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Sometimes I’m glad when I live in northern section of Illinois where there aren’t very many Mormons. Update So I took a week and a half to ponder, reflect and evaluate what I was going to do. Thank you everyone for your advice, it was all taken to heart and considered carefully.
However, as my anxiety continued to build and the mere though of attending another presidency meeting was nearly sending me towards a full blown panic attack, I decided to simple quit.
Here is what I wrote to the Bishop and EQ President:
Quote:Bishop and President,
I am writing to inform the both of you that, effective immediately, I will no longer be able to serve as Elder’s Quorum secretary in our ward. No doubt you probably have questions regarding the reasons behind this. All that I can say is that my reasons are personal. You are probably also concerned that there is a something amiss with either me or my family. I can assure that all is well with the Canucknuckle family, I am just unable to continue in my calling at this time.
Best regards,
Canucknuckle
I decided to wait until tomorrow to check my email to see if I have any response. I’ll let you all know if anything else transpires.
Well – I received an email from the EQP asking if he could help with anything and then another one 2 minutes later telling me how sad he was to hear my news and encouraging me to talk to the BP. I don’t know if he thinks I have committed some transgression or what. I will go with he has a genuine concern for me and leave it at that. Although he has publicly stated that the reason why some are Elders are inactive is because they have a pain of guilt that makes them feel uncomfortable at church. Still haven’t heard anything from the Bishop. Probably won’t.
At least my stress and anxiety can go down now.
Canucknuckle wrote:Well – I received an email from the EQP asking if he could help with anything and then another one 2 minutes later telling me how sad he was to hear my news and encouraging me to talk to the BP. I don’t know if he thinks I have committed some transgression or what. I will go with he has a genuine concern for me and leave it at that. Although he has publicly stated that the reason why some are Elders are inactive is because they have a pain of guilt that makes them feel uncomfortable at church.
Still haven’t heard anything from the Bishop. Probably won’t.
At least my stress and anxiety can go down now.
at this point, you owe them nothing — you don’t need to explain. Just enjoy life without the calling.I have found this over and over again: if a calling doesn’t edify, it’s not the right thing to do.
I know your Bishop, as you know, and if he doesn’t respond, I’m sure it will be because he is honoring your request. If he talks with you, I’m sure it will be for clarification only. I hope you don’t end up leaving. Your ward needs you – and if you pay for my airfare, I’ll attend and tell everyone I know that they need you.
Thanks Ray 🙂 I’m not too worried about hearing from the Bishop. He’s a good guy and I know that there are individuals with far more pressing issues than mine. I mean that sincerely.
I’m not going anywhere. I will still go to SM every week. I will still support my wife in her calling. I will still support my son in YM and my sons that are in primary. I just have to try and figure out how I can be of service and not have to deal with the members
Anyone know any callings that involve no contact with ward members? I’m open to suggestions.
Canucknuckle wrote:Anyone know any callings that involve no contact with ward members? I’m open to suggestions.
I can think of a few that would require varying levels of time/effort commitment with a minimum of interactions (I can’t imagine any calling where that would go to zero):
- Ward financial clerk
Creating ward bulletin
Creating ward newsletter
physical facilities coordinator
I loved Nursery. How are you with kids?
I’ve spent a quarter of my years in the church serving in Nursery. I’d go back in a split second. I love it there. Ward bulletin editor would be a good one too.
Ward employment specialist isn’t bad either. You do work with members from time to time, but it is all employment related. Mostly encouraging them to take the next step. No doctrine or stuff like that. Well the BP sent me an email asking to meet. He said he respects my choice and doesn’t want to change my mind. He just wants to seek some understanding. I honestly think he his approaching this from an attitude of love and service, so I told him I would be willing to meet. Unfortunately, he wants to meet at 8am tomorrow, right after the 7am Stake priesthood meeting
😯 So I told him that time won’t work since I’ll still be asleep but another time would be fine.
Sorry for chuckling at the timing issue. I hope it goes well – and that good can come from this.
Canucknuckle wrote:Unfortunately, he wants to meet at 8am tomorrow, right after the 7am Stake priesthood meeting
So I told him that time won’t work since I’ll still be asleep but another time would be fine.
I laughed out loud. Good thing I hadn’t just taken a big gulp of caffeine-free coke.
Good luck tomorrow.
Had my meeting with the BP today. It was short but good. I honestly believe that he wants what is best for me. He is willing to work with me to find a calling that minimizes my interaction with ward members. He asked me to consider family history consultant but also asked for me to email him with any other ideas that come to mind. Overall I think it went well.
That’s wonderful to read. - Ward financial clerk
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