Restoration Church of Jesus Christ

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The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ was founded in Los Angeles, California by Antonio A. Feliz and members of Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons in 1985. It was set up primarily to serve the spiritual needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersexual former Mormons.

1 History
2 Scripture
3 Beliefs and practices
4 Membership
5 External link

[edit] History

The church was founded in 1985 by Antonio A. Feliz, an excommunicated former bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which regards homosexuality as a sin. Antonio A. Feliz also served as the Director of Church Welfare for the Andean Region of the LDS Church during the 1970's. It is sometimes called the Gay Mormon Church due to its overwhelmingly homosexual membership. It is also called the Liberal Mormon Church.

Antonio A. Feliz originally named his church the Church of Jesus Christ of All Latter Day Saints, but when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints allegedly informed him of their intent to sue, he changed the name to the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ.^{[citation needed]}

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).

[edit] Scripture

The scriptures of the church are the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants (Both the LDS and Community of Christ versions), the Pearl of Great Price, and a book called The Hidden Treasures and Promises, which members say consists of revelations given through the president of the church and other leaders.

[edit] 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, Adoption, and celestial marriage. In addition to culturally accepted heterosexual marriage the church also embraces homosexual marriage.. All marriages, are performed in members' homes.

[edit] 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).