As I previously mentioned, until last year, it had been customary for the Church to release a list of those changes either in late April or at any point during May. Last year, those new assignments were released on the Newsroom website the Thursday after General Conference concluded. Since that did not happen this year, I am thinking that was a one-time thing, and that we will likely hear about the 2019 Area Leadership assignments within the next 1-4 weeks, but perhaps earlier than that if all goes well.
Having taken time to analyze what I know about the current area presidency members serving in various parts of the world, I have compiled a list of changes which, based on that research and analysis, seem likely to be announced whenever that information is released. I include a copy of that research below. In order to not disturb the flow of that data and the results of my research on that subject, I will end here and now as I always do:
That does it for this post. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post5 at any time, as long as such comments are made in accordance with the established guidelines. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly-added content, pleaxe feel free to subscribe. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
List of the Most
Likely Changes Which May Be Made in Area Leadership for 2019
New area—Africa Central:
In mid-January, in a post on the Church Growth Blog which analyzed the
announcement that 4 new missions would be created, with 12 current ones to be
consolidated in July, Matthew Martinich noted that, given the growth trends of
the Church throughout theI African continent, the Church could organize an
Africa Central Area, which would likely be headquartered in Kinshasa and would
include the following 9 nations: Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic,
Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic
of the Congo, and Sao Tome and Pricipe, although other nations could likely be
included in that area if the Church deems it necessary.. If such an area is
created, it may be based in Kinshasa DR Congo, and a 3-man area presidency
would be needed to preside over it. That would also likely result in a
realignment of the Africa Southeast and Africa West Areas.
Other potential
new areas in Africa: If the Church wanted to ease the administrative burden
on the area presidency members serving the African continent, in addition to
the Africa Central Area, the Africa Southeast Area could be split further into
the Africa East and Africa South
Areas.
New areas
elsewhere: In 1995, the Church had several separate areas that have since
been merged. A few examples: at that time, Idaho was not its’ own separate area,
Mexico had two (North and South), the South American continent was divided
between 3 areas (Brazil, South America North, and South America South), Europe
had 3 areas (Europe East, Europe North, and Europe West), and there was a
Philippines/Micronesia Area. Over the years, some areas have been consolidated
(with the Chile Area being consolidated into the South America South Area). So
in some areas where more significant growth is occurring, it may make sense to
create or recreate new or previously-consolidated areas.
Potential Area
Consolidations: Elsewhere in prior posts on the Church Growth Blog, Matt
mentioned that the Europe East Area could potentially be consolidated into the
Europe Area, and that the Asia North Area could potentially be consolidated
into the Asia Area due to some issues the Europe East and Asia North Areas are
having in terms of stagnating growth, If the Asia and Asia North and Europe and
Europe East Areas were to be consolidated, the location of the area offices for
what would then be one Asia Area and one Europe Area might be changed.
Elder Marcos A.
Aidukaitis released as President of
the Brazil Area.
Note: Elder Aidukaitis has served in this
assignment since 2017, but has served in this area presidency since 2014. As he
has been away from headquarters for 5 years straight, it would make sense if he
was released from area service and reassigned to Church headquarters. If he is
released, it seems likely that one of his two current counselors (Elders W.
Mark Bassett or Adilson de Paula Parrella) would succeed him in that
assignment.
Elder Jose L.
Alonso released as First Counselor in the Caribbean Area Presidency.
Note: Elder Alonso has been away from Church
headquarters since 2014, serving in the Central America Area Presidency for 3
years, and having served in the Caribbean Area Presidency since 2017. It would
not surprise me if he and the current area president, Elder Gonzalez (as I will
explain more fully below) were released and reassigned to Church headquarters,
with Elder Eduardo Gavarret perhaps called as the new area president.
Elder Wilford W.
Andersen released as President of the
Idaho/North America Central Area and as Junior
Administrator of the Middle East/Africa North Area.
