History was made Sunday night in Independence, Missouri, as the Community of Christ gathered for a momentous occasion: the election and ordination of a new prophet president. The focus of the event was Stassi Cramm, who was anticipated to take on this significant leadership role, following Steven Veazey’s retirement.
I was surprised that they formally dissolved the First Presidency, before the nomination process moved forward. (That seemed like an LDS thing to do to counter Sidney Rigdon’s claim to the presidency.) Following that procedure, the conference was turned over to the president of the Council of Twelve, Mareva Arnaud Tchong (a French-speaking Tahitian woman) who led the conference through the succession process.
In one of the Saturday sessions, Stassi Cramm formally accepted her nomination. Leading up to the vote, which was scheduled for 2:00 PM Central time, discussions were held in quorum caucus meetings. While it was acknowledged that there might be some opposition or abstentions, there was strong anticipation of support for Stassi Cramm, with reports of full support from the evangelists quorum and no opposition reported in the high priests quorum, though some abstentions occurred. It was speculated that the vote could be a slam dunk, indicating overwhelming support. I would estimate that 95+% of the delegates voted in favor of Stassi’s ordination. There were a few who voted in opposition.
The anticipation culminated in the official proceedings. On June 1st, 2025, Stassi Cramm was officially sustained during the 2 pm session, and ordained prophet president of the Community of Christ during a 7 pm session. This moment was described as an “amazing service” that was “spirit-filled.” This ordination marks a truly historic milestone for the Community of Christ, as Stassi Cramm becomes the first female prophet president for the church.
It should be noted that Stassi is not the first female to lead a restoration group. Pauline Hancock is noted as the first female leader in the restoration movement. Stassi Cramm holds this specific title for the Community of Christ. Following the ordination, a rousing anthem was sung by the congregation, “A Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning,” with special emphasis of “We’ll sing, and we’ll SHOUT with the armies of heaven.” It was quite a moment.
The theme of the week was is “to have hope,” and Stassi Cramm’s leadership is seen as potentially sparking that hope further, encouraging members not to give up on the church or its doctrines.
Stassi comes in at a tough financial time in the church, which sold off the Kirtland Temple and significant Nauvoo properties. She will have a tough time righting the financial ship as tithe payers age and younger members haven’t been stepping up to support the church.
The conference will continue through the rest of the week as delegates vote 6 new apostles (to replace retiring or apostles moving onto other callings) and several resolutions dealing with copyrighted works, the Holy Land, stewardship of church properties, reviewing bylaws, climate emergency, confiscation of monies in AIP accounts, sale of church properties, bicentennial D&C/Book of Mormon, and reducing gun violence. Delegates will vote to amend, affirm or oppose these resolutions this coming week.
At any rate, the week started off with a celebration of Stassi Cramm’s ordination as new prophet president. What are your thoughts on the news?
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Wheat & Tares 
Pretty cool to hear my friend Matt Frizzell moving into the apostolic role.
Was there any drama at the conference relating to the Kirtland Temple sale? I saw quite a few people on CofC social media mentioned raising a stink at the next conference, and I’m curious if they followed through?
I’m pretty sure discussions about the temple sale will occur during the coming week. I expect a stink will be made. The first 2 days were mainly for selecting/ordaining a new president.
A resolution was introduced today asking that if the Church decided to sell the Independence Temple or Auditorium that it be brought to a vote first. It was ruled “out of order” before any debate even began, so it went down in flames.
Can someone please tell me the significance of the Auditorium?
CofChrist’s AI answering chat is super primitive and won’t tell me anything. I know it has seats and some history, but so does the Temple and Stone Church–I imagine either one could be used for a conference along with distance attending. At first I thought maybe it’s the property, being near the temple lot, but Stone Church is there and was not part of that vote resolution. I thought for sure people would be trying to defend historic churches such as the little one in Far West as a priority, but it sounds like that one’s not on anyone’s radar. I tried to look at internet discussions, but people don’t talk much about these online. So I can only hypothesize…is it about the memories those places hold–maybe more were made in the Auditorium? Is it the speakers and the sense of impact, the fact that a lot can be gathered there just in case it’s needed? Also is there a different opinion on these properties among foreign members, or is CofC fairly united? CofC’s AI pretty much told me that the vote on Common Consent for these properties was mainly symbolic, the Presiding Bishopric has the final say–I found that interesting; thoughts?
