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I have been pondering Ray’s suggestion regarding owning our relationship with Heavenly Mother. Haven’t really thought how to do that more publicly. In my private life, I do feel I I have done that and have felt a great sense of Heavenly Mother’s concern for me during a difficult time in the church. This was during a time of unrighteous dominion by a priesthood leader and negative interactions with a few others. But how do we women move forward publicly without repercussions, especially in some areas where the men want yes women and cultivate the same ten people clubs? Like Ray, I have social capital, especially with the everyday people. I am all about allowing the men room to grow and change. I try never to lock anyone in and still pray for the priesthood holder who almost destroyed my spiritual life, with a little help from his friends. And this wasn’t a bad man, by the way. Just a man who didn’t think he was a chauvinist, who hid it very well and is a very likeable, good person. He just did not have the mindset to open up, let the women move forward and let it flow. Had I been very public regarding Heavenly Mother during this time, I really believe it would have been used against me in a very detrimental way. Thank goodness there were other priesthood leaders who were totally supportive of me during this time that trumped this priesthood leader. Quote:Haven’t really thought how to do that more publicly.
That’s the difficult part – and I’m not advocating for any particular public expression of it, frankly. An acknowlegment of deep belief and statements about being an equal partner with God, the Father, aren’t threatening to the vast majority of members, imo – but “details”? Yeah, that can get uncomfortable and dicey right now. That’s why I leave it totally up to individuals to make those calls.
afterall wrote:But how do we women move forward publicly without repercussions, especially in some areas where the men want yes women and cultivate the same ten people clubs?
“Well behaved women seldom make history.”-Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (a Harvard history professor, and an active feminist Mormon woman).
Need I say more?
😈 Seriously though, we need a LOT more women to start posing these hard questions to “the leadership.” Historically, that is how prophets seem to know when to go ask for new revelations.
:think: 
I’d say there needs to be balance of men and women ruling, ideally… & children should not be bossing around parents as they seem to be more & more. Once a guy confided to me that he (& he believed most men) are intimidated by women.
Men and women think differently (brains light up differently when exposed to same stimulus).
Generally… (I know there are exceptions)…Men tend to think compartmentally & women tend to think integrally.
Sometimes, it seems that women are smarter because we can think of many things simultaneously.
We tend to know what’s going on in our families & homes more than men do.
But men like to FEEL that they are in charge…
Featherina wrote:I’d say there needs to be balance of men and women ruling, ideally
I agree with you Featherina.You know, in the work environment, it seems pretty clear that given the opportunities and experience and education, there are differences between men and women in leadership positions, but not significant that I see one as better or worse than the other, just different. I want to see the church give women just as many opportunities to lead as men in church positions. They don’t have to be the exact same positions (priesthood), but they need to be equally respected. But that is part of the problem when we emphasize priesthood authority so much.
Yes featherina! And the RS president can be such an asset to the bishop as she usually has the scoop on everyone. Why a bishop would want to hold PEC without his RS president is beyond my understanding. Quote:Why a bishop would want to hold PEC without his RS president is beyond my understanding.
If the ward is functioning as it should now, the Ward Council should be meeting as often as (or more often than) the PEC and be a longer meeting – since it now is supposed to be the top council meeting in the ward. Thus, the RS, Primary, SS, YW, etc. shouldn’t have to attend PEC anymore – and PEC should be focused exclusively on Priesthood-only stuff (meaning it should be a very short meeting).
Meetings, meetings, meetings. When I was in the bishopric, I always lobbied to reduce them, and be more efficient with our time. But some people go by the CHI book, and if it says to hold PEC weekly, they will do it. They will end the council meeting, excuse the women leaders, then hold their priesthood meeting, because that is by the book.
That is part of the problem, because the book isn’t written to include women in as much as the priesthood on things. In practical terms, it just is not a good use of the available resources to help the ward function better.
But I do know many bishops see this, and adapt and hold their PECs short, because there isn’t much to go over. It just takes a while for good practices to make it into the CHI.
Fwiw, the CHI no longer suggests weekly PEC Mtgs. It says, “as needed” – if I recall correctly (and I’m too lazy right now to look). Two of my favorite quotes regarding meetings:
Quote:It takes a d*** fine meeting to be better than no meeting.
Quote:No meeting is so unimportant that it shouldn’t start on time. No meeting is so important that it shouldn’t end on time.
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