1. What does basileia mean?
2. Where did you get the idea to include basileia as part of the name of your congregation?
3. How do you pronounce basileia?
4. How does Basileia: An Open Door Community of Christ relate to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS)?
5. Is membership in the RLDS Church essential to attend Basileia activities?
6. Is Basileia a welcoming church to Gays, Lesbians, and Transgendered?
7. Where do you meet?

FAQ Answers:

1. What does basileia mean?

   Basileia

   (59): (Greek - kingdom) From the Hebrew, reign, dominion, or sovereignty. (122): Greek for kingdom. Used by Schussler Fiorenza as a gender neutral term for "the basileia of God".

   Return to the questions

2. Where did you get the idea to include basileia as part of the name of your congregation?

   We were inspired by a quotation from Peter C. Hodgdson's book, Winds of the Spirit: A Constructive Christian Theology:

   A vision must be shared. An excellent starting point for this is a Basileia Vision. Basileia is a Greek term for God's project, realm, inheritance, or kingdom. It is characterized by freedom. "In the basileia-event something happens that radically restructures human relationships, reversing all the privileges based on class, race, sex, wealth, ethnic identity, religious piety, social acceptability. In the basileia it is the last who shall be first, the poor who are blessed, the social outcasts who are invited to the banquet, unnamed women who exhibit ture piety, sinners who are forgiven, lepers who are cleansed. It is as if a tremendous wind has swept away the whole tangled web of constricting human relationships, bringing about a clearing of freedom in which everything becomes open, direct, and whole. This wind is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of freedom."

   Basileia, like Sophia, is a feminine image, and their are interesting connections between them. The Basileia community is above all a realm of freedom, a place or structure or world where freedom, communion, and truth prevail as the defining relationships among human beings instead of bondage, alienation, illusion.

   Return to the questions

3. How do you pronounce basileia?

   Basileia is pronouced: ba-sih-LAE-uh. Click below to listen to several members and friends of Basileia pronounce the word.

   
   
   

   Return to the questions

4. How does Basileia relate to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS)?

   Basileia: An Open Door Community of Christ is a Transformation 2000 Congregation in the Greater Los Angeles Stake of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, headquarters Independence, Missouri.

   Return to the questions

5. Is membership in the RLDS Church essential to attend Basileia activities?

   No. The door is open for all who wish to participate in the Basileia community.

   Return to the questions

6. Is Basileia a welcoming church to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered individuals?

   Yes!! All are welcome to worship, study, grow and offer service with us.

   Return to the questions

7. Where do you meet?

   Basileia is not a geographically defined congregation. We currently meet in different locations around Orange County since most of our members are located there. Our meetings are often held in the homes of several of the members, regional parks, and on-site locations for the different service projects each month.

   Return to the questions

Additional Questions

Have a question you don't see answered here? Let us know any additional questions you have about Basileia: An Open Door Community of Christ. (Please include your name and a valid email address if you want a personal reply.)

Return to the questions

Page last updated on
Tuesday, 04-Nov-2003 12:13:41 EST