SALT LAKE CITY — The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has named W. Christopher Waddell as the new Presiding Bishop, with L. Todd Budge serving as First Counselor and Sean Douglas as Second Counselor.
The Friday announced appointments fill the vacancy created by Elder Gérald Caussé’s call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Nov. 6. Bishop Waddell and Bishop Budge both served as counselors in the Presiding Bishopric to Elder Caussé.
The Presiding Bishopric operates under the direction of the First Presidency, managing the church’s global temporal affairs, including humanitarian aid, welfare programs, tithing, fast offerings, and physical facilities. They also travel frequently to minister to members worldwide.
Bishop Waddell, 66, was first called to the Presiding Bishopric in 2016. He previously served in both counselor roles within the Presiding Bishopric for 10 years and as a General Authority Seventy for four years. Prior to full-time church service, he worked as a vice president of investments at Merrill Lynch.
He has emphasized that all church work is ultimately focused on helping people return to God, whether starting from a temporal or ecclesiastical standpoint. Bishop Waddell has also championed the church’s focus on environmental sustainability, speaking in 2023 about the importance of conserving water, particularly in the context of the Great Salt Lake.
First Counselor L. Todd Budge, 65, was called as a counselor in the Presiding Bishopric in 2020. He has been instrumental in the church’s worldwide humanitarian efforts, including presenting a $32 million donation to the World Food Programme in 2022 to address global hunger. Before becoming a General Authority, Bishop Budge worked in the banking and finance industry in Atlanta and Japan, serving as president and CEO of Tokyo Star Bank Limited.
Second Counselor Sean Douglas, 61, who previously served as President of the Church’s Mexico Area, joins the Presiding Bishopric as the newest member. Bishop Douglas has often spoken on the necessity of religious freedom as a powerful tool for building peace. Prior to his full-time church service, the University of Utah graduate worked as a certified public accountant and held various roles, including CFO, at Huntsman Corporation.