Note: Elder
Andersen will turn 70 in mid-August, and will thus likely be granted emeritus
status. He could be replaced in the former assignment by either of his
counselors (Elders S. Gifford Nielsen or Brian K. Taylor), and either of those
two could also remain in the newly-reorganized area presidency. In the second
assignment, he could potentially be replaced by Elder Paul B. Pieper, the current
First Counselor in the North America Southeast Area, who has previously had
oversight for that area.
Elder Claudio R.
M. Costa released as President of the
North America Southeast Area.
Note: Elder Costa, who is the longest-serving
current General Authority Seventy, marked his 70th birthday one
month ago (in late March). His release will make Elder Lynn G. Robbins the new
longest-serving current General Authority Seventy, and the most-senior General
Authority Seventies will be those originally called during the prophetic
administration of President Gordon B. Hinckley. Elder Costa could be replaced
as President of the North America Southeast Area by either of his counselors
(Elders Shayne M. Bowen or Vern P. Stanfill), and either of those two could
also remain in the newly-reorganized area presidency.
Elder LeGrand R.
Curtis released as First Counselor in
the Utah Area Presidency.
Note: On April 10, 2019, the First Presidency
announced that Elder Curtis will be serving as the new Church Historian and
Recorder, effective August 1, 2019. Because that assignment is established by
revelation, sustained by the Church membership, and involves full-time focus,
that in turn will necessitate his release from that area assignment. As a
result of this change, it is likely that Elder Randy D. Funk, currently Second
Counselor in that area presidency, may be called to succeed him, with a new
Second Counselor then called.
Elder Walter F.
Gonzalez released as President of the
Caribbean Area.
Note: Elder Gonzalez has served as president of
this area since 2016, and prior to that was president of the South America
South Area from early January 2013-2016. Since he has spent more than 6 years
away from Church headquarters, it would make sense if he returned back to
Church headquarters to fill other assignments. Given what I noted above about
his current First Counselor, Elder Jose L. Alonso, Elder Eduardo Gavarret, the
current Second Counselor in this area presidency, could be called as the new
president with two new counselors.
Elder O. Vincent
Haleck released as Pacific Area
President
Note: Elder Haleck turned 70 in mid-January of
this year, and will thus likely be released and granted emeritus status in
October. He could be succeeded as president of this area by either of his
counselors (Elders Ian S. Ardern or K. Brett Nattress). Of the two, it would
make sense if Elder Ardern became the new president, since his niece is the
Prime Minister of New Zealand and Elder Ardern would thus be in a prime
position to effect quick action on the Auckland New Zealand Temple. If Elder
Ardern is assigned as the new area president, I could see Elder Nattress being
called as the new First Counselor in the area presidency.
Elder Paul V.
Johnson released as Europe Area
President
Note: On April 10, 2019, the First Presidency
announced that Elder Johnson would be succeeding Elder Kim B. Clark as
Commissioner of Church Education. Since that is a full-time assignment at
Church headquarters, he will be released from this assignment. I could see
either of his counselors (Elders Gary B. Sabin or Massimo De Feo) being called
as the new area president.)
Elder Arnulfo
Valenzuela released as Mexico Area
President
Note: Elder Valenzuela was called as a General
Authority Seventy in April 2013, and has served in the Mexico Area Presidency
since August of that same year, and was called as area president last year.
While the Church could have him serve another year or two as the area
president, if he is called back to Church headquarters, one of his two
counselors (Elders Rafael E. Pino and John C. Pingree Jr.) could then be called
as the new president of this area.
Elder Kazuhiko
Yamashita released as First Counselor
in the Asia North Area Presidency.
Note: Elder Yamashita has served in this area
presidency since 2015. Since that was 4 years ago, I could see the First
Presidency reassigning him to Church headquarters. If that happens, Elder Takashi
Wada, the current Second Counselor in that area presidency, could succeed him
as First Counselor, with a new Second Counselor called.
Elder Alexey V.
Samaykin (Area Seventy) released as Second
Counselor in the Europe East Area Presidency.
Note: Elder Samaykin has served as an area seventy
since April 2014, and may thus be released during the October 2019 General
Conference. Since he has served as a counselor in this area presidency for the
last 3 years at minimum (which is also rare for an area seventy), it would make
sense if a change was made here.
