Community of Christ Evangelist (Latter Day Saints)

in community of christ, formerly known reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints (rlds church), evangelist office in melchizedec order of priesthood. evangelist called evangelist-patriarch. name derived latter day saint founder joseph smith s statement evangelist patriarch. ... wherever church of christ established in earth, there should patriarch benefit of posterity of saints .

an evangelist-patriarch s primary responsibility provide special blessings members of church; these blessings considered 1 of 8 sacraments in rlds church. local evangelist–patriarchs of church governed individual church-wide authority known presiding patriarch.

in 1984, when first women began ordained office of evangelist-patriarch, rlds church changed title of local evangelist-patriarchs evangelist . similarly, changed title of presiding patriarch presiding evangelist . evangelist, person must high priest of melchizedec order of priesthood.

the primary duty of evangelist in community of christ remains giving of sacramental evangelist s blessings ; reason evangelists referred ministers of blessing . ideally, evangelist free administrative responsibilities in church in order allow them responsive holy spirit. blessings—which given laying on of hands—provide counsel , advice , confer spiritual blessings upon recipient. evangelist s blessings may or may not recorded. if recorded, copy stored in church archives @ independence, missouri. recipient may receive multiple evangelist s blessings in life.

all evangelists belong order of evangelists, directed presiding evangelist (currently jane m. gardner, since 2016).