Council of Twelve Apostles (Community of Christ)
Encyclopedia
In the Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...

, 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 Melchisedec priesthood
Priesthood (Community of Christ)
In the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, priesthood is God's power and authority to minister in the church and to conduct God's business on the earth...

 of the Church.

Calling

As with all priesthood in the Community of Christ, members of the Council of Twelve are considered to be "called by God." The President of the Church "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
W. Grant McMurray
William Grant McMurray was Prophet-President of the Community of Christ from 1996 until 2004. He was the first non-descendant of Joseph Smith to head the church, and under his administration, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints changed its name to Community of...

, 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
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...

. 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
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...

 area, however, the current trend is to base Apostles in the field. Each apostle has an office in The Temple at Independence 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
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...

 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 Office of High Priest, Evangelist
Evangelist (Latter Day Saints)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, an evangelist is an ordained office of the ministry. In some denominations of the movement, an evangelist is referred to as a patriarch . However, the latter term was deprecated by the Community of Christ after the church began ordaining women to the priesthood...

 and Seventy, 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
Charles D. Neff
Charles Daniel Neff was a missionary who had a great impact on the mission and theology of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . He also founded the humanitarian agency Outreach International and the Community One Resources Development Inc...

 (1958-1984), led the Council of Twelve in developing relativistic
Relativism
Relativism is the concept that points of view have no absolute truth or validity, having only relative, subjective value according to differences in perception and consideration....

 viewpoints towards both ritual and doctrine in order to make the gospel relevant across cultures. Presently, the Council contains three female apostles and one native African.

Current members

The current members of the Council and the Mission Fields and other assignments they oversee, are as follows:
  • K. Scott Murphy — President, Council of Twelve (2011), Director of Field Ministries, World Service Corps, Military Chaplains(2010)
  • Linda L. Booth — Secretary, Council of Twelve, Southern USA Mission Field; Church Planting Ministries, Contemporary Christian Ministries (1998)

  • Barbara L. Carter — North East USA Mission Field, SPECTACULAR, International Youth Forum (Apostle-designate 2011)
  • Bunda C. Chibwe
    Bunda C. Chibwe
    Bunda Chitungy Chibwe has been a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles of the Community of Christ since 2000.Chibwe was born in Lubunda, Zambia. He was educated at the Kananga School of Theology in Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo and at Park University in Missouri. He became a...

     — Africa and Haiti Mission Field (2000)
  • Stassi D. Cramm — North Central USA/Canada Mission Field(2005)
  • Ronald D. Harmon Jr. — Western USA Mission Field(2005)
  • Dale E. Luffman — Ecumenical and Interfaith Relationships, Singles Ministries; Theological Education Ministries (1994)
  • Rick W. Maupin — Caribbean, Mexico and South Central USA Mission Field; Hispanic Ministries (2005)
  • Carlos Enrique Mejia — Central and South America Mission Field (2007)
  • Susan D. Skoor — Canada and Pacific Mission Field (2005)

The fields have currently been reorganized and each Apostle has been paired with an assistant and a president of Seventy.

1844 to present

This is a list of the members of the Council in the Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...

, (formerly 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.
Name Began Service Ended Service Cause of Departure Other Positions Nationality & Notes
BriggsJason W. Briggs
Jason W. Briggs
Jason W. Briggs was a leader in the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement and was instrumental in bringing about the 1860 "Reorganization" of the church, which resulted in the establishment of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.-Early membership:Jason W. Briggs...

1853 1885 Not sustained as Apostle at the 1885 conference. American. Withdrew from the church sometime after 1885 conference
GurleyZenas H. Gurley, Sr. 1853 1871 Ordained Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III was the eldest surviving son of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and Emma Hale Smith...

 as president in 1860.
DeamHenry Harrison Deam 1853 1854
NewkirkReuben Newkirk 1853 1873
CunninghamJohn Cunningham 1853 1855
WhiteGeorge White 1853 1859
RaseyDaniel B. Rasey 1853 1873
PowersSamuel Powers 1855 1873
NewkirkDavid Newkirk 1855 1865
BlairWilliam W. Blair
William W. Blair
William Wallace Blair was an apostle and a member of the First Presidency of the Reoganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ....

