October 2, 2003

 New Mission Centers

The World Church Leadership Council met in executive session September 16-17, 2003, and approved the formation of twenty-one new mission centers according to the bylaws approved by the 2002 World Conference. The approvals include the composition of the respective mission centers and various structural elements. Staffing levels, assignments of World Church personnel, and matters involving allocation of World Church funds will be determined through other existing procedures.

Inland West USA Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Boise District, Intermountain District, Northern Plains District, Spokane District, and Western Montana District. In addition, the mission center will include the Richland and Walla Walla, Washington Branches from the Central Washington District. The mission center will be effective January 1, 2004.

Greater Pacific Northwest USA Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Southern Oregon District, Northwest Oregon District, Southwest Washington District, Seattle Stake, and the Alaska Development Area, as well as the East Wenatchee, Yakima, and Selah, Washington Branches and the Bridgeport and Ellensburg, Washington Missions from the Central Washington District, effective January 1, 2004.

Prairie Bluffs USA Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Omaha-Council Bluffs Stake, Nebraska Development Area, and Woodbine District, as wells as the Cherokee, Decatur, Sioux City, and Walthill Branches and the Sioux Falls Mission from the Sioux Central District, effective January 1, 2004

Heart of Texas USA Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metropolitan District, effective January 1, 2004.

Oklahoma USA Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Tulsa Stake, Central Oklahoma District, Eastern Oklahoma District, and Northern Oklahoma District, as well as the Liberal and Elkhart congregations of the Western Kansas Area, effective January 1, 2004.

Coastal Bend USA Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Southeast Texas District and the Texas Hills District (except the Mission Hispaña Belliare), as well as the McAllen, Texas Branch of the Rio Grande District and the Lake Charles, Louisiana Branch of the Louisiana-Mississippi District, effective January 1, 2004.

Rio Grande USA Mission Center, composed of all congregations currently in the New Mexico and West Texas Districts, effective January 1, 2004.

Western Canada Mission Centre, composed of all congregations currently in the British Columbia District, Alberta District, and Saskatchewan Districts, as well as the Winnipeg, Manitoba congregation of the Red River District, effective January 1, 2004.

Heart of Michigan USA Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Saginaw Valley Metropolitan District, South Central Michigan District and East Central Michigan District (except the Mikado Branch), effective January 1, 2004.

Michigan Blue Water USA Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Eastern Michigan District, Flint District, and Port Huron District, plus the Richmond Congregation of the Detroit International Stake, effective January 1, 2004.

Northern Great Lakes (USA/Canada) Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Michigan International District, Northern Michigan District, and Northwest Michigan District, as well as the Mikado Branch, effective January 1, 2004.

Southern Great Lakes International (USA/Canada) Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Detroit International Stake (except the Richmond Congregation), Lansing District, Grand Rapids District, and Michiana District, effective January 1, 2004.

Western Ohio USA Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Western Ohio Mission Center Pilot (Northwest Ohio District, Southwest Ohio District, and Columbus District), effective November 1, 2003.

Alabama-Northwest Florida USA Mission Center, composed of all congregation formerly in the Alabama District, Pensacola District, and Northwest Florida District, as well as the Bay Minette Branch of the Mobile District, effective January 1, 2004.

Australia Mission Centre, composed of all congregations formerly in the Australia Mission Centre Pilot (Australia Region), effective October 1, 2003.

Pacific Islands Mission Centre, composed of all congregations formerly in the Pacific Island Mission Center Pilot (Hawaii Region and South Pacific Region), effective October 1, 2003.

East Asia Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Orient Region, effective October 1, 2003.

Southeast Asia Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Southeast Asia Region, effective October 1, 2003.

Europe Mission Centre, composed of all congregations formerly in the Europe Region, effective July 1, 2004.

Caribbean Mission Center, composed of all congregations formerly in the Caribbean Region, as well as the church in Grand Cayman, effective October 1, 2003.

Mexico-Texas Mission Center (Centro de Misión de México-Texas), composed of all congregations formerly in the Mexico National Church, as well as the Mission Hispaña Bellaire, Weslaco Branch, Harlingen Branch, and Los Fresnos Branch in the U.S., effective January 1, 2004.

Mission Center Name Changes

The World Church Leadership Council has approved the following name changes for mission centers previously approved and announced, effective immediately:

The Jefferson City-St. Louis USA Mission Center was renamed Gateway USA Mission Center.

The North Central (USA/Canada) Mission Center was renamed Headwaters (USA/Canada) Mission Center.

Appointee Resignations

In a recent meeting, the World Church Human Resources Committee accepted the resignations of Gregory E. Page and Patricia A. Page from World Church appointment, effective September 30, 2003. The church expresses its appreciation to Brother and Sister Page for their many years of dedicated full-time service to the church.

The First Presidency