- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Despite my recent complaint about a boring stake conference, I think I’m actually in a pretty decent ward here. I don’t have too much experience of other ones, but I think my ward is better than a lot of them out there. Here are a few of the plus side
* I like the building as it gets a lot of natural light and has a decent atmosphere.
* One of my classes was taught by a guy who had a beard (!) and at least one of the leadership does as well.
* The congregation is as ethnically diverse as any in this country.
* We have a range of social classes and education levels here.
* The chapel is reasonably easy to get to by public transport or otherwise.
* There are gossips here, but they are at a minimum.
* Most of the people seem pleasant.
Downside –
* A lot of people coming and going, so a bit impersonal.
* Getting asked to help a political charity.
* Everything keeps on getting moved around which is confusing.
* The singles scene for people my age is not good.
* We’re a long way from the temple.
* There are a couple of old women who I expect may have sharp tongues.
* Not enough on the notice boards.
It’s great you are feeling positive about your ward. I’ve always said that a ward IS what YOU make of it. I still believe that, even though this faith crisis has me wanting to give up on my ward. I know that it is up to me to make my church going experience a positive one. My Ward is good in that there are some families whose company I really enjoy. The Ward is generally not professional, so there isn’t the same pointing out about procedure and following proper channels that can be stifling in more professional Wards. For example, I could approach the YM organization about an idea for an activity without having to go through the Bishop’s Youth Committee (BYC). I get a lot of complements in this Ward for some reason, which can be positive. Plus, there are a lot of musicians in my Ward who are decent in their ability and attitude. I play with them a lot lately. We also have a lot of Ward socials — one a month — which is more than in other Wards where socializing wasn’t a focal point. Our current quorum leaders are former inactives who weren’t supportive of me when I was a priesthood quorum leader — so they leave me alone when it comes to the unpopular things like chapel cleaning, moving people, and stuff like that — at least for now.
Well, I do still have problems with the church, but I’ve come to realize I’m in one of the better wards I could be. Its size is a mixed blessing, but it gives it a diversity. I miss the social group I used to know many years ago, they all seem to have moved on. The atmosphere is generally positive, and the leadership forward thinking AFAIK. We have a successful Chinese “church within church” whom I envy because they seem to have the best of both worlds.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.