" (wards).
See also
External link
"Restoration Church of Jesus Christ"