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We have a very talented, committed woman in our Ward. She was called to a Stake position a while ago, and by all counts, is a strong performer. She was visiting with my wife yesterday, and afterwards, my wife mentions that this woman has her own story to tell. Apparently she’s at a Ward conference, a member of the SP pulls her aside, releases her from her calling at the beginning of the conference. No reason, just “today’s your last day” and a short thank-you. She left bewlildered and sort of upset for the rest of the meetings. I don’t know if she stayed for the conference. The president of her Stake Auxiliary knew nothing about it when this woman mentioned it to her.
So, now she is apparently wondering — did I do something wrong? Isn’t this kind of strange? And then, her rejoinder — it seems that when they want to call you to something, there is attention given to it, time for questions, sometimes reasons given for why the outgoing person is leaving, and a reasonable amount of care. (Except, after people agree to the calling, they often find the setting apart or sustaining is forgotten). However, when it’s time to be released, it’s handled quite sloppily.
We keep treating our human resources this way — no wonder we have to impose the “Never Say No To A Calling” decree, or the ” Never asked to be released”. It wouldn’t surprise me if a certain amount of the Church’s activity is driven by sloppy releases or perceived lack of thanks for the many sacrifices that are expected of us. Not that it is the reason why serve, but when we stop forgetting that our people are human, and deserve and need thanks and smooth transitions in and out of callings, and rely on our divine stature to simply expect people to be available and disposable as needed, without care……I think this is a problem.
It was for me, and here I sit.
I think this is generally true and something that the church does sloppily. From what I remember, in the handbook, there is a large section about callings, and how to describe the calling and how to extend them, and who should be the right authority to extend the calling. And then there is one paragraph about releases. Releases can be an emotional thing. I have had good release interviews when they took time to discuss lessons learned, and reflections on experiences, and asked for feedback for the next person filling that calling, and sincere thanks for my service. It was done very well and helped me feel very spiritual.
However, this is clearly the exception, and not enough training and emphasis is placed on the release interview, unfortunately. It often leaves members feeling kicked out of their position or fired, but they just have to suck it up and deal with it.
Heber13 wrote:I think this is generally true and something that the church does sloppily. From what I remember, in the handbook, there is a large section about callings, and how to describe the calling and how to extend them, and who should be the right authority to extend the calling. And then there is one paragraph about releases.
Releases can be an emotional thing. I have had good release interviews when they took time to discuss lessons learned, and reflections on experiences, and asked for feedback for the next person filling that calling, and sincere thanks for my service. It was done very well and helped me feel very spiritual.
However, this is clearly the exception, and not enough training and emphasis is placed on the release interview, unfortunately. It often leaves members feeling kicked out of their position or fired, but they just have to suck it up and deal with it.
Yes — compare these experiences. I was a YM President for 3 years. At the end, I was released to become the Stake YM President. At the release, our Bishop complemented me on how the YM was one auxiliary he was never worried about — he could focus on other areas of the Ward, and how I should feel good that I did such a good job it probably led to my being called a Stake YM President. Then, the last activity night in the saddle as Ward YM President, the whole YM organization and adults threw a surprise party for me. I left the calling FLYING in terms of how I felt about my time in that calling.
I then went on to be a Stake Young Men’s President, and worked hard at that calling. When I was released to become a High Councilor, the HC who I worked with as a Stake YM President pulled me aside and thanked me, reviewing my accomplishments. I left THAT calling, with the words “you were a highly effective SYM President ringing in my ears”… I then went on highly motivated in my new HC calling.
I think it’s important as leaders to help people feel good when they leave their callings. It’s not the reason we serve, but it behooves leaders to never take the labor of the members for granted. Or you get experiences like mine, which I’m sure everyone is aware of, and the one in my opening post.
Have been dealing with an odd situation recently. I was given keys to the church recently by the bishopric, but someone told me off for this, and now someone is asking for them back for security reasons. At one point in my life this would have bothered me, but I have had to explain that it was nothing to do with me. Ironically, giving the keys back will hinder me in the very calling I’ve been given, but anyway.
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