Council of Twelve Apostles (Community of Christ)

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In the Community of Christ, the Council of Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy. They are disciples who hold the priesthood office of apostle, and are responsible for the evangelistic witness of the church. Apostles are also high priests in the Melchizedek priesthood of the church.

Contents

Calling

As with all priesthood in the Community of Christ, members of the Council of Twelve are considered to be "called by God." The Prophet-President "receives" the call, and after consultation with the other two members of the First Presidency, "presents" the call to the candidate. If the candidate accepts, the candidates name is presented to the World Conference and the call is sustained by majority vote. New apostles are ordained in a special worship service held during the World Conference. Prior to the Presidency of W. Grant McMurray, the call of apostles and other members of presiding quorums of the church were named in an "inspired document" that was added to the scriptures of the church in the Doctrine and Covenants. McMurray and others believed that the lengthy passages related to priesthood calls reduced the readability of the Doctrine and Covenants. Since that time, these priesthood calls have been presented in a separate document that is not included in the Doctrine and Covenants. Most appointee ministers live in the Independence, Missouri, area, however, the current trend is to base apostles in the field. Each apostle has an office in the Independence Temple and they share administrative staff.

Responsibilities

Individual apostles may be assigned to various responsibilities of church leadership, including field administration. Together with the First Presidency and the Presiding Bishopric, this council is a part of the "World Church Leadership Council." Each of the apostles is called to serve as a "special witness of the gospel", and each is appointed by the First Presidency to oversee one or more of the church's mission fields. In recent years, some members of the Council are also given responsibility for certain areas of program ministry. If for any reason the First Presidency is dissolved or otherwise unable to preside over the World Conference, the Council of Twelve Apostles presides over the conference until such time as the First Presidency resumes functioning or is reorganized. Assigned by the First Presidency, they carry major responsibility for church expansion, and serve as administrative supervisors of field jurisdictions. The Council of Twelve Apostles elects one of its members to serve as President of the Council of Twelve and another member to serve as Secretary of the Council of Twelve. Members of the Council of Twelve Apostles are normally full-time paid ministers, called "Appointee Ministers" in the Community of Christ.

Members of the Council of Twelve Apostles directly supervise Mission Center Presidents and missionaries holding the priesthood office of Seventy. They have the authority to call Mission Center Conferences and frequently preside over certain portions of the various conferences. Apostles usually initiate calls to the offices of high priest and evangelist, often in consultation or at the behest of Mission Center Presidents. Apostles usually hold annual or semi-annual meetings of the appointee ministers and key staff members in their fields. Apostles have the authority to organize or dissolve congregations and ministry groups. If a Mission Center President takes over operation of a congregation (usually only in situations of extreme dissent), an appeal of this decision may be made to the apostle that supervises that field. Apostles typically travel to missionary fields around the world, even when they have fields entirely within the United States. This international missionary experience is believed to enrich both the recipients of the ministry as well as the experience of the apostles' themselves. Most jurisdictions of the Community of Christ hold summertime family camps called "reunions." Apostles usually spend much of their summer attending various reunions.

Progressive influence

The Council of Twelve Apostles has long been regarded as the primary advocates for the growing international presence of the church and its international witness of Jesus Christ. In addition, the Council has frequently strived to lead the church towards progressive stances on issues such as homosexuality, women in the priesthood, open communion, ecumenism, interfaith dialogue, environmentalism, peace and justice ministries. Former apostle Charles D. Neff (1958–1984) led the Council of Twelve in developing relativistic viewpoints towards both ritual and doctrine in order to make the gospel relevant across cultures. Presently, the Council contains five female apostles, an African, a Polynesian and a Honduran.

Current members

The current members of the Council, their specific assignments, and year they joined the Council are as follows: [1]

1844 to present

This is a list of the members of the Council in the Community of Christ, (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) ordained after 1844. The dates are the years they served as a member of the Council of Twelve.

NameBegan ServiceEnded ServiceCause of DepartureOther PositionsNationality & Notes
Jason W. Briggs 18531885Not sustained as Apostle at the 1885 conference.President of the Council of Twelve ApostlesAmerican. Withdrew from the church sometime after 1885 conference
Zenas H. Gurley, Sr. 18531871Ordained Joseph Smith III as president in 1860.
Henry Harrison Deam18531854
Reuben Newkirk18531873
John Cunningham18531855
George White18531859
Daniel B. Rasey18531873
Samuel Powers18551873
David Newkirk18551865
William W. Blair 185810 April 1873Called to First Presidency First counselor in the First PresidencyAmerican. Served as first counselor until his death on 18 April 1896
John Shippy18601868
James Blakeslee18601866
Edmund C. Briggs October 186018 April 1902Ordained as Evangelist/Patriarch.President of the Seventy American
Josiah Ells18651885
Charles Derry18651870
William H. Kelley18731913President of the Council of Twelve Apostles (1897– )
Thomas Wood Smith18731894
James Caffall18731902
John H. Lake18731902
Alexander Hale Smith 10 April 187312 April 1897Ordained a Presiding Patriarchs/Evangelist.Counselor to Joseph Smith III
President of the Council of Twelve Apostles (1890–97)
American. Third surviving son of Joseph and Emma Smith.
Zenas H. Gurley, Jr.18741885
Joseph R. Lambert18731902
James W. Gillen11 April 1887 [3] 1899
Heman C. Smith 11 April 1887 [3] 1909Church Historian
Joseph Luff11 April 1887 [3] 1909Canadian
Gomer T. Griffiths11 April 1887 [3] 1922
Isaac N. White12 April 1897 [4] 1913
John W. Wight12 April 1897 [4] 1913
R. C. Evans 12 April 1897 [4] 1902Ordained as counselor in the First PresidencyCounselor in the First Presidency

