Stephen M. Veazey, of Independence, Missouri, is president of the Community of Christ. Prior to his ordination to that office on June 3, 2005, he served as a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles, the leading missionary quorum of Community of Christ. Veazey is the eighth president of the church and the second who is not a direct descendent of the church founder Joseph Smith, Jr.

A full-time minister since 1982, he was ordained as a president of seventy at the 1988 World Conference and as an apostle at the 1992 World Conference. In April 2002, Steve was set apart as president of the Council of Twelve and was the director of Field Ministries. He was also responsible for Church Planting Ministries and Young Adult and Campus Ministries.

His previous assignments include missionary and administrative work in the Southern USA Mission Field, which includes the Florida, Gulf States, Mid South, and Southeast Regions; the Africa/East Central Field, which includes the Africa and East Central States regions and the St. Louis Stake; the Ontario, South Central and East Central States regions; apostle for Spectacular; division of Program Services, Outreach Ministries commissioner; the North Central Region; Advanced Leadership Studies at the church’s headquarters; and African American Ministries.

Prior to 1983, Steve was an executive minister to the Fremont, California, congregation, and was in charge of a missionary development project funded by the World Church for the San Francisco Bay Stake.

Mr. Veazey attended Henry County High School in Tennessee, and earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Tennessee. He received a master of arts in religion from Park College in 1985.

His additional service to the church has been in various roles, including an assignment as a young adult two-year contractual minister to the Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, Metropole; director of youth camps and seminars; field associate for a young adult campus ministries office; presiding elder; and counselor to the pastor in Paris, Tennessee.

Mr. Veazey is married to Cathleen Henson Cackler Veazey. They have three children.

The offices of the First Presidency are located at Community of Christ International Headquarters in Independence, Missouri.