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In 2001 I functioned as court poet to a church that changed its name. For many years, the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints had been redefining its purpose and mission. Centered in Independence, Missouri, the RLDS had long since separated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ("Mormons"), and had not joined its westward trek to Utah. Doctrinally, the RLDS had become increasingly Christ-centered, and had been led to focus especially on the vocation of Christ's disciples to form communities of reconciliation and peace. Its name misled outsiders and did not do justice to its new focus and mission. As a member of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, I had often met RLDS representatives, and the church had already sung some of my hymns. For institutions, as for individuals, it is no small thing to change one's name. However, by the beginning of 2001 the RLDS had decided to shed its familiar—and to many of its members, beloved—initials, and become The Community of Christ. I was delighted to accept a commission to write a new hymn lyric for the occasion. Because the lyric would find a new tune chosen by a nationwide competition, I did not have to choose a familiar poetic meter, but could focus on whatever form seemed appropriate. Here is the text:
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