W. Grant McMurray

{{short description|Prophet-President of Community of Christ (1996–2004)}}

{{Infobox Latter Day Saint biography

| name = W. Grant McMurray

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| birth_name = William Grant McMurray

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| education = Bachelor of arts
Master of divinity

| alma_mater = Graceland University
University of Missouri–Kansas City
Saint Paul School of Theology

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| spouse = Joyce Lorance McMurray

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| portals = CoC

| position_or_quorum1 = Prophet–President of the Church

| ordination_reason1 = designated successor by Wallace B. Smith

| predecessor1 = Wallace B. Smith

| successor1 = Stephen M. Veazey

| start_date1 = {{start date|1996|04|15}}

| end_date1 = {{end date|2004|11|29}}

| end_reason1 = resigned for personal and family matters

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| position_or_quorum2 = Counselor in the First Presidency

| called_by2 = Wallace B. Smith

| ordination_reason2 = release of Alan D. Tyree

| predecessor2 = Alan D. Tyree

| successor2 = Kenneth N. Robinson

| start_date2 = {{start date|1992|04|05}}

| end_date2 = {{end date|1996|04|15}}

| end_reason2 = became Prophet–President of the Church}}

W. Grant McMurray (born July 12, 1947) was Prophet-President of Community of Christ from 1996 until 2004.{{cite web | title = Our History - W. Grant McMurray | publisher = Community of Christ | url = http://www.cofchrist.org/history/Grant.asp | access-date = 19 June 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130414123502/http://www.cofchrist.org/history/Grant.asp | archive-date = 14 April 2013 }} He was the first non-descendant of Joseph Smith to head the church, and under his administration, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church) changed its name to Community of Christ.

Biography

William Grant McMurray{{Cite web|url=http://iagenweb.org/boards/decatur/biographies/index.cgi?read=584291|title = McMURRAY, William "Grant"}} was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to parents who were members of the RLDS Church. He lived in Toronto until his teenage years, when his family moved to Independence, Missouri, where his mother accepted employment at the church headquarters of the RLDS Church.Peggy Fletcher Stack, "RLDS Head Downplays His Role as a Prophet", Salt Lake Tribune, 1996-06-29, p. D1. He attended Graceland College and St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, where he earned a master's degree in theology, making McMurray the first president of the RLDS Church who was trained at a seminary.

In 1973, McMurray began employment with the historical department of the RLDS Church. In 1982, he became the church's World Church Secretary, and in 1992, he became a member of the First Presidency as a counselor to church president Wallace B. Smith. In 1995, Smith announced his retirement and named McMurray as his successor. It was the first time that a non-descendant of church-founder Joseph Smith had been named to head the church.

McMurray's presidency and legacy

McMurray became the president of the church in 1996.{{cite news | last = Niebuhr | first = Gustav | title = New Leader For Church That Shares Mormon Roots | work = The New York Times | date = 12 May 1996 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/12/us/new-leader-for-church-that-shares-mormon-roots.html | access-date = 19 June 2009}}

In 1997, McMurray called upon the RLDS Church to transform itself by articulating a Christ-centered theology of peace. In 2001, the church changed its name to Community of Christ,{{cite news | last = Niebuhr | first = Gustav | title = Split-Off From Mormons Assumes a New Name | work = The New York Times | date = 31 July 2001 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/31/us/split-off-from-mormons-assumes-a-new-name.html | access-date = 19 June 2009}} evoking the original name of the church "Church of Christ,"Joseph Smith (B. H. Roberts ed.). History of the Church 1:75–77 affirming the centrality of Christ to the church, and commemorating the Latter Day Saint movement's long-held tradition of building up "Zionic communities".

McMurray presided over the first ordination of a woman to the office of apostle in the Council of Twelve. He also led the Community of Christ to a closer fraternal (but not doctrinal) relationship with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, building both friendly relations and collaborative historical efforts.{{cite news | last = Stahle | first = Shaun D | title = 'We share an important slice in history' Leaders, members of two faiths honor Joseph and Hyrum Smith | place = Salt Lake City, Utah | publisher = Church News (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) | date = 29 June 2002 | url = https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/2002-06-29/we-share-an-important-slice-in-history-21906 | access-date = 19 June 2009}}

McMurray's resignation

On November 29, 2004, McMurray resigned as president of the church.{{Cite news | title = Community Of Christ Leader Steps Down | newspaper = Sunstone Education Foundation, Inc | pages = 1 | date = December 2004 | url = http://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/135-73-79.pdf | access-date = 2009-06-19 | archive-date = 2009-03-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090326221040/http://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/135-73-79.pdf | url-status = dead }}{{cite web|last=McMurray|first=W. Grant|title=Letter of Resignation|url=http://www.midlandsmc.org/news/documents/LetterofResignation.pdf|access-date=20 May 2014|date=29 November 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121047/http://www.midlandsmc.org/news/documents/LetterofResignation.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead}}Peggy Fletcher Stack, [https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/utah/ci_2480275 "Head of former RLDS Church unexpectedly steps down"], Salt Lake Tribune, December 3, 2004.Carrie A. Moore, [https://www.deseret.com/2004/12/3/19864703/leader-resigns-presidency-of-ex-rlds-church "Leader resigns presidency of ex-RLDS Church"], Deseret News, December 3, 2004. McMurray resignation letter stated, "However, along the way I have made some inappropriate choices, and the circumstances of my life are now such that I cannot continue to effectively lead the church. I deeply regret the difficulties that this causes for the church I love." The letter also stated that he had recently been diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease but his health was not a motivating factor to his resignation.

When later interviewed regarding his resignation letter, McMurray stated "Beyond that, it's an entirely personal and family matter and the letter says what I felt I needed to say."

A joint council of church leaders led by the Council of Twelve Apostles announced in March 2005 the name of Stephen M. Veazey as Prophet-President designate.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Community of Christ selects new president | place = INDEPENDENCE, Mo | date = 7 March 2005 | url = http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,600117063,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090111003122/http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,600117063,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 11, 2009 | access-date = 19 June 2009}} Veazey had been serving as president of the Council of Twelve. Delegates elected to a special World Conference of the church approved Veazey and he was ordained to the presidency on June 3, 2005.[http://www.cofchrist.org/bio/current/Veazey-Steve.asp Stephen M. Veazey] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20080513195252/http://www.cofchrist.org/bio/current/Veazey-Steve.asp |date=2008-05-13 }}, cofchrist.org, accessed March 2, 2008.