FRANKFURT,
Germany (AP) — The Mormon church has consolidated its European
headquarters to Germany as it undertakes a bid to increase its
membership across the continent.
In August, The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints — which claims some 13 million members
worldwide — consolidated its former western European head office in
Birmingham, England, with its central European offices in Frankfurt in
Germany.
More than half the members of the Salt Lake City-based
church live outside the U.S., with about 450,000 members living in
Europe.
The newly appointed senior church leader, or elder, in
charge of European operations, Robert C. Oaks, a retired U.S. Air Force
general, said the aim was to improve efficiency as the church strives
to increase the ranks among Europeans.
"From the fusion, we expect more efficiency and closer cooperation between local management of the church," Oaks said Friday.
He
said he also hopes to raise membership and to improve the quality of
the weekly sermons and teachings in Frankfurt and across Europe.