I stopped attending LDS Mormon services since attending university in 1989. But I look back on my time in Japan from 1983 to 1984 as Mormon missionary with fondness and appreciation.
I now believe in eco-feminism and Earthism, which is very different from the patriarchy and non-earth/other-worldly heaven centered teachings of the Mormon church. But Mormon culture, which was forged out of persecution in the 1800's, has a lot of resilience and wisdom in how to build community. Mormon culture transferred to the Osaka ward, and the same practises builds life-changing community among the Japanese here. Our wonderful friend, sister Fumiko, joined this Abeno ward when she was a young teenager, and has come to this church for over 40 years.
I think the Mormon model to consider for building community is the lay person leadership of all aspects of local congregational life; no paid clergy in the local congregations. That means all daily religious functions of pastoral care, weekly services, child care, ministry, and organizing falls on lay members. The members take care of each other. All that hard daily messiness of running any organization is 100% held by volunteers, and the result is inter-generational community.
All the doctrinal and financial and long term planning for the church is in the hands of a few men in Salt Lake City. It is very hierarchical. However daily church life is done by the members.
This brings a question for me for building a church.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of paid clergy in the congregation?
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