Bishop (With specific jurisdiction over the church in Canada)

Canadian. Broke with the church in 1918 and formed the Church of the Christian Brotherhood
Peter Andersen19011920
Frederick A. Smith 19021913
Francis M. Sheehy19021920
Ulysses W. Greene19021922
Cornelius A. Butterworth19011922
John W. Rushton19021947
James F. Curtis19097 April 1938Honorably released
Robert C. Russell19091922
James E. Kelley19131917
William Murray Aylor19131922
Paul M. Hanson19138 October 1958 [5]
James A. Gillen19131934President of the Council of Twelve Apostles (1922– )
Thomas W. Williams19201925
Myron A. McConley19201948
Clyde F. Ellis19231945
John F. Garver 13 October 19229 April 1946Ordained as counselor in the First PresidencyCounselor in the First PresidencyAmerican. Was president of the Board of Trustees for Graceland College
Daniel T. Williams19228 October 1958 [5] Ordained as Patriarch/Evangelist
F. Henry Edwards 13 October 19229 April 1946Ordained as counselor in the First PresidencySecretary of the Council of Twelve ApostlesEnglish. Honorably released from First Presidency on 18 April 1966,
Edmund J. Gleazer19228 October 1958 [5] Ordained as Patriarch/Evangelist
Roy S. Budd19221936
George G. Lewis19321948
George C. Mesley7 April 19381954
Arthur Alma Oakman 7 April 19381964Ordained an Evangelist EvangelistEnglish
Charles R. Hield7 April 19386 April 1964 [6] Honorably released
D. Blair Jensen194618 April 1966 [7] Honorably released
Roscoe E. Davey19476 April 1964 [6] Ordained as Patriarch/Evangelist
Maurice L. Draper19478 October 1958 [5] Ordained as counselor in the First Presidency
W. Wallace Smith 19471950Ordained as counselor in the First PresidencyProphet-President
Percy E. Farrow194818 April 1966 [7] Honorably released
Reed M. Holmes19481 April 1974. [8] Ordained as Presiding Patriarch/Evangelist
Donald O. Chesworth195014 April 1972. [9] Ordained as Patriarch/Evangelist
Donald Victor Lents19548 April 1980 [10] Ordained as Evangelist/Patriarch
Charles D. Neff 8 October 1958 [5] 5 April 1984 [11] Honorably releasedAmerican
Clifford A. Cole8 October 1958 [5] 8 April 1980 [10] Called to ministries of teaching and writing
Cecil R. Ettinger2 April 1960 [12] 1 April 1974 [8] Honorably released
Duane E. Couey 2 April 1960 [12] 18 April 1966 [7] Ordained counselor in the First PresidencyPresiding Patriarch/EvangelistAmerican
Russell F. Ralston6 April 1964 [6] 29 March 1976 [13]
William E. Timms6 April 1964 [6] 3 April 1978 [14] Ordained as Evangelist/Patriarch
Earl T. Higdon18 April 1966 [7] 1 April 1974 [8] Honorably releasedPresident of Graceland College
Alan D. Tyree18 April 1966 [7] 29 March 1982 [15] Ordained counselor in the First Presidency
Aleah G. Koury18 April 1966 [7] 8 April 1980 [10] Ordained as Evangelist/PatriarchCanadian
Howard S. Sheehy, Jr.1 April 1968 [16] 1980Ordained counselor in the First PresidencyCounselor in the First PresidencyAmerican. Ordained counselor on 3 April 1978, but remained as a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles until 1980.
John C. Stuart14 April 1972 [9] 29 March 1982 [15] Ordained as Evangelist/Patriarch
William T. Higdon1 April 1974 [8] 5 April 1992 [17] President of Graceland College
Lloyd B. Hurshman1 April 1974 [8] 14 April 1988 [18] Honorably released
Paul W. Booth1 April 1974 [8] 5 April 1992 [17] Ordained as the Presiding Evangelist
Eugene C. Austin, Sr.29 March 1976 [13] 10 April 1994 [19] Honorably released
Roy H. Schaefer3 April 1978 [14] 14 April 1988 [18] Honorably released
Phillip M. Caswell3 April 1978 [14] 1998
Kisuke Sekine8 April 1980 [10] 5 April 1992 [17] Honorably releasedJapanese
Everett S. Graffeo8 April 1980 [10] 1994 [19] Ordained as the Presiding Evangelist
Kenneth N. Robinson 8 April 1980 [10] 1996Ordained counselor in the First PresidencyCounselor in the First PresidencyAustralian
Joe A. Serig29 March 1982 [15] 1998
James C. Cable29 March 1982 [15] 1996
Geoffrey F. Spencer5 April 1984 [11] 10 April 1994 [19] Honorably releasedAustralian
A. Alex Kahtava14 April 1988 [18] 2002Canadian
John P. Kirkpatrick14 April 1988 [18] 2007
David R. Brock5 April 1992 [17] 27 March 2007Ordained as the Presiding EvangelistPresident of Seventy
Presiding Evangelist
American
Lawrence W. Tyree5 April 1992 [17] 2002
Stephen M. Veazey 5 April 1992 [17] 2005Ordained as the Prophet-PresidentPresident of the Council of Twelve

