The World Church Leadership Council of the Community of Christ is a leadership body made up of the First Presidency, the Council of Twelve Apostles, and the Presiding Bishopric Community of Christ Bylaws, webpage, retrieved June 24, 2006. It meets in a special room in the Independence temple. With the adoption of a sweeping new set of church bylaws at the 2002 World Conference, this body essentially replaced a prior council known as the Joint Council. Bylaw provisions allow for additional members to be added to the World Church Leadership Council.

Overview

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Since its formation, the World Church Leadership Council has been used as a deliberative and consensus forming body in a number of important decisions, including the 2002 Statement on Homosexuality, formation of mission centers, and in setting of dates for specially called World Conferences. In addition, the World Church Leadership Council was closely connected to the recommendation by the Council of Twelve that Steven M. Veazey be ordained as prophet-president of the church.

Prior History of the Joint Council

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Prior to the adoption of the 2002 bylaws, a similar body known as the Joint Council served in essentially the same role as the new World Church Leadership Council. One of the important results of the their efforts was a moment during the deliberation of the vision and mission statements of the church during a 1994 Joint Council retreat when President Wallace B. Smith first suggested the name of the church as Community of ChristCommunity of Christ Name, webpage, retrieved June 24, 2006. The Joint Council was often named as a policy approval body in legislation passed at World Conferences over a period of many decades.

Notes

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Community of Christ | Latter Day Saint hierarchy