Church headquarters moved from Lamoni, Iowa, to Independence shortly after the turn of the 20th Century and was understood as a “return to the land of Zion.” Construction on the Auditorium began in 1927 but work was halted during the Depression and WWII. It was enclosed enough to begin serving as church headquarters, however. Its design is somewhat similar to the SL Tabernacle (a smaller structure with more seating because it haa pews as opposed to theater seats).Over the decades the Auditorium symbolized church stability, growth, and presence in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. The building was completed and dedicated in 1960.
The conference chamber seats 5,800 and includes a 110-rank pipe organ. In 1993 the uniquely styled Temple (with its own world-class pipe organ) directly to the northeast was dedicated. Both are now considered the International Headquarters Complex. They sit on a large portion of the original 63-acre site dedicated by Joseph Smith, Jr., in 1831 as the site for the Independence temple(s).. The LDS Visitor Center on the same corner is as well.
The sale of the Kirtland Temple and Nauvoo historic sites came as such a shock to many CofC folks that I suppose it was only natural that some might assume everything might get put up for sale.
One more point: In Community of Christ the presiding bishop is chief financial officer and trustee-in-trust for all church properties worldwide. The PB has considerably more authority and responsibilities than the PB in the LDS Church (for example, it’s my understanding that in the LDS Church properties are “owned” by the Corporation of the First Presidency). Somebody please correct me if I’m wrong.
I appreciate it Rich that’s good to know.
Perhaps there was some kind of internal polling that led to the sale of an older property. With everyone rallying around these newer buildings instead of the historic ones maybe that’s what was going on? Or maybe I’m wrong and Kirtland was on the same level and it was meant to send a message to boost the amount of tithing?
I found out the Strangites offered to buy Kirtland without all the extra properties for the same price or more, but the two churches had already been talking to each other about this since 2019. That’s crazy–5 years and no leaks! So it wasn’t only about what would bring the most money–it really is a mystery.
Maybe the international members played a role? I’m thinking that because in the videos about the sale they didn’t seem terribly bothered, it was the Americans who had been in the church for generations that felt more emotional.
I’m guessing Far West is disposable, Graceland University is probably at the bottom of the list–left leaning churches are getting much more data driven, they’re getting better at stopping up the leaks, and they are turning around. CofC appears to be investing in youth, the former has only a handful of people following it on facebook.
Opps, in my last sentence I was meant to say that the Far West chapel has only a handful of people following it on facebook, and that Graceland University was where CofC appeared to be investing, that’s pretty smart.
The sale of historic properties by the Community of Christ has occurred for several related circumstances. First and foremost is the Denomination’s attempt to sever as many ties to “Mormonism” as possible. The name change was part of this movement. Before the 1980’s, upkeep of the historic sites was in the world church budget. Then the Restoration Trail Foundation (RLDS) had to rely solely on donations. With a Church message that de-emphasized the Joseph Smith, Jr. era, younger members didn’t contribute or were even aware of the sites. There are properties that are part of the RLDS history (post-1860) like Liberty Hall and Plano Church that are still owned/maintained by the Church (I think).
For decades after the Church began its leftist transformation, rumors abounded that historic properties, like Kirtland Temple, would be sold. Editorials appeared in the “Saints Herald” periodical titled “Silly Rumors” which would state adamantly “Kirtland Temple IS NOT for sale”. It’s understandable that some of the membership are mistrustful of the leadership. For these concerns to be ruled out of order validates that mistrust.
Mark, what you term the CofC’s “leftist transformation,” I see much more as “more Christ, less Joseph Smith.” I suppose the 2001 name change could be variously viewed as either distancing from Mormon past/origins or a realization the church is becoming closer to Christian mainstream and/or orthodoxy. It’s really a matter of our differing perspectives. In regard to the shock and trauma resulting from the historic sites sale to the LDS church: at Conference the FP ruled a resolution out of order because it violated numerous World Church bylaws and undermined the role of the Presiding Bishopric as trustees-in-trust of all church properties. President Cramm gave an extended explanation indicating leadership’s sincere concern for the issue and its effect on so many church members. The sale was obviously a hard and painful decision. In the end the choice was between using limited funds to fully maintain the historic sites or fund worldwide mission work (“Our mission is Christ’s mission”). Fortunately, we found a buyer who treasures those sites and whose pockets are deep enough to more than adequately care for them indefinitely. The Community of Christ has many challenges ahead, but like many others I am more hopeful as a result of this World Conference.
