Auditorium (Community of Christ)

The Auditorium (formerly the RLDS Auditorium) is a house of worship and office building located on the greater Temple Lot in Independence, Missouri. The Auditorium is part of the headquarters complex of Community of Christ which also includes the Independence Temple.

Community of Christ Auditorium
The Auditorium
Former namesRLDS Auditorium
Location1001 W. Walnut, Independence, Missouri
OwnerCommunity of Christ
Capacity6,000
Field size214 feet (65 m)x 168 feet (51 m); 92 feet (28 m) floor to roof (conference center); 114 feet (35 m) to top of dome
Construction
Broke ground1926
Opened1958
Tenants
Community of Christ

Construction

Construction of the Auditorium was a major undertaking, illustrating the vision of church Prophet/President Frederick M. Smith who provided the building's inspiration. Ground was broken in 1926 and the building was finally completed in 1958. Smith's plans for the Conference chamber were originally about 66% larger than when it was finished. Construction was virtually halted during the Great Depression when the church struggled under a massive debt.

Auditorium pipe organ

The Auditorium houses an Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ with 113 ranks and 6,334 pipes.[1] The Auditorium Organ includes an antiphonal console and pipes in the rear balcony of the oval chamber. It is listed as one of the 75 largest pipe organs in the world.[2] Famed organist John Obetz (1933–2015) originated his Auditorium Organ weekly radio program from the Auditorium between 1968–1993, playing the Aeolian-Skinner organ for a national audience.[1]

Children's Peace Pavilion

The Children's Peace Pavilion, located in the Auditorium, was established in 1995 to pursue its mission of "Enriching the lives of children through the pursuit of peace for all." It attracts visitors each year to a number of exhibits designed to teach concepts of personal peace, social peace, international peace, and environmental peace to children ages 5 through 11. It is a frequent destination for elementary school field trips in the greater Kansas City area. Local Girl Scouts may earn Girl Scouts of the USA insignia through a partnership with Children's Peace Pavilion. As a 501(c)3 charitable organization, Children's Peace Pavilion is governed by an independent board of directors.

Events

World Conferences

World Conferences of the church are held every three years in the World Conference chamber, which seats 5800. The Conference chamber is 214 by 168 feet (65 m × 51 m) and it is 92 feet (28 m) from the floor to ceiling of the dome's interior. The exterior of the dome rises 114 feet (35 m) above street level. The original plan for the Auditorium included two balconies, but due to limited finances only one was built. In retrospect, two balconies might have affected the fine acoustics of the Auditorium.

Performances

The Auditorium hosts an annual performance and broadcast of Handel's Messiah by the Kansas City Symphony and the Independence Messiah Choir. The Community of Christ International Peace Award has been awarded in ceremonies at the Auditorium.

Other Events

In addition to religious use, the Auditorium is available for high school and college graduations and cultural events in the Independence and Kansas City area. Numerous dignitaries have spoken in the Auditorium. On June 27, 1945, Independence native Harry S. Truman gave a speech at the Auditorium on his first return trip to Independence during his presidency. During his remarks, which were also attended by First Lady Bess Truman and their daughter Margaret Truman, President Truman announced that the United States had become a signatory to the United Nations treaty. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell delivered an address at the Auditorium on July 24, 1998, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the executive order that led to the desegregation of the United States military. Primate researcher and environmentalist Jane Goodall spoke at the Auditorium in 1999. On July 5, 2007, former United States President Bill Clinton gave the keynote address at the Auditorium commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Truman Presidential Library.

References
  1. Levings, Darryl. "Famed Kansas City organist John Obetz dies at 81", The Kansas City Star, February 12, 2015 (accessed Jan. 15, 2018).
  2. TheatreOrgans.com Archived August 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine

Further reading
  • Roger Yarrington, The Auditorium: World Headquarters Building of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Herald House, 1962.
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