If You Were the Bishop

[wuapinmon]

Imagine this. You are the bishop of ward that encompasses a couple of THOUSAND square miles. A retired couple in the ward who lives WAY out there raises chickens and they charge $1 per dozen for yard eggs.

Assume that this couple didn't advertise their eggs, but that word of mouth had gotten out that they had really really really good eggs. If members gave the couple money at church, would you say anything to them to prohibit them from bringing the eggs to church the following Sunday?

[hostile]

The only thing I would be worried about is the implied consent of the church if the bishop says nothing. If it becomes a regular practice and perhaps someone feels like they didn't get what they paid for, or if someone became ill from the eggs then would the ward/church be liable for providing a setting where the transactions could take place? I have no idea - I'm not a lawyer.

[thesaint258]

I have a very vague memory of a bishop getting up in sacrament meeting and asking people not to transact business at church from when I was a kid. I think I'd ask the couple to refrain from conducting business at church, and I'd suggest that they agree to meet those who want to buy eggs before or after church somewhere else.

[wuapinmon]

The only thing I would be worried about is the implied consent of the church if the bishop says nothing. If it becomes a regular practice and perhaps someone feels like they didn't get what they paid for, or if someone became ill from the eggs then would the ward/church be liable for providing a setting where the transactions could take place? I have no idea - I'm not a lawyer.

That's my impression. That it was less about keeping the Sabbath and more about the liability or that the Church was somehow facilitating the transactions.

[All-American]

I might suggest that they not make transactions in the building out of respect, but only if it was somewhat intrusive. Even then, only if I couldn't just ignore it.

[RC Vikings]

If I were the bishop I would ask for a dozen eggs to turn a blind eye to their transactions.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I'd say "Bishop discount, I'm only paying $0.90"

[Moliere]

I would have no issues with a single transaction here or there, but if it happened every Sunday and was a distraction then I'd say something. I can just picture some old lady carrying eggs walking around RS during the lesson looking for Sister soandso who wanted eggs.

I remember some members in Utah doing some MLMish transactions out in the foyer. That always seemed irreverent to me....not the transacting per se but hte fact it was an MLM type transaction.

[grapevine]

you can get in big trouble for doing business in the church. I do rmember people buying things in the institute kitchen in church on sunday though.

[wuapinmon]

No, these guys would never ever bring the eggs in the actual building. They also never asked you.

[Surfah]

Eggs can't be that good to risk a rebuke from the pulpit.

[wuapinmon]

Eggs can't be that good to risk a rebuke from the pulpit.

Of course not. I was just wondering what people thought. I've been away for 5 Sundays, and when I saw them today, I pulled out some cash and asked them to bring us some next week, and they said that they couldn't take money from us at church, and that they would be happy to meet us anywhere other than the church, so I assume that someone asked them to stop.

I was just wondering if the people who had been/are bishops on here had any insights into the issue. I'm not mad about it, and I understand the reasons why you would ask them to stop. Just wondering what the consensus might say about it.

[jay santos]

Something should be said if the transactions are being made on church property. Other than that, no.

[myboynoah]

Something should be said if the transactions are being made on church property. Other than that, no.

You sound like you'd make a great BYU HC enforcer.

[jay santos]

You sound like you'd make a great BYU HC enforcer.

I wouldnt kick them out of BYU or hold a church court over it.