Community of Christ poised to break gender barrier

[Doondoo]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- For the first time in its 147-year history, the head of the Community of Christ has called a woman to serve in the First Presidency - the highest level of leadership in the largest Mormon offshoot denomination. The recommendation of Becky L. Savage is one of several to be voted on by delegates to the Community of Christ World Conference, scheduled for March 24-31 at the church's international headquarters in the Kansas City suburb of Independence.

In his letter of counsel, released Thursday, President Stephen M. Veazey also called two new members to the church's Council of Twelve Apostles and recommended a new presiding evangelist and presiding bishop. As a member of the First Presidency, Savage would serve with the other member, David D. Schall, as counselors to Veazey. Savage is currently the church's director for leadership development.

"This is not something I expected, that's for sure, but I'm excited to be working with the First Presidency," she said Friday.

Veazey, who as the church's president is also considered its prophet, said Savage's background in leadership training and her work to integrate women into leadership roles made her the right choice to succeed the retiring Kenneth N. Robinson.

"As I began to think about what the needs are in the presidency of the church," Veazey said, "I began to understand: No. 1, how important leadership development is for the church; and No. 2, she has a background in leadership development, both in the corporate world and in the church."



http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MO_COMMUNITY_OF_CHRIST_LEADERSHIP_UTOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-03-02-16-05-20

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I hadn't heard of this offshoot before

Is it in any way related to the Reorganized Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints? They and the larger LDS Church were a big presence in Nauvoo IL, the town founded by Mormons and where Joseph Smith is buried (the RCCLDS church claims title to the area of the grave, if memory serves).

[loudestchick]

2. Same folks. I was raised in RLDS Independence and remember taking trips to Nauvoo as a kid.

They were almost pilgrimages. Funny thing. The current "prophet", Steve Veasy, would stay with my family during world conferences while he was a college student...he didn't seem all that touch by god then. (though I do recall walking in on him and a girlfriend on the couch in our "wreck-room")

My father was on the council of 12 for awhile when I was young.

I don't believe any longer...fully heretical...but I find the ongoing issues interesting.