A branch president is a leader of a "

branch A branch, also called a ramus in botany, is a stem that grows off from another stem, or when structures like veins in leaves are divided into smaller veins. History and etymology In Old English, there are numerous words for branch, includ ...

" congregation of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...

(LDS Church). The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of

bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

, except that instead of presiding over a ward, the branch president presides over a branch. The branch president is directly responsible for the operation of his branch and the well-being of its patrons. The branch president usually has two counselors to assist him in his duties; these three men comprise the ''branch presidency''. Like almost all callings in the LDS Church, the branch president is not paid for his work in the church. A branch president must hold the priesthood and at a minimum must hold the office of

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...

. Unlike a bishop, a branch president is not required to be a

high priest The term "high priest" usually refers either to an individual who holds the office of ruler-priest, or to one who is the head of a religious organisation. Ancient Egypt In ancient Egypt, a high priest was the chief priest of any of the many god ...

, or be married, but conforming with these stipulations may depend on whether the branch is part of a

district A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...

or a stake.LDS website, Handbook, Section 37.2.2
/ref> In branches within stakes that contain several priesthood holders a branch president will usually be married and may be ordained to the office of

. In branches where no resident member is a worthy priesthood holder, a full-time missionary may be called to be branch president. Branch presidents are given the

honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an Honorary title (academic), h ...

title "President".

References

Leadership positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Presidents in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints {{LDS-stub