First Presidency (Community of Christ)

First Presidency (Community Of Christ)

The First Presidency of the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the church's highest-ranking priesthood quorum. It is composed of the president and two counselors, and they preside over the whole church under the principles of "theocratic democracy" observed in the governance of the church. This includes responsibility for the World Conference, field ministries, priesthood quorums and orders, and headquarters functions. The president of the Church holds the priesthood office of Prophet and is also a High Priest.

In 1860 with the reorganization of the First Presidency, Joseph Smith III became the second Prophet-President of this church and also President of a new First Presidency. William Marks became Smith's First Counselor.

In the Community of Christ, each new church president has generally been "designated" as the successor by the preceding church president. The Counselors in the First Presidency are then chosen by the church president and are often, but not required, to be former or current members of the Council of Twelve Apostles. In addition, the death or resignation of the Prophet-President does not dissolve the First Presidency, which continues on as the church's executive council in the persons of the remaining two presidents until a Prophet-President is called. The two members who were counselors to the prophet-president, cease to be counselors during this time. Upon ordination of the Prophet-President, the former first presidency is dissolved, and upon ordination of the two he/she calls to be his/her counselors and presidents of the church it is reorganized. Members of the First Presidency are not members of the Quorum of Twelve nor do they hold the priesthood office of apostle, regardless of previous calling.

Prior to 1996, all prophet-presidents were descendants of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr.. This pattern was broken by Wallace B. Smith, who designated W. Grant McMurray church president. McMurray, in turn, resigned the church presidency in 2004 without designating a successor. A joint council of church leaders led by the Council of Twelve Apostles announced in March 2005 the name of Stephen M. Veazey as Prophet-President designate. Veazey had been serving as president of the Council of Twelve. Delegates elected to a special World Conference of the church approved Veazey and he was ordained as the 8th president of the High Priesthood, Prophet, and President of the Church on June 3, 2005.

One June 4, 2005 with the ordinations of Ken Robinson and David D. Schaal to the priesthood office of president (and concurrently as counselors to the President of the Church), the First Presidency was reorganized. At the 2007 World Conference, Becky L. Savage was ordained as the first woman to serve in the First Presidency. She replaced Ken Robinson, who was ordained to the office of evangelist and is expected to retire from full-time ministry "at an appropriate date". Schaal was released in May 2012, and his replacement has not yet been announced.

Current members of the First Presidency are:

• President Stephen M. Veazey, President of the Church
• President Becky L. Savage (Counselor to the president)
• as of May 7, 2012, there is a vacancy in the First Presidency

At the 2007 World Conference, President Veazey stated that President Savage "will not be relegated to any kind of secondary role based on seniority or responsibility." Veazey assigned Savage to lead headquarters operations and leadership development while Schaal will oversee field and human resources ministries in addition to other duties.