Funny how Come unto Christ almost sounds like Community of Christ. I guess it us as close as they could get to stealing a name. Of course they could change the name to Community of Jesus Christ
They wanted a name that was further from TCOJCOLDS, and more in common with mainstream Christian denominations to separate themselves from Mormonism and being associated with a cult.
It sort of worked. But they're still associated with the RLDS and LDS by default. It is a part of its history that can't be ignored.
It was bad when I went there with my children 20 some years ago. It was shrinking then from when it started to let women hold the priesthood and become pastors in the church. Some of the old-timers left over that.
Then when it welcomed the LGBT community in and they were able to hold offices and teach etc., there were life long members who left over that changing policy.
People who were staid fast conservatives didn't like to see the old traditions give way to the changing times.
It it cannot retain the younger generations, then it will die off. It was the elderly keeping it afloat when we were there.
That also bodes true for other denominations across the spectrum.
If a young CoC member marries a Protestant why would they hold on to the CoC Joe Smith baggage? Most young people are abandoning churches of all types.
That made it more sustainable for members to pay a fair and honest tithe. But it did little to keep the CoC fiscally "healthy."
Members volunteer their time to cleaning the church building there like TSCC do. And the callings are voluntary at the local level. Not sure how the central office in Missouri are paid. Though it isn't the salaries TSCC are accustomed to. It's a poor church compared to TSCC. The funds are just not there.
The times I have visited the nearby CofC service (no interest in membership, I do it to support someone), the attendees are few and the gray hair is far more prevalent than anyone under 30, or under 10 years old.
Honestly not sure how they have enough money to keep paying the light bill! As for heat, in winter it is pretty chilly there so they seem to keep the thermostat at the lowest possible setting to avoid frozen pipes. Dress warm!