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| In a First, Mormon Church Appoints 2 People of Color as Senior Leaders | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| For the first time in its nearly 200-year history, the Mormon Church on Saturday appointed two people of color into the upper echelons of its leadership, positions that were previously occupied by white men. | For the first time in its nearly 200-year history, the Mormon Church on Saturday appointed two people of color into the upper echelons of its leadership, positions that were previously occupied by white men. |
| The two new leaders, Gerrit W. Gong, who is Chinese-American, and Ulisses Soares, who is Brazilian, will join the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which is the second-highest governing body in the church. The group helps make policy decisions in tandem with the church’s president and his two counselors. | The two new leaders, Gerrit W. Gong, who is Chinese-American, and Ulisses Soares, who is Brazilian, will join the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which is the second-highest governing body in the church. The group helps make policy decisions in tandem with the church’s president and his two counselors. |
| Because the presidency is filled by the longest-serving member of the quorum, the two newest apostles could eventually gain enough seniority to occupy the highest position within the church. Several of the church’s senior leaders were born before World War II. The president, Russell M. Nelson, is 93, and the next man in line for the position is 85. | Because the presidency is filled by the longest-serving member of the quorum, the two newest apostles could eventually gain enough seniority to occupy the highest position within the church. Several of the church’s senior leaders were born before World War II. The president, Russell M. Nelson, is 93, and the next man in line for the position is 85. |
| In the near future, however, it is more likely that either of the new apostles could be chosen as a counselor to the president, a position that does not require seniority. | In the near future, however, it is more likely that either of the new apostles could be chosen as a counselor to the president, a position that does not require seniority. |
| Although the appointments are historic and might help retain members, they are unlikely to change the status quo, said David E. Campbell, a professor of political science and a religion expert at the University of Notre Dame who has written about Mormonism. | Although the appointments are historic and might help retain members, they are unlikely to change the status quo, said David E. Campbell, a professor of political science and a religion expert at the University of Notre Dame who has written about Mormonism. |
| These are “company men” who have been socialized and indoctrinated in the ways the church works, he said, adding that “therefore, it is very unlikely that they would come to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and have any new radical ideas.” | These are “company men” who have been socialized and indoctrinated in the ways the church works, he said, adding that “therefore, it is very unlikely that they would come to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and have any new radical ideas.” |
| Even if they did, he added, “they are only two votes out of 12.” | Even if they did, he added, “they are only two votes out of 12.” |
| Mr. Gong, 64, a former special assistant to the United States ambassador in Beijing, and Mr. Soares, 59, a onetime accountant and auditor for multinational corporations in Brazil, have both served as second-tier leaders within the church for many years. | Mr. Gong, 64, a former special assistant to the United States ambassador in Beijing, and Mr. Soares, 59, a onetime accountant and auditor for multinational corporations in Brazil, have both served as second-tier leaders within the church for many years. |
| They were unavailable for interviews, Karlie Brand Guymon, a spokeswoman for the church said on Sunday. | They were unavailable for interviews, Karlie Brand Guymon, a spokeswoman for the church said on Sunday. |
| While recent data show that church membership in the United States has leveled out, areas like Africa and Latin America have seen surges. | While recent data show that church membership in the United States has leveled out, areas like Africa and Latin America have seen surges. |
| “Latin America remains and has been for the past three decades the area of the largest church growth,” said Patrick Mason, an expert on Mormonism and chairman of Mormon studies at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, Calif. | “Latin America remains and has been for the past three decades the area of the largest church growth,” said Patrick Mason, an expert on Mormonism and chairman of Mormon studies at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, Calif. |
| The church also hopes to expand in Asia and beyond. At the general conference, the large biannual gathering where the apostles were announced, leaders shared plans to build the church’s first temples in India and Russia. | The church also hopes to expand in Asia and beyond. At the general conference, the large biannual gathering where the apostles were announced, leaders shared plans to build the church’s first temples in India and Russia. |
| “The face of Mormonism is increasingly going to be people from the global south and people of color,” Professor Mason said. | “The face of Mormonism is increasingly going to be people from the global south and people of color,” Professor Mason said. |
| The Mormon Church does not release statistics breaking down its members by race, but according to a 2014 Pew Research Center report, about 1 percent of Mormons in the United States are Asian and 1 percent are black. The largest number of minorities in the church — 8 percent — identify as Latino, the study showed, while 5 percent identify as “other” or “mixed.” | The Mormon Church does not release statistics breaking down its members by race, but according to a 2014 Pew Research Center report, about 1 percent of Mormons in the United States are Asian and 1 percent are black. The largest number of minorities in the church — 8 percent — identify as Latino, the study showed, while 5 percent identify as “other” or “mixed.” |
| When minority church members don’t see themselves represented among the leadership, “there’s a feeling of I might not be as wanted as I thought I might be,” said Paulette L. Payne, a Mormon in Atlanta who is black. | When minority church members don’t see themselves represented among the leadership, “there’s a feeling of I might not be as wanted as I thought I might be,” said Paulette L. Payne, a Mormon in Atlanta who is black. |
| The church has a painful history of excluding African-Americans. From the mid-1800s until 1978, it did not ordain black men to its priesthood or allow black men or women to participate in important rituals. The rules changed, the church said, when top leaders prayed and received a revelation that everyone deserved inclusion. | The church has a painful history of excluding African-Americans. From the mid-1800s until 1978, it did not ordain black men to its priesthood or allow black men or women to participate in important rituals. The rules changed, the church said, when top leaders prayed and received a revelation that everyone deserved inclusion. |
| There are a few black men serving on the Quorums of the Seventy, the church’s second-tier group of leaders. | There are a few black men serving on the Quorums of the Seventy, the church’s second-tier group of leaders. |
| Women remain the final frontier. Church doctrine does not allow women to be ordained into the priesthood or hold top leadership positions. The highest-ranking women run councils that cater to women and girls, and occupy the lowest rank in the church’s organizational chart. | Women remain the final frontier. Church doctrine does not allow women to be ordained into the priesthood or hold top leadership positions. The highest-ranking women run councils that cater to women and girls, and occupy the lowest rank in the church’s organizational chart. |
| At its conference, the church took a step toward elevating women’s voices by reorganizing local congregations and allowing men and women to have more similar experiences, Professor Mason said. | At its conference, the church took a step toward elevating women’s voices by reorganizing local congregations and allowing men and women to have more similar experiences, Professor Mason said. |
| “It will change the way people experience their Mormonism on a week-to-week level when they go to church on Sunday,” he said. “And that’s not a small thing.” | “It will change the way people experience their Mormonism on a week-to-week level when they go to church on Sunday,” he said. “And that’s not a small thing.” |
| Ms. Payne, 43, who has been an active church member since 1989, said she is cautiously optimistic about the changes. | Ms. Payne, 43, who has been an active church member since 1989, said she is cautiously optimistic about the changes. |
| “I’m very pleased with the direction, but there still needs to be greater representation,” she said. “If I had a child, I would want her or him to see themselves reflected not only in the local leadership or the general congregations, but in the presidency.” | “I’m very pleased with the direction, but there still needs to be greater representation,” she said. “If I had a child, I would want her or him to see themselves reflected not only in the local leadership or the general congregations, but in the presidency.” |