New Calling – Nervous

[Anonymous]

Stake Service Something. According to the HC guy, who is also new at his calling, I am in charge and he supports me. I still don’t know what that all means. I won’t post it public till I know more. Just needed to share somewhere and process. If anyone has a handbook or idea what this is please let me know.

[Anonymous]

The good news is that everyone is new so there’s an expected learning curve as people get up to speed.

The only thing that sounds similar to me is a ward level calling https://www.lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/relief-society/9.6?lang=eng&_r=1#9.6.2” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.lds.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/relief-society/9.6?lang=eng&_r=1#9.6.2 but it might be related to Patrick Kearon’s recent talk during general conference. Hard to say without more details.

Do you have any refugees moving into your area? You could turn the calling into sourcing the members of the stake to help refugees get things they need like furniture. They’ve done that in our ward and what’s funny is that ward leadership is piggybacking on a relationship that was made by a member of the church that has had a FC and has publicly made it known that they only attend church for their spouse. They were awkwardly approached by the EQP to unofficially be a home teacher to the refugee family that isn’t even a member of the church.

It sounds like a calling to reach out and love people, so I know you’ll do just fine.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure we have a stake service somethingorother in our stake, but it sounds like a great idea.

In my HC responsibilities I’m “over” Primary. We are about to get a new presidency. I told the last president and will tell this one something like this: We both work under the same priesthood keys – those of the stake president. I have full confidence that you can do the job, and so does the SP or he wouldn’t have called you. You are the presidency, I am your advocate and link to the SP – if you need something, just ask but don’t be afraid to exercise your own authority and don’t let me stand between you and him. The reason we have these callings is because he can’t do all of this himself and he trusts us and I trust you. When you are asked for input in a stake meeting I will support whatever you say. I am not your manager and will not attempt to be.

It sounds like your HC thinks pretty much the same.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Nibbler and DJ –

For the past 5 years I have been my wards community and humanitarian leader. No real committee. Originally I just sent my ideas through the Bishop, who had extended the call, then after 2 years it kind of got morphed with RS. I have loved it and anyone who asks me hears the same story, “I could do this the rest of my life”. I have served everywhere else a woman can, with the exception of Ward Activities, but that is nil now, so no chance of me getting it.

What the HC told me was that my name was highly praised in High Council for the work our ward has accomplished the past few years. We have had some awesome opportunities and my ward is generous when they come along. Our only down fall is blood drives but that is not a problem.

This leaves me assuming it is tied to Refugee’s and community service on a Stake Level. We may be charting new territory here. I do know that last month my RS President asked me to write a letter about how to help the local refugee plan, in it I referenced the Women’s Session of conference and Patrick Kearon’s talk. Maybe they all came together.

I will let you know what I know when I know.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I have been over the stake service twice while on different high councils.

I loved it and think you will be great.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Ray. Time will tell.

[Anonymous]

Hey…that’s cool to hear. I hope you have a good experience.

Do you think it will be something where you have control over what you do…like you can do big things that take lots of effort for a short period of time, and then lots of down time to coast?

Some of those stake callings can vary based on how much you can do and want to do…others support how much you can do but there is no set weekly requirement…which gives flexibility but still gives something to do. And you can make it meaningful.

Keep us posted. :thumbup:

[Anonymous]

Heber – I don’t know yet. We just got a new SP and so I think everyone is on a learning curve. The High Councilor who extended the call is from my ward so he knows what I have done on a ward level. He thinks his job is to support me and I am in charge. I also have my previous Bishop in the Stake Presidency and he always seemed to enjoy and support what I planned. I am hoping that allows me to just move the program I have done to a broader segment of people.

On a ward level I held a community service project once a quarter. Sometimes the entire ward was involved sometimes a portion. I tried to keep it balanced sort of a 2 for the ward and 2 for a specific group. In between I just coasted. I am a 75% attendee and I work to be positive when I am there.

Ironically I spilled the beans to the Bishopric yesterday. No one had told them yet and I assumed they had, so I innocently asked if they wanted me to do both callings. They were stunned – and not in the “Wow this is great news” way. The 1st Counselor asked if I meant released from all of my callings because I have been the ward PR, Community Service and RS Humanitarian leader (it just made it easier to get everything done). I had to say yes I think it means everything. They said they needed time to talk.

I will keep people posted.I am hoping it is just a Stake level copy cat from my ward level work, but I can’t say for sure right now.

I love Church Secrecy. It’s so cool.

[Anonymous]

Good luck Mom!

My only concern is that I have sometimes seen dysfunction in how the wards work together. We do our scouts together because none of the wards have enough boys to be successful alone. Theoretically all of the wards are supposed to oversee it and contribute manpower together. Unfortunately, in reality that means that nobody can really be held accountable for anything and balls get dropped all the time.

I tend to be pessimistic by nature. Your experience may be wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Roy – I actually have the same concern. In the years I have handled our wards service I have always maintained that the success was theirs. Not mine. My ward is connected and dedicated to that. I know from others that their wards aren’t and even getting volunteers for a once a year Stake Project is like pulling teeth. There is no way to fix that.

I do think we are such a life intrusive church that people just burn out. They may even like service but if they have given their all to FHE, YM/YW, prepped their weekly calling (and leadership is a lot of that), been to the temple, completed home and visiting teaching, and maybe made time for extra service, i.e. helping a family move or taking dinner to the Jones, – they are tapped. No where on that list is non-church stuff, family, work, civic choices, grocery shopping, etc.

I try to always include a line about “If this isn’t a good time for you or if you want to only drop stuff by, feel free.”

Sadly I think we do cause our own damage with our “Celestial Kingdom Requirements.”

[Author]

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