By Greg Clark 
Communications 

Steve Veazey and Mareva Arnaud Tchong, flanked by a throng of Stassi Cramm’s family and friends, gently placed their hands on her head and softly began the prayer to ordain her as prophet-president. 

Minutes later Veazey, Community of Christ’s retiring prophet-president, said, “Amen.” In that moment, Stassi became the first woman to lead the church since its beginning in 1830. 

Several minutes later, she exited the Auditorium. Her ears were filled with the sound of the giant pipe organ and people from around the globe singing “The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning,” followed by a recessional led by the Africa Women’s Choir. 

The prayers and music that caressed the World Conference event June 1 in Independence, Missouri, USA, represented much more than a historic moment in the church’s history. They signified another stop in Stassi’s lifelong walk along the path. 

It is a path of discipleship, a path of faith, and a path of thankfulness. 

In both a recent interview and the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation’s lecture series last fall, she talked about her life and emphasized the role of gratitude at each stop along the path. 

“As I reviewed my journey as daughter, sister, disciple, professional, wife, priesthood member, mother, grandmother, I’ve recognized God’s love and grace through all the mountaintop experiences, as well as the valley-low experiences. 

“…My life has been filled with so many people who have blessed me beyond measure, and I am so grateful.” 

The Beginning 

Stassi seemed destined to follow the path from the time she was born as Stassi Henson on June 3, 1962, in Olney, Illinois, USA. In fact, she jokingly claims to have been baptized not once, but twice. The first, she says, was when her mother was baptized while pregnant with Stassi. The second was as an 8-year-old, when all the kids in her Sunday-school class—in a show of unity and affection—were baptized on the same day. 

She credits her teacher from that class for growing her sense of the Spirit. 

“What she was teaching got woven into my being.” 

Just as important in her spiritual formation were church camps. 

“I started attending before I was old enough because my parents often were on staff,” she said. “Although I was baptized and confirmed when I was 8, I really think my conversion took place over time through my camping experience. I am so grateful for the many women and men who made those camps possible.” 

She brushed against spirituality…and sometimes other experiences. (“In the heat of the summer, there was nothing sweeter than a Mountain Dew at the Brush Creek snack bar.”) Other recollections are of a hayride, the screaming panic among a group of little girls after a tick was found, and the many people who helped her along the path. 

“Like a lot of people, there was that feeling when you drove off the campground that it was so sad, and it did feel like you were leaving behind God and community. You were just going back (home) to endure until you could come back again.” 

Further along the Path 

Young adulthood brought the first of four college degrees, work as a flight-test engineer at Edwards Air Force Base in California…and romance with Steve Cramm. 

“It was not love at first sight,” she said, “but we definitely kept an eye on each other.” 

They liked what they saw. Nine months later, they became engaged. After a 1½-year engagement, they were married in December 1983. 

A couple of months later they moved to Southern California, where they made a key stop on Stassi’s spiritual journey, even if a little off the beaten path. 

“We found a local Community of Christ congregation,” she said. “We fondly referred to it as the Little House on the Prairie because it was a little white stucco building on a dirt road.” 

The Lancaster Congregation quickly became their church family. 

“When my daughter was born with an emergency C-section, my parents had not been able to get to California. Yet, a couple from our church family, Lola and Nolan, were there praying, getting on the phone, and keeping our family informed. 

“How amazing it’s been to know that wherever I or my family need help, if we can contact someone from Community of Christ, we can count on them being there. I know this has been critical to my unfolding understanding and deeply rooted feeling of what it feels like in God’s kingdom, or in what Zion is all about.” 

Also, Stassi’s first two priesthood calls (priest in 1987 and elder in 1990) came through that congregation and the Greater Los Angeles Stake. “Those people taught us that church is more than Sunday morning.” 

Section 156 

Those priesthood calls would not have been made if Section 156 of Doctrine and Covenants hadn’t come in April 1984, clearing the path for women in the priesthood. 

“I never imagined when growing up that I would be in the priesthood or working for the church. When I grew up, priesthood wasn’t even an option for women. As the news came, I was transformed, and amazed, and grateful for what the 1984 World Conference had accomplished.” 

And a bit embarrassed. 

“I remember having all these feelings.…It was like, ‘Why have I never thought of this before?’ If somebody had told me I could never have been an engineer, I would have said, ‘What?’ But for some reason I had never applied that to my church experience. 

“‘How did I miss this? Why hasn’t this been bothering me? Why wasn’t I back in Independence speaking out in support of this?’ I felt like I had missed an opportunity to be part of something important and significant. 

“So…my head had to catch up with everything.” 

As it did, her path took her to many other key roles. Among them were stops in the Southwest Pacific USA Region, as a counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, presiding bishop, a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles, and a member of the First Presidency as a counselor to Veazey. 

