Latter-day Saints call first Black woman to serve in a general presidency

[smac97]

https://kslnewsradio.com/1966550/latter-day-saints-call-first-black-woman-to-serve-in-a-general-presidency/

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The Primary General Presidency as of Aug. 1, 2022: First Counselor Amy Wright, left; President Susan H. Porter, middle; and Second Counselor Tracy Y. Browning, right. Photo provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

SALT LAKE CITY — The first day of the 192nd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints brought a first for the faith: The calling of a Black woman to serve in a general presidency. 

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency announced new church leaders during the Saturday Afternoon Session. They included six new General Authority Seventies, a new Relief Society presidency, and a new Primary General presidency. 

First Black woman called to serve in Primary General presidency

Sister Tracy Y. Browning, who is Black, was called to serve as Second Counselor of the Primary General Presidency. She joins the new president of the Primary General presidency, Sister Susan H. Porter, who previously served as the presidency’s first counselor. Sister Amy Wright will serve as the first counselor. 

Chante Stutznegger, who runs a social media account with her sister that discusses race and diversity in Utah, cheered the news in an interview with KSL 5 TV. 

“When I first heard the news, it really pierced me to the core, because I thought, ‘I needed this as a child,'” Stutznegger said. “Growing up, I needed to see myself in someone who was in a position of leadership, who had faith — and connect to that.” 

Her sister and partner on the “Let’s Talk Sis” Instagram account, Alexis Bradley, says seeing the first Black woman in a general presidency doesn’t erase the history of race in America or the church, but it does provide hope. 

“We can still feel that bit of pain for the past and be thrilled and excited for the future, looking forward as our church grows,” she added. 

According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Browning comes to the Primary General Presidency with experience. She has served on the Relief Society general advisory since 2018. A native of New Rochelle, New York, she spent a lot of time as a child in Jamaica, from which her mother and father immigrated to America. 

Sister Browning worked for years at Morgan Stanley before 2015, when she became a church employee. She and her husband, Brayden, have two children, a daughter and a son. 

More information about Sis. Browning:

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Tracy Yeulande Browning was sustained as Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency on April 2, 2022. Her service will begin on August 1, 2022.

Sister Browning was born in New York to Clive Adams and Sharon Cox and raised on the island of Jamaica. She joined the Church at the age of 16. Sister Browning studied at St. John’s University. She has worked in financial services for 15 years and is now a director in the Publishing Services Department of the Church. She and her husband, Brady Browning, are the parents of two children.

Prior to her call to the Primary General Presidency, Sister Browning served on the Relief Society general advisory council. She has also served as a ward and stake Relief Society presidency counselor, Relief Society teacher, and Mia Maid adviser and in various Relief Society and Young Women callings.

Sister Browning has volunteered with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Habitat for Humanity, and United Way’s Day of Caring. She enjoys travel dining and reading. The scripture Enos 1:4–8 — “And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie” (verse 6) — had a profound impact on Sister Browning as she read the Book of Mormon for the first time, and it was instrumental in her conversion.

There does not seem to be a lot of particular attention paid to the Sis. Browning relative to her being black.  Apart from the above KSL article, and one from the Deseret News, and one in the Tribune, I have not seen any news coverage of Sis. Browning's calling.

Thanks,

-Smac

[JAHS]

On 4/3/2022 at 2:18 PM, smac97 said:

https://kslnewsradio.com/1966550/latter-day-saints-call-first-black-woman-to-serve-in-a-general-presidency/

More information about Sis. Browning:

There does not seem to be a lot of particular attention paid to the Sis. Browning relative to her being black.  Apart from the above KSL article, and one from the Deseret News, and one in the Tribune, I have not seen any news coverage of Sis. Browning's calling.

Thanks,

-Smac

I suppose it would get more coverage if she were the first black person called to a GA position, but that has already been done.

Edited April 4, 2022 by JAHS

[MustardSeed]

I am presently wearing her same glasses so that's pretty cool.

It's overdue to have a black person in leadership on that level.  It not being discussed much can be positive or negative depending on how it's looked at and if someone needs reason to be upset or pleased.