Bishop just showed up at 9 PM unannounced

[doctorcoug]

He was concerned about me going inactive because I hadn't been to church in months. I explained my schedule to him, and he responded sort of "how can they do that". How soon he forgets. He is an OB/GYN.

I don't really appreciate unannounced visits. I think it made our family situation worse. I'll go to church when I can. Sorry I'm ruining your numbers by being "inactive". Sometimes we focus too much on numbers.

[Viking]

He was concerned about me going inactive because I hadn't been to church in months. I explained my schedule to him, and he responded sort of "how can they do that". How soon he forgets. He is an OB/GYN.

I don't really appreciate unannounced visits. I think it made our family situation worse. I'll go to church when I can. Sorry I'm ruining your numbers by being "inactive". Sometimes we focus too much on numbers.

Ask you bishop if he has a phone.

Then tell him to use it

[myboynoah]

He was concerned about me going inactive because I hadn't been to church in months. I explained my schedule to him, and he responded sort of "how can they do that". How soon he forgets. He is an OB/GYN.

I don't really appreciate unannounced visits. I think it made our family situation worse. I'll go to church when I can. Sorry I'm ruining your numbers by being "inactive". Sometimes we focus too much on numbers.

So he came over to tell you that you were ruining his numbers?

[byu71]

I don't know your Bishop, so I will talk in generalities. I think most Bishops really are concerned about those they have stewardship over. I doubt it is about numbers with most of them. They are believers and as such they really believe activity will better our lives. I think they show up out of sincere concern and perhaps don't think about the phone call. They may think they are showing up as a concerned friend.

[TripletDaddy]

Give your Bish the benefit of the doubt. My guess is that there were probably a load of other things he could have been doing rather than driving around town visiting ward members. He is probably more concerned about your well being than his numbers.

[UtahDan]

I'm sympathetic to both sides of this. On the one hand I agree with DDD, the motives are pure and I'm sure the man is genuine concerned. On the other hand, dropping by someone's home unannounced for a visit is rude.

[oxcoug]

I'm sympathetic to both sides of this. On the one hand I agree with DDD, the motives are pure and I'm sure the man is genuine concerned. On the other hand, dropping by someone's home unannounced for a visit is rude.

I'd say it kind of depends on the relationship. I've had a couple of Bishops who could have dropped by my pad in a reasonable evening hour and said what's up.

Then I've had a couple of Bishops who don't really know how to say what's up and I'd prefer they make an appointment.

But it doesn't sound like Bishop Ex OBGYN has privileges in this case.

[Art Vandelay]

My unsolicited thoughts

• Several times I have been driving somewhere and had the impression to stop by and visit someone. From my standpoint they have all been good, and a few times very spiritual, experiences.
  
• It seems that in the majority of President Monson's experiences of visiting "the one" are impromptu visist.
  
• Perhaps the Bishop knows exactly what is like to go through residency and his concern of your attendance and spiritual well being is based upon experiences he or others he knew had at that time of their life. I've personally known 4 different individuals who drifted into inactivity during their residency years.
  
• I think 9:00 is awfully late to knock on anyones door without and invitiation. My personal rule would be anything past sunset is pushing the envelope of good manners.
  
• I have never had a priesthood leader stop by where it has been a bad experience, but I really haven't had that many stop by over the years.
  
• Your comment about ruining his numbers is naive. What numbers are you referring to? Unless he is your hometeacher I doubt this was considered a HT visit. April isn't a month where sacrament meeting attendance is reported to SLC, so unless you think he is prepping you to come back for the June sweeps month, there really aren't any numbers that would effect the ward let alone the bishop that I can think of.

[SeattleUte]

Arrogance of power.

[All-American]

There's been a time or two where I was made to feel like somebody's project. I didn't appreciate it much.

On the other hand, I know how much lies on the plate of your average bishop. I agree that an unannounced 9 pm visit is something of an imposition on you, but it probably wasn't that convenient for him, either.

It looks to me like a totally tactless expression of genuine concern. I suppose you could condemn him for his lack of grace or praise him for his good intentions, though neither of those qualities will allow you to purchase a bag of delicious Swedish fish without the requisite buck twenty five.

[Art Vandelay]

Arrogance of power.

Good call. He is probably the kind of egomaniac who always take the bread and water first on Sunday too.

[SeattleUte]

He was concerned about me going inactive because I hadn't been to church in months. I explained my schedule to him, and he responded sort of "how can they do that". How soon he forgets. He is an OB/GYN.

I don't really appreciate unannounced visits. I think it made our family situation worse. I'll go to church when I can. Sorry I'm ruining your numbers by being "inactive". Sometimes we focus too much on numbers.

Don't listen to Art. Don't feel guilty about being inactive. I promise nothing will bad will happen to you because you're inactive. Carry on good doctor!

[SeattleUte]

Good call. He is probably the kind of egomaniac who always take the bread and water first on Sunday too.

I don't make cold calls out of humility and courtesy. The only exception might be if one of my small children wants to play with the next door neighbor girl on a Saturday afternoon. Do you know who make unscheduled visits at my house (aside from that little girl's parents)? Greenpeace, Jehova's Witnesses, and Mormons. Like I said: arrogance.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Art loves making lists on CUF.

[beelzebabette]

Greenpeace, Jehova's Witnesses, and Mormons.

Bastards. All of them.