Disdain for bishops and higher ups

[jay santos]

I've got an anti-authority streak. I know I'm probably a jerk for having this opinion. But it's very difficult for me to have respect for Mormon leaders bishop to stake president range. It's easier for me for some reason to have respect for GA's, maybe because I don't know any personally.

My logic.

1. Mormon bishops usually have busy jobs and large families with kids at home. It's irresponsible and neglectful to their families for them to take on a 20 hour a week extra job.
2. In most areas where the church is strong, it takes a fairly high level of butt kissing and to get in a position to become a bishop.
3. Bishops spend a large part of their time doing stuff I'd rather us not do as a church, ie courts, harassing people (errrr helping them repent) over chastity issues, etc.

[TripletDaddy]

you are too cool for school.

[Indy Coug]

You need serious professional help.

[Art Vandelay]

Though I have an opinion on the first two points, for obvious reasons I will decline comment. However, as to your third point I have not found that be the case with me or any of my close friends who are or have been bishops in the past. In all honesty more of my time is spent with the youth, specifically the priests than anywhere else; personally I find it very enjoyable and rewarding.

I am glad you can share your frustrations here Jay. One of the great things about CUF is being able to share personal triumphs, trials or opinions with generally like minded people.

[SoonerCoug]

I'm with you, Brother Santos. I have met a few good bishops, though.

[clackamascoug]

Your logic is flawed, and smells of judgmental-ism.

By what standard are you in a position to question the time usage of another person. Or their personal worthiness.

[Jeff Lebowski]

1. Kind of unfair to dislike bishops for putting in a lot of time. I think most would prefer to be home with families. Many of the bishops I have known were quite good at delegating and managing time.

2. Disagree about the butt-kissing thing. Doesn't match my experience.

3. I suppose the amount of time bishop spend "harassing" members varies with personality. Thankfully, I haven't seen much of that.

My current bishop is a lot like Art. Very cool guy.

[jay santos]

1. Kind of unfair to dislike bishops for putting in a lot of time. I think most would prefer to be home with families. Many of the bishops I have known were quite good at delegating and managing time.

2. Disagree about the butt-kissing thing. Doesn't match my experience.

3. I suppose the amount of time bishop spend "harassing" members varies with personality. Thankfully, I haven't seen much of that.

My current bishop is a lot like Art. Very cool guy.

Art is a cool guy.

My current bishop's a cool guy. But I think he's guilty of all three of my list items.

[SoonerCoug]

My bishop asked me when I was going to have children within about 30 seconds of meeting me. I still like him, though.

I wanted to tell him that I was pretty sure I had thousands of bastard children scattered around the country, but I decided to save that line for another day.

[byu71]

I have run into a couple of Bishops I am not fond of. I have run into far more I have tons of respect for. The couple I was not fond of has more to do with my dislike for those that seem to weild their authority without regard for the world not being black and white. Like I said, just a couple have I dealt with.

SP's, I like them in general, but try to avoid them as much as possible.

[SoonerCoug]

We had a SP in our hometown who pulled down his pants at a high school basketball practice (in front of Cardiac) and asked the team if they "wanted to suck on this." He kept his job as a teacher but lost his coaching job--but then was made stake president.

[jay santos]

Though I have an opinion on the first two points, for obvious reasons I will decline comment. However, as to your third point I have not found that be the case with me or any of my close friends who are or have been bishops in the past. In all honesty more of my time is spent with the youth, specifically the priests than anywhere else; personally I find it very enjoyable and rewarding.

I am glad you can share your frustrations here Jay. One of the great things about CUF is being able to share personal triumphs, trials or opinions with generally like minded people.

I respect you, AV. And I don't want to make this personal. I'd rather keep it at theoretical level, but on the bolded part...

I don't know how much of a bishop's time is spent counseling the youth on law of chastity issues, but I wonder if any of it is useful to a person in the long run. You have whatever positive aspect the bishop has on the youth's life and balance it with whatever negative aspect the shame of confessing sexual sin and perhaps being found not worthy by the Lord's representative. I wonder if it's a net negative.

[BlueHair]

My experience with bishops has been overwhelmingly good. I've had a few problems, mostly them overstepping and my dislike of people sticking their nose where it doesn't belong. I take at least half of the responsibility. My top three:

1. He asked me why I was in the hall during class. I was about 30 at the time and his tone of voice was like he was talking to his kid. That didn't end well.
2. He said, "Nice white shirt" in a snarky tone because I was wearing a blue shirt.
3. He accused me of not paying tithing because he didn't have any record of payments that year. I told him I pay once a year, to which he replied that's not the right way to do it. He said God will withhold blessings until I pay it. I told him I hoped God was smart enough to know my intent.

This is a pretty small list considering my beliefs are unorthodox. Looking back, this all happened within a few months of me becoming inactive, so maybe it did have some effect on me.

[Donuthole]

Though I have an opinion on the first two points, for obvious reasons I will decline comment. However, as to your third point I have not found that be the case with me or any of my close friends who are or have been bishops in the past. In all honesty more of my time is spent with the youth, specifically the priests than anywhere else; personally I find it very enjoyable and rewarding.

I am glad you can share your frustrations here Jay. One of the great things about CUF is being able to share personal triumphs, trials or opinions with generally like minded people.

Hey ass-kisser, maybe you should sit this one out. Don't you have some sexually-active teens to interview or something?

[UteStar]

My current bishop is a lot like Art. Very cool guy.

Wait, I am totally confused...Art is a cool guy? Where have I been?