Community of Christ Recognizes
Retirement of General Counsel

Tom and Kathleen Bennett

Thomas H. Bennett was recognized for 32 years of service during the Community of Christ 2002 World Conference on Tuesday, April 9. He has served as the general counsel for Community of Christ at its international headquarters in Independence, Missouri, since 1970. He has served with three church presidents, five presiding bishops, and many other church administrators, as well as presidents of Graceland University, nursing home administrators, and scores of church appointees and colleagues. Tom will retire at the end of 2002.

Orval Fisher, former counselor to the Presiding Bishop, stated during the recognition, "He brought to this position not only valued skills and expertise, but a tremendous sense of humor. His ready wit and pleasant humor are well known to anyone who has worked with him." Lawyers who have worked directly with Tom have indicated that they have not experienced a more competent, diligent in-house counsel than Tom. "His breadth of knowledge is truly unique and has been a blessing to the church," said Fisher.

Prior to becoming general counsel for the church, Tom worked for five years as a trust officer with the First National Bank of Kansas City, Missouri. A native of Saginaw, Michigan, Tom has an A.A. degree in pre-commerce from Graceland College, Lamoni, Iowa; a B.S. degree in business administration from Bowling Green State University in Ohio; and a Juris Doctorate from the Kansas University School of Law, Lawrence, Kansas.

He is a member of the Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity, Kansas City Bar Association, Eastern Jackson County Bar Association, Missouri Bar Association, and Missouri Society of Hospital Attorneys. Tom is married to Kathleen (Armstrong) of Liberty, Missouri.