1858 10 April 1873 Called to First Presidency
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...

First counselor in the First Presidency American. Served as first counselor until his death on 18 April 1896
ShippyJohn Shippy 1860 1868
BlakesleeJames Blakeslee 1860 1866
BriggsEdmund C. Briggs
Edmund C. Briggs
Edmund Clarke Briggs was an American leader in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . Briggs was the first member of the RLDS Church to preach in Utah Territory to members of the rival Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-RLDS Church leader:Briggs was born in...

October 1860 18 April 1902 Ordained as Evangelist/Patriarch. President of the Seventy American.
EllsJosiah Ells 1865 1885
DerryCharles Derry 1865 1870
KelleyWilliam H. Kelley 1873 1913
SmithThomas Wood Smith 1873 1894
CaffallJames Caffall 1873 1902
LakeJohn H. Lake 1873 1902
SmithAlexander Hale Smith
Alexander Hale Smith
Alexander Hale Smith was the third surviving son of Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith. Alexander was born in Far West, Missouri and eventually became a senior leader of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . Alexander served as an apostle and as Presiding Patriarch of...

10 April 1873 12 April 1897 Ordained a Presiding Patriarchs/Evangelist. Counselor to Joseph Smith III

President of the Quorum of the Twelve
American. Third surviving son of Joseph and Emma
Emma Hale Smith
Emma Hale Smith Bidamon was married to Joseph Smith, Jr., until his death in 1844, and was an early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, during Joseph Smith's lifetime and afterward as a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...

 Smith.
GurleyZenas H. Gurley, Jr. 1874 1885
LambertJoseph R. Lambert 1873 1902
GillenJames W. Gillen 11 April 1887 1899
SmithHeman C. Smith 11 April 1887 1909
LuffJoseph Luff 11 April 1887 1909
GriffithsGomer T. Griffiths 11 April 1887 1922
WhiteIsaac N. White 12 April 1897 1913
WightJohn W. Wight 12 April 1897 1913
EvansR. C. Evans
R. C. Evans
Richard Charles Evans was a Canadian apostle and member of the First Presidency in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who became the leader of a schismatic sect that separated from the RLDS Church in 1918.Evans was born in St. Andrews in Argenteuil County, Province of...

12 April 1897 1902 Ordained as counselor in the First Presidency Counselor 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
AndersenPeter Andersen 1901 1920
SmithFrederick A. Smith 1902 1913
SheehyFrancis Sheehy 1902 1920
GreeneUlysses W. Greene 1902 1922
ButterworthCornelius A. Butterworth 1901 1922
RushtonJohn W. Rushton 1902 1947
CurtisJames F. Curtis 1909 7 April 1938 Honorably released
RussellRobert C. Russell 1909 1922
KelleyJames E. Kelley 1913 1917
AylorWilliam Murray Aylor 1913 1922
HansonPaul M. Hanson 1913 8 October 1958
GillenJames A. Gillen 1913 1934
WilliamsThomas W. Williams 1920 1925
McConleyMyron A. McConley 1920 1948
EllisClyde F. Ellis 1923 1945
GarverJohn F. Garver
John F. Garver
John Franklin Garver was an American leader in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints .Garver was born in Bristol, Indiana. He was educated at Graceland College...

13 October 1922 9 April 1946 Ordained as counselor in the First Presidency Counselor in the First Presidency American. Was president of the Board of Trustees for Graceland College
WilliamsDaniel T. Williams 1922 8 October 1958 Ordained as Patriarch/Evangelist
EdwardsF. Henry Edwards
F. Henry Edwards
Francis Henry Edwards was a British leader in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...

