Community of Christ First Presidency
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The Community of Christ First Presidency or First Presidency is the highest leadership or priesthood quorum of the Community of Christ church. Normally the First Presidency consists of the prophet-president of the church and two counselors.
In 1860 with the reorganization of the First Presidency, Joseph Smith III became the first prophet-president of the reorganized 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 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 called to be councilors and presidents of the church it is reorganized. Members of the First Presidency are not generally considered to be members of the Quorum of Twelve or holding the priesthood office of apostle, regardless of previous calling. Uner the 2002 bylaws of the Community of Christ, the First Presidency are members of the World Church Leadership Council.
Prior to 1996, all prophet-presidents were descendents of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr.. This precedent was not followed when Wallace B. Smith presented a priesthood call for W. Grant McMurray to succeed him as church president. In 2004, McMurray resigned 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 prophet-president of the Community of Christ on June 3, 2005.
One June 4, 2005 with the ordinations of Ken Robinson and David Schaal as presidents of the church and counselors to the president, the First Presidency was reorganized.
Current members of the First Presidency:
President Stephen M. Veazey
President Kenneth N. Robinson (Counselor to the president)
President David D. Schaal (Counselor to the president)