In hindsight, none of that should have been any surprise. Her evangelist blessing in 1990 pointed the way: 

You have the ability to give leadership that is far and above that of most people. Your Heavenly Father is blessing you every minute of the day so you will be well informed and so you will have insight over and above anything that most people would have. People such as you are needed in the Kingdom to give direction (things beyond your wildest dreams) in the years that be ahead of you and the Church. In as much as you have committed yourself to the Christ, God will continue to bless you. He asks of you to use wisdom in the things of life. 

“These words,” she says today, “are providing me assurance and strength and taking on new meaning. I think there are lots of blessings before us.” 

The Role of Family 

With each stop along her path, family has been paramount. She’s clearly proud of her daughter, Shannon, a pediatric surgeon, and her son, Spencer, a software engineer in Tokyo, Japan. And she dotes on her grandchildren. 

Flexibility makes that easier. 

“When I’m doing remote work and Steve’s doing remote work, it’s like, ‘Well…we can do after-daycare pickup…It has become such a thing with the three grandkids that Steve and I work really hard to make sure one of us is in town. 

“We have three grandchildren, a set of boy and girl twins who just turned 3 in April, and a grandson who will turn 1 June 19. He’s a Juneteenth baby.” 

So, the path has brought her three grandchildren, two kids, and one mammoth responsibility. It all adds up to incredible pressure. 

“I’ve said to people, ‘I’m pretty confident that I’m being lifted up on the wings of prayers,’” Stassi said. “I think I’m only rational…right now because of all the prayers being offered.” 

Taking Steps 

So, at this point along her path, does she ever find a way to relax? 

“I definitely unwind,” she said. “I am blessed with an emotional, spiritual, physical mechanism that when it gets so tight, it just lets go.” 

Caring for grandchildren is one relief valve. 

“Little kids are very demanding, so automatically you’re in a different space. So family is one way that creates an alternative. I guess it’s…changing hats. It puts things in perspective.” 

On the fun side, she enjoys binge-watching shows and movies with her husband. 

“Our favorites would be sci-fi things. We know the dialogue in like every Star Trek episode…We’ve clearly watched all the Star Wars and those kinds of things. Now we tend to watch the medical ones, police ones, or fire ones. They’re not as good, but they take your mind off things.” 

She also stays on the move…sort of. 

“The one thing I always get done is between 10,000 and 14,000 steps a day.…Sometimes I’m just doing it in front of the TV or going out for a walk. I think that has been important.” 

She turned 63 just two days after her ordination. Does she ever think of retirement? 

“Our son-in-law…says, ‘I’m going to be retired before you retire.’ And he’s 35.” 

Stassi says she’s not ready. She has a lot of energy and thoughts. 

“When the Council of Twelve Apostles came forward…it felt like there was really only one faithful response: Here I am Lord, send me.” 

Voices of Support 

Stassi’s journey along the path means more than places; it means people—the hundreds, if not thousands, with whom she has worked alongside, influenced, and developed relationships. 

Former and current church leaders sing her praises. 

• Lach Mackay: “Stassi has almost unlimited energy and an incredible capacity. I don’t know anyone who can get as much done as Stassi.” 

• Carla Long: “She was my roommate for three years. Her dedication and loyalty to Community of Christ go far and beyond here in the office. She’s always thinking and dreaming of what the church can become.” 

• Bill Barnhard: “Stassi has a deep love for people and is very astute in finding people for different responsibilities.” 

• Susan Oxley: “Stassi has an inner strength and courage…that is phenomenal. She understands processes and systems, and that’s what we need in a world where processes are breaking down, and systems need change.” 

• Barb Carter: “Her call to be a prophet-president of the church resonates in the deep core of my being.” 

• Mary Jacks: “When I read the letter (announcing Stassi’s call), I said: ‘Yes!’ For this time…this moment…this church…hope is alive through Stassi!” 
• David Anderson: “I think if Stassi were in any organization, she would rise to the top. She has the ability to see complex situations with a balance of compassion while seeing opportunity and moving a group forward. She has prophetic vision.” 

Looking to the Future 

Ahh, that prophetic vision. It constantly has Stassi looking forward. 

“I think there are lots of blessings before us. I believe with all my heart, mind, and soul that our message and mission are as critical today as they ever have been. The experience of Zion is compelling, and we all are called to do our part to create Zion where we live and serve.” 

After the Conference overwhelmingly voted to support her call, she walked back into the Chamber and addressed the delegates. 

“I look forward to the future and serving you and God, and I’m excited about where God is leading us. I know the path will not be easy, but I believe we are equipped and ready to go!” 

It essentially was an acknowledgement that the church’s path is her path. She invited members “to support the church and further our mission as a historic movement, bringing God’s vision of love, justice, and peace alive, where we each live and serve.” 

So it was, one day later, she felt the gentle touch of two friends on her head and heard Veazey say, “Amen.” In that moment the church did more than ordain a new prophet-president; it embraced what has become Stassi’s catchphrase and a call to action: 

Onward!