Prophet-President

American
Danny A. Belrose10 April 1994 [19] 2000Ordained as Presiding EvangelistCanadian
Dale E. Luffman10 April 1994 [19] January 3, 2013 [2] American
Kenneth L. McLaughlin10 April 1994 [19] 2005
Peter A. Judd 19962000Ordained counselor in the First PresidencyCounselor in the First PresidencyEnglish
James E. Slauter1996May 3, 2011 [20] Early retirement, family health [20] President of the Council of Twelve Apostles
Secretary of the Council of Twelve Apostles
American
Gail E. Mengel31 March 19982005Called as Ecumenical and Interfaith OfficerPresident of Church Women United

Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer

American, along with Linda L. Booth, the first women to be ordained apostles.
Linda L. Booth 19982019President of the Council of Twelve Apostles, Director of CommunicationsAmerican, along with Gail E. Mengel, the first woman to be ordained apostles. Also first female president of the Council of Twelve.
Leonard M. YoungApril 20002010Ordained an Evangelist in 2010President of the Quorum of High Priests, President of Michigan Region, Director of Field ResourcesAmerican - Served as World Church Parliamentarian from 1988 to 2020
Bunda C. ChibweApril 2000presentPresident of the Sixth Quorum of SeventyZambian
Mary Jacks Dynes20022010RetiredPresident of the Fifth Quorum of Seventy.American
David D. Schaal20022005Ordained counselor in the First PresidencyPresident of the Tri Stake Mission Center

Counselor in the First Presidency

American
Stassi D. Cramm2005 [21] 2016 [22] Ordained counselor in the First Presidency [22] and Presiding Bishop [22] Counselor to the Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop
Counselor in the First Presidency
American
Ronald D. Harmon Jr.2005 [21] 2023Ordained to Office of Presiding BishopPresident of the Council of Twelve ApostlesAmerican
Rick W. Maupin2005 [21] 2019American
Susan D. Oxley2005 [21] 2015American
Andrew Bolton20072016 [22] English
Carlos Enrique Mejia2007presentHonduran
Richard C.N. James2010presentSecretary of the Council of Twelve Apostles (incumbent)Welsh
K. Scott Murphy20102013 [2] Ordained counselor in the First PresidencyDirector of Field Ministries (incumbent)
President of the Council of Twelve
American
Barbara L. Carter2013 [2] 2023American
Mareva Arnaud Tchong2013 [2] presentPresident of the Council of Twelve ApostlesFrench Polynesian (Tahitian)
Arthur E. Smith2013 [2] presentCanadian
Janné C. Grover2016 [22] presentAmerican
Robin K. Linkhart2016 [22] presentAmerican
Lachlan E. Mackay2016 [22] presentAmerican
Catherine Mambwe2019presentZambian
David Nii2019presentAmerican
Sharon Karine Newcom2023presentAmerican
Angela Alt. Ramirez de Hernandez2023presentDominican

Notes

  1. "Church Leadership", cofchrist.org, accessed 3 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stephen M. Veazey (3 January 2013). "Letter of Counsel Regarding the Presiding Quorums". Coastal Bend Mission Center. Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 119
  4. 1 2 3 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 124:4A
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 145:3, 5b, 6b, 6c, & 7
  6. 1 2 3 4 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 147:1, 2 & 4
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 148:1 - 4
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 151:2 - 7
  9. 1 2 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 150:1A & 2A
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 154:1 - 3
  11. 1 2 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 156:1 & 2
  12. 1 2 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 146:1
  13. 1 2 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 152:2a & 3
  14. 1 2 3 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 153:5 - 6
  15. 1 2 3 4 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 155:3 - 5
  16. Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 149:1
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 158:3-6
  18. 1 2 3 4 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 157:1-3
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 159:2 - 5
  20. 1 2 Veazey, Stephen M. (May 3, 2011). "Letter of Counsel Regarding the Presiding Quorums". Cumminty of Christ. Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  21. 1 2 3 4 "Official Minutes of Business Session" Archived 2005-06-22 at archive.today , Community of Christ World Conference 2005, 4 June 2005.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stephen M. Veazey, "Letter of Counsel about World Church Leadership", cofchrist.org, March 31, 2016.

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