Harvest Hills Community, Independence, Missouri

Smiley Faith
Stories of Joyful Faith

Oak Hill Congregation meets in Harvest Hills

Drawing of Harvest Hills Community by Architect Roy Browne

30 Years of Intentional Christian Community

A Tradition of Community
The Restoration Movement was born in 1830 at a time of communitarian idealism. The church also began in a nation founded and inspired with John Winthrop's vision in 1630. Winthrop stated that the early English colonies were to be the New Jerusalem, a City on a Hill. Sidney Rigdon, who became one of Joseph Smith's closest associates, lived in a community trying to live all things in common when he first heard the Restoration gospel in 1830. The early Restoration tried to live communally with consecration of economic surplus in Kirtland, Ohio, Independence, and Far West Missouri. In Nauvoo, Illinois, the law of consecration approach was abandoned, but still the Saints gathered to live together and to build a city. The Reorganization was more cautious about gathering, seeking to be responsive to the feelings of their neighbors. Economic idealism found expression in the United Order of Enoch in 1870 that helped create Lamoni, Iowa, and was again reborn in 1910 and 1920 in Independence. Social and economic experiments continued in the 20th century, keeping the dream alive of a faithful response to the idea of Zion in our time. These continuing ideals resulted in the establishment of Harvest Hills in 1970, as an intentional Christian community in the Zionic tradition. In the year 2001 the denomination with which we are affiliated took a new name, reflective of its long tradition of community building, the Community of Christ.

Harvest Hills Office
Harvest Hills Association Office, Harvest Christian Foundation,
Community Storehouse Incorporated, Community of Christ Professional Teachers
201 Oak Hill Cluster
Independence, MO 64057
(816) 228-1400

As a result of our shared vision of God's purposes for our future, residents of Harvest Hills Community choose to live together in intentional Christian community. We affirm God's love for all as we seek ever new opportunities to grow in Christ's likeness. Our response to the movement of the Lord's Spirit among us ever beckons us to into interpersonal avenues of ministry designed to mediate humankind's separation from God. As part of the Body of Christ we express our collective and individual hope for the advent of God inspired peace and justice for all. We extend an open invitation to all who would like to join with us toward the realization of this Divine enterprise.

Home of the Oak Hill Congregation of the Community of Christ

Many residents of Harvest Hills are also members of the Oak Hill Congregation of the Community of Christ. Our fellowship often informs our intentional experimental response to the vision of worldwide community in Christ as expressed through the Community of Christ, headquartered in Independence, Missouri. As such we are open to all scriptures which lead us toward the accomplishment of our goal of living in a demonstration, zionic, Christian community. Our community experience is characterized by a love of one another which allows many personalities to join in the joys of community living.

Community of Christ religious culture has traditionally characterized efforts to live in community in accordance with "the manner designed of God" as the pursuit of Zion.

NEW!A History of Harvest Hills Community

James A. Christenson,
Zion In Our Neighborhood: The Story of Harvest Hills, 1970-1995
(Independence, Missouri: For Center for Zionic Studies
by Leathers Publishing, Leawood, KS, 1997), 121 pages.

Written in response to numerous requests for a written history of the development
of Harvest Hills Community in eastern Independence, Jackson County, Missouri.
The author recounts his impressions of events leading to the establishment of the community,
covering the years 1957 through the celebration of its 25th anniversary in 1995.
Zion In Our Neighborhood recaps the reasons for its establishment, describes
the major objectives of the community, and identifies some expectations
and hopes for the future of the project.

Zion In Our Neighborhood is available from the author in paperback cover for
$15.00 and hardback for $20.00 from the author. Contact James A. Christenson, c/o Center for Zionic Studies, P.O. Box #2, Independence, Missouri 64051
phone, 816-229-9252, E-mail: jimzion@swbell.net

A companion work by the author,Zion In Our Time, is also available.

The Home Page may be found at:

http://www.cofchrist.org/

Information about other Intentional Communities: http://www.ic.org/

Click here for reports about past Seminars on Zion: Seminars on Zion 1998 and 1999

2000 Seminar

2001 Seminar

17-19 January 2003 Seminar