Stassi D. Cramm is the Prophet-President designate of Community of Christ, set to replace Stephen M. Veazey at the 2025 World Conference, which will be the first time that a woman has headed the denomination.[1][2] She currently serves in the governing body of the First Presidency.[3]
Cramm was raised in Illinois,[3] and graduated college from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana with a BS in engineering, before getting MAs in organizational management and religion from the University of Phoenix and the Community of Christ Seminary at Graceland University respectively, and a PhD in organization and management from Capella University.[4][5] Afterwards she worked as a flight test engineer for the United States Air Force.[4]
Cramm was set apart as a priest in 1987, and has been working for the church since then, including overseeing the church's finances and as a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles.[3] She has served on the Board of Trustees of Graceland University since 2016, which is operated by the church, and served as dean of the seminary.[5]
In 2024 it was announced that she had been called to the role of Prophet-President, and would be the first women to take the position since the Community of Christ began ordaining women to the priesthood in 1984.[6] She is expected to be quickly approved at the 2025 World Conference.[3]
References
edit- ^ Walch, Tad (19 January 2024). "Community of Christ, formerly the RLDS church, announces next prophet-president". Deseret News.
- ^ Sunseri, Antonio (26 January 2024). "Stassi D. Cramm is the first woman called to lead a church founded by Joseph Smith". Argus Observer.
- ^ a b c d Kemsley, Tamarra (18 January 2024). "For the first time, a woman will lead this church, which traces back to Joseph Smith". The Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^ a b "WPH International Speaker Series". Community of Christ.
- ^ a b Adams, Shane (17 January 2024). "Trustee Stassi Cramm Named Prophet-President". Graceland University.
- ^ Ingram, Aleah (18 January 2024). "Community of Christ Calls First Ever Female Prophet-President". LDS Daily.