13 October 1922 9 April 1946 Ordained as counselor in the First Presidency Secretary of the Council of Twelve Apostles English. Honorably released from First Presidency on 18 April 1966,
GleazerEdmund J. Gleazer 1922 8 October 1958 Ordained as Patriarch/Evangelist
BuddRoy S. Budd 1922 1936
LewisGeorge G. Lewis 1932 1948
MesleyGeorge C. Mesley 7 April 1938 1954
OakmanArthur Alma Oakman 7 April 1938 1964 Ordained an Evangelist
Evangelist (Latter Day Saints)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, an evangelist is an ordained office of the ministry. In some denominations of the movement, an evangelist is referred to as a patriarch . However, the latter term was deprecated by the Community of Christ after the church began ordaining women to the priesthood...

Evangelist English
HieldCharles R. Hield 7 April 1938 6 April 1964 Honorably released
JensenD. Blair Jensen 1946 18 April 1966 Honorably released
DaveyRoscoe E. Davey 1947 6 April 1964 Ordained as Patriarch/Evangelist
DraperMaurice L. Draper 1947 8 October 1958 Ordained as counselor in the First Presidency
SmithW. Wallace Smith
W. Wallace Smith
William Wallace Smith was a grandson of Joseph Smith, Jr. and Prophet-President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , from October 6, 1958 to April 5, 1978, when he retired to "emeritus" status....

1947 1950
FarrowPercy E. Farrow 1948 18 April 1966 Honorably released
HolmesReed M. Holmes 1948 1 April 1974. Ordained as Presiding Patriarchs/Evangelist
ChesworthDonald O. Chesworth 1950 14 April 1972 . Ordained as Patriarch/Evangelist
LentsDonald Victor Lents 1954 8 April 1980 Ordained as Evangelists/Patriarch
NeffCharles D. Neff
Charles D. Neff
Charles Daniel Neff was a missionary who had a great impact on the mission and theology of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . He also founded the humanitarian agency Outreach International and the Community One Resources Development Inc...

8 October 1958 5 April 1984 Honorably released American
ColeClifford A. Cole 8 October 1958 8 April 1980 Called to ministries of teaching and writing
EttingerCecil R. Ettinger 2 April 1960 1 April 1974 Honorably released
CoueyDuane E. Couey 2 April 1960 18 April 1966 Ordained counselors in the First Presidency Presiding Patriarchs/Evangelist American
RalstonRussell F. Ralston 6 April 1964 29 March 1976
TimmsWilliam E. Timms 6 April 1964 3 April 1978 Ordained as Evangelists/Patriarch
HigdonEarl T. Higdon 18 April 1966 1 April 1974 Honorably released
TyreeAlan D. Tyree 18 April 1966 29 March 1982 Ordained counselor in the First Presidency
KouryAleah G. Koury 18 April 1966 8 April 1980 Ordained as Evangelists/Patriarch
SheehyHoward S. Sheehy, Jr.
Howard S. Sheehy, Jr.
Howard Sherman Sheehy, Jr. was a member of the First Presidency of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from 1978 to 2000...

1 April 1968 1980 Ordained counselor in the First Presidency Counselor in the First Presidency American. Ordained counselors on 3 April 1978, but remained as a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles until 1980.
StuartJohn C. Stuart 14 April 1972 29 March 1982 Ordained as Evangelists/Patriarch
HigdonWilliam T. Higdon 1 April 1974 5 April 1992 President of Graceland College
Graceland University
Graceland is not ranked by U.S. News & World Report, being deemed a Tier 3 institution. It is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission as a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.-Housing System:...

HurshmanLloyd B. Hurshman 1 April 1974 14 April 1988 Honorably released
BoothPaul W. Booth 1 April 1974 5 April 1992 Ordained as the Presiding Evangelist
AustinEugene C. Austin, Sr. 29 March 1976 10 April 1994 Honorably released
SchaeferRoy H. Schaefer 3 April 1978 14 April 1988 Honorably released
CaswellPhillip M. Caswell 3 April 1978 1998
SekineKisuke Sekine 8 April 1980 5 April 1992 Honorably released
GraffeoEverett S. Graffeo 8 April 1980 1994 Ordained as the Presiding Evangelist
RobinsonKenneth N. Robinson
Kenneth N. Robinson
Kenneth N. Robinson was a member of the First Presidency of the Community of Christ from 1996 to 2007. Robinson was also an apostle and a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles of the church from 1980 to 1996....

