This text was originally published on the web site of The Christian Community in Adelaide.

More questions & answers you'll find on the New Zealand site of The Christian Community.

Contents

• What Kinds of People am I likely to find within The Christian Community?
• Is there a place for children and young people in The Christian Community?
• How do I find out if The Christian Community is what I am looking for?

The Christian Community was founded in Switzerland in 1922. The Movement is active throughout the world. It arose in response to the question: Is Christianity, as we find it in our times, able to be renewed? Is there a form of Christian life and practice which can truly be called modern, in the sense of meeting the deepest needs of human souls in our times.

A group of theological students and practicing ministers put these questions to Dr Rudolf Steiner. His response was both testing and profound. It included the most comprehensive description and guidance for what would be needed by those who would lead a renewing impulse into Christianity.

Led by Dr Friedrich Rittelmeyer, a new Christian priesthood of men and women was inaugurated. This priesthood was entrusted with the seven Sacraments of Christianity in their renewed form, and the task of pointing the way to the living Christ — Christ whose actual presence can be experienced as a source of love, strength and hope.

The communion service, known as The Act of Consecration of Man, is for all who would like to attend. Regular events are held for children, including their own short ritual service — the Sunday Service for Children. Family gatherings and Christian Festivals are also celebrated. The community meets and grows through the sacramental life, study and discussion groups, social and cultural events, seminars and conferences.

What kinds of people am I likely to find within The Christian Community?

The Community was founded especially for those who are seeking a renewed understanding and expression of Christianity — and who are no longer able to find satisfactory experience of Christianity in an existing church.

Thus all manner of people have found their way into the life of The Christian Community. There are those with strengths in music and the arts. There are school teachers, nurses, carpenters, booksellers and computer experts. Most, if not all, are seeking to live their daily lives out of an understanding of human existence that is inspired by a sense and meaning worthy of the human spirit. In this respect, many have come to value the insights an approach to knowledge made possible through the work of Rudolf Steiner — especially in the realm of Christianity, but also in education, agriculture, medicine, art, music and philosophy ( to name a few ).

The best way to meet what lives in The Christian Community is to come along and see!

Is there a place for children and young people in The Christian Community?

Children have a special place in the Community. We recognise that they have their own religious needs - which are different to the needs of grown-ups. The children are gently and freely led towards an understanding of Christianity and an appreciation of the deed of Christ. Any form of narrow interpretation is avoided.

The Sacrament of Baptism belongs to birth and may be received by a child up until around age 14. The passage from childhood to youth, around puberty, is marked by the Sacrament of Confirmation. From age 7 to 14 the child is able to attend the special Sunday Service for Children. After Confirmation, the young people are free to participate with adults in Communion Service - The Consecration of Man.

The Christian Community makes no claim on the children and the young people that take part in its life. The effort is always to foster their freedom and responsibility.

How do I find out if The Christian Community is what I am looking for?

If you are either dissatisfied with the form of Christian worship that you are currently involved in, or you have simply given up on Christianity, then you have everything to gain by simply coming along and having a look.

The best way of going about this is to find out what events are coming up, and to see if anything looks interesting.

Not everybody finds that The Christian Community is quite what they are looking for - but many do. Indeed...