A New Era of Service: Meet the Church of Jesus Christ's New Presiding Bishopric

The Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as of November 14, 2025: Presiding Bishop W. Christopher Waddell (middle), First Counselor L. Todd Budge (left) and Second Counselor Sean Douglas (right).

SALT LAKE CITY, November 14, 2025 — A significant leadership transition has taken place within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with the calling of a new Presiding Bishopric. The First Presidency has named Bishop W. Christopher Waddell as the Church’s 16th Presiding Bishop, who will be joined by L. Todd Budge as First Counselor and Sean Douglas as Second Counselor. This new trio steps into a vital role focused on the Church’s temporal affairs, humanitarian outreach, and global welfare initiatives.

This announcement follows the recent call of former Presiding Bishop, Elder Gérald Caussé, to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on November 6, 2025, after more than a decade of exemplary service in the Presiding Bishopric. Bishops Waddell and Budge, both of whom previously served as counselors to Elder Caussé, bring a wealth of experience to their elevated assignments.

The Presiding Bishopric operates under the direct guidance of the First Presidency, overseeing a broad portfolio that is central to the Church’s worldwide mission. Their responsibilities include

Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, visits the disaster relief command center in St. Petersburg, Florida, in October 2024.

Welfare and Humanitarian Aid: Managing the Church's extensive efforts to care for the poor and needy globally.

Temporal Administration: Directing matters related to tithing, fast offerings, and the allocation of physical resources.

Facilities Management: Supervising the maintenance and construction of Church buildings and temples worldwide.

Membership Records: Managing the organization and upkeep of membership data.

They are true ministering leaders, traveling extensively to bless and serve Church members and communities across the globe.

Bishop Christopher W. Waddell official portrait, 2023

Presiding Bishop W. Christopher Waddell: A Focus on the Eternal Perspective

Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, who previously served as First Counselor (2020–2025) and Second Counselor (2015–2020) in the Presiding Bishopric, is a seasoned General Authority. His ministry is characterized by a firm belief that all the Church's efforts—even the temporal and administrative—are ultimately aimed at a singular, eternal goal: "exalting God’s children."

"If we do everything thinking ultimately of exalting God’s children, whether we are starting from a temporal standpoint or an ecclesiastical standpoint, it still all goes to the same place in the end," Bishop Waddell noted upon his initial call. "That’s what we are building towards."

Beyond his administrative acumen, Bishop Waddell has been a vocal advocate for responsible stewardship of the earth. In 2023, he highlighted the Church's environmental sustainability priorities, including water conservation efforts, emphasizing the need for Latter-day Saints to be wise stewards of God’s creations. He has also continually pointed to the Savior in his public addresses.

In his most recent general conference talk in October 2023, he bore a powerful testimony of Jesus Christ: "No leader has ever shown more courage, no humanitarian has shown more kindness, no physician has cured more disease, and no artist has been more creative than Jesus Christ. In a world of heroes... there is One who stands above all others."

A native of Los Angeles, California, Bishop Waddell earned a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University in 1984 before a successful career in finance, including service as a first vice president of investments for Merrill Lynch. He and his wife, Carol Stansel Waddell, are the parents of four children. His extensive Church service also includes time as a mission president in Spain, an Area Seventy, and four years as a General Authority Seventy.

Portrait of Bishop L. Todd Budge and his wife, Lori.

First Counselor L. Todd Budge: Expanding Global Welfare

Serving now as the First Counselor, Bishop L. Todd Budge brings a heart for global welfare and a distinguished international business background to the Presiding Bishopric. Called as a General Authority Seventy in 2019, he was sustained as a counselor in the Presiding Bishopric in 2020.

Bishop Budge often clarifies the Bishopric’s overarching responsibility, stating, "Among many other things, the Presiding Bishopric oversees the welfare and humanitarian work of the Church. This work now spans the entire globe and blesses more of God’s children than ever before." This global perspective was evident in 2022 when he presented a significant US$32 million donation to the World Food Programme to combat a severe hunger crisis. In his remarks, he expressed gratitude to members and friends of the faith, noting, "Such giving makes God’s children a little happier and all of us a little holier."

Born in Pittsburg, California, Bishop Budge earned his Bachelor of Arts in economics from Brigham Young University in 1984. His professional career saw him hold key positions with companies like GE Capital and Citibank N.A. in both the US and Japan. Notably, he served as the president and chief executive officer of Tokyo Star Bank Limited from 2003 to 2011. He and his wife, Lori Capener Budge, have six children. Like his colleagues, he has a strong missionary background, having served a full-time mission and later as president of the Japan Tokyo Mission.

Portrait of Bishop Sean Douglas and his wife, Ann.

Second Counselor Sean Douglas: A Champion of Faith and Freedom

The newest member of the Presiding Bishopric, Bishop Sean Douglas, will serve as Second Counselor. Prior to this call, he was serving as the President of the Church’s Mexico Area, where he demonstrated a commitment to collaborative community engagement and the defense of fundamental freedoms.

In August 2025, Bishop Douglas addressed a religious freedom congress in León, Mexico, powerfully articulating the relationship between faith and societal good. He stated that "Religious freedom dignifies the human being and, when respected and protected, becomes a powerful tool for building peace." He passionately invited other faiths to unite in serving the vulnerable, including migrants and those in poverty.

In his sermons, Bishop Douglas has continually emphasized the power of personal faith and obedience in navigating life's challenges. In a general conference address, he taught that "Our belief and obedience link us to power beyond our own to overcome ‘[whatever] is happening — or not happening — in our lives.’"

Bishop Douglas is a certified public accountant with an extensive corporate career. After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Utah in 1988, he worked for Price Waterhouse and spent three decades with Huntsman Corporation, culminating in the role of executive vice president and chief financial officer. He and his wife, Ann Dickson Douglas, are the parents of four children.

The new Presiding Bishopric of W. Christopher Waddell, L. Todd Budge, and Sean Douglas represents a blend of deep spiritual commitment and vast experience in global management and finance. Their combined service will guide the Church's massive efforts to bless lives temporally and spiritually across the world, continuing the sacred work of caring for God’s children under the direction of the First Presidency.