8 April 1980 1996 Ordained counselor in the First Presidency Counselor in the First Presidency Australian
SerigJoe A. Serig 29 March 1982 1998
CableJames C. Cable 29 March 1982 1996
SpencerGeoffrey F. Spencer 5 April 1984 10 April 1994 Honorably released Australian
KahtavaA. Alex Kahtava 14 April 1988 2002
KirkpatrickJohn P. Kirkpatrick 14 April 1988 2007
BrockDavid R. Brock
David R. Brock
David Brock is an American leader in the Community of Christ. Brock has been the President of Seventy, a member of the church's Council of Twelve Apostles and the church's Presiding Patriarch.Brock was born in Kansas City, Kansas...

5 April 1992 27 March 2007 Ordained as the Presiding Evangelist President of Seventy
Presiding Evangelist
American
TyreeLawrence W. Tyree 5 April 1992 2002
VeazeyStephen M. Veazey
Stephen M. Veazey
Stephen Mark Veazey is the current Prophet-President of the Community of Christ, headquartered in Independence, Missouri. Veazey's name was presented to the church in March 2005 by a joint council of church leaders led by the Council of Twelve Apostles, as the next Prophet-President...

5 April 1992 2005 Ordained as the Prophet-President President of the Council of Twelve

Prophet-President
American
BelroseDanny E. Belrose 10 April 1994 2000
LuffmanDale E. Luffman 10 April 1994 present American. Longest serving member of the current Council
McLaughlinKenneth L. McLaughlin 10 April 1994 2005
JuddPeter A. Judd
Peter A. Judd
Peter A. Judd was a member of the First Presidency of the Community of Christ from 2000 to 2005. Judd was also an apostle and a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles of the church from 1996 to 2000.Judd, a native of Enfield, England, became a counselor to W...

1996 2000 Ordained counselor in the First Presidency Counselor in the First Presidency English
SlauterJames E. Slauter 1996 August 1, 2011 President of the Council of Twelve

Secretary of the Council of Twelve
American.
MengelGail E. Mengel
Gail E. Mengel
Gail E. Mengel was an apostle and member of the Council of Twelve Apostles of the Community of Christ from 1998 to 2005. Mengel and Linda L. Booth were the first women to be ordained apostles in the history of the Community of Christ...

31 March 1998 2005 Called as Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer President of Church Women United
Church Women United
Church Women United is a national ecumenical Christian women’s movement representing Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox and other Christian women. Founded in 1941, this organization has more than 1,200 local and state units in the United States and Puerto Rico. CWU's members represent 26...



Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer
Along with Linda L. Booth, the first women to be ordained apostles.
BoothLinda L. Booth 1998 present American. Along with Gail E. Mengel, the first women to be ordained apostles.
YoungLeonard M. Young 2000 2010
ChibweBunda C. Chibwe
Bunda C. Chibwe
Bunda Chitungy Chibwe has been a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles of the Community of Christ since 2000.Chibwe was born in Lubunda, Zambia. He was educated at the Kananga School of Theology in Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo and at Park University in Missouri. He became a...

April 2000 present President of the Sixth Quorum of Seventy Zambian
DynesMary Jacks Dynes 2002 2010 President of the Fifth Quorum of Seventy.
SchaalDavid D. Schaal
David D. Schaal
David D. Schaal has been a member of the First Presidency of the Community of Christ since 2005. Schaal was also a member of the church's Council of Twelve Apostles from 2002 to 2005....

2002 2005 Ordained counselor in the First Presidency President of the Tri Stake Mission Center

Counselor in the First Presidency
American
CrammStassi D. Cramm 4 June 2005 present Counselor to the Presiding bishop
HarmonRonald D. Harmon, Jr. 4 June 2005 present
MaupinRick W. Maupin 4 June 2005 present American
SkoorSusan D. Skoor 4 June 2005 present American
Andrew BoltonAndrew Bolton 2007
MejiaCarlos Enrique Mejia 2007 present
JamesRichard C.N. James 2010 present
MurphyK. Scott Murphy 2010 present
CarterBarbara L. Carter 2011 present Currently an Apostle-designate
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