“more Christ, less Joseph Smith”. Why are these viewed as rivals? Why are the beliefs/concepts of the Restoration seen as disreputable, when they all are connected to the divinity of Jesus Christ? During my last years as an RLDS, instructional materials from the church suggested that Latter Day Saint beliefs (no enumeration needed) were offensive to the public and therefore counter-productive and undesirable. The “offensive” tag was, I believe, a generalization. The ones offended, in my experiences, were members that personally didn’t believe them and wanted the church to do likewise.
Rich, I see the transformation as “more Protestant, less Restoration”; a view shared by many. Again, I point out the lack of numerical growth of the church for 50+ years. But I look forward to visiting Kirtland this summer for the first time.
This conversation between the two of you ( Rich Brown and Mark Gibson ) is fascinating, so I gave you both upvotes. You both have great points.
It’s weird because I thought that the name change controversy would have been at the bottom of the list of disturbances. The Book of Mormon only requires it be in Christ’s name, and the D&C was pretty much settling a debate, not mandating something for eternity, the whole nature of continual revelation can be seen as progressive, can it not? I didn’t realize that there was so much drama still going on, I thought the schism (remnant vs. cofc) already happened. Reading stuff online feels like the Catholics who are hoping for pre-vatican 2 trying to steer their church, and the european catholics taking it in another direction in the CofC. Hopefully that friction dies down for the members’ well-being, that’s not fun psychologically to worry about the direction one’s church is going.
So…was there a stink raised on the temple this week Rick B?
There were several attempts, via conference resolutions, to change the name of the church. I was present in 1990 when one such resolution was brought to a vote and lost. The “whereas” preambles would include the confusion with the LDS church by using the RLDS name, hence the need for change. I thought it strange that the issue was allowed to be brought up repeatedly over the years.
I appreciate people taking the time to answer my questions about the culture and more. I was told a lot of weird stuff growing up about the RLDS that’s not true, like that they had bikini garments and were allowed to keep that but had to disavowed the Book of Mormon–all in order to merge with a protestant denomination, and that you could view sacred temple ceremonies through a glass window at their temple but they turned the sound off to keep it sacred. I’M SO EMBARASSED GUYS!!!
Wow, that is some pretty weird stuff, none of which I’d ever heard before, btw. Actually, the Conference wad a very unifying and spiritually uplifting experience. Yes, there are still folks grieving the loss of the Kirtland Temple and Nauvoo properties. Perhaps time will help heal those wounds. As for those who left the church in the 80s (I realize for many of those folks, the church left them), I think for the most part the vast majority have moved on to Restorationist groups, a few to the LDS church, and others to parts unknown. What’s not always appreciated are those who just got tired of the anger and fighting and “faded quietly away.”
But really now, “bikini garments”!!!
@Sensationally, I agree with Rich Brown that the conference was pretty uplifting and mostly unified. There were 2 resolutions about the sale of the temple/Auditorium and both were quickly ruled out of order, so not much stink was raised. But yes, people are still upset about the temple sale and are concerned about the Auditorium and Temple being sold as well.
I didn’t hear anything about Graceland U being sold, but I heard (a few years ago) that they are spending their endowment, so I think it is in big financial trouble too. One person told me if the CoC did sell the temple with all the HQ offices, they could take over the offices at Graceland and move HQ back to the historical HQ of Lamoni, Iowa. In that case, I think they would simply shut down the college.
I have heard unconfirmed rumors that the Auditorium was offered to the LDS Church, but with all the asbestos in the building, heat & A/C upgrades needed, the LDS Church didn’t want it. I don’t know if that rumor is true. I never heard about bikini garments though. There are a lot of weird rumors about RLDS.
After I had some time to edit, I put all the above videos together, added a few others, and improved the sound. I thought I made it phone friendly, but alas, I messed up. It does sound better and has some of the Conference vote and other clips.
There is one historical item I would like to see sold by the CofC to the LDS: the copyright for the Inspired Version of the Bible, aka The Joseph Smith Translation. The LDS has bits and pieces in their Bible footnotes, appendix, and The Pearl of Great Price Book of Moses, but it’s not complete. The Inspired Version is no longer the go-to version for the CofC, and I’ve been told that LDS members are the largest group of purchasers.
I’m pretty sure that was sold as part of the temple sale, so your wish was granted Mark.
Rick, I could be mistaken but I don’t think the copyright was included in the sale. Sales of the IV (JST) have always been a consistent source of income for Herald House when it was slightly separate from the church and now that HH is subsumed in the church headquarters operation.
The KJV Bible Joseph Smith referenced when making changes, as well as the manuscripts, were part of the sale. Herald House (CofC) is still listed as the publisher of the Inspired Version.