The Calling of a Bishop

[scottie]

What is up with people wanting to be Bishop?

Career track to $600K salary in retirement.


I kid.

[Sullyute]

Following an aggressive but eventually unsuccessful campaign to be called as our next Bishop, my uber-orthodox neighbor was called to be SS Pres. He declined on the grounds his PB specifically states he will serve in "high leadership positions". I don't who is more disappointed - him or his wife. What is up with people wanting to be Bishop?

Career track to $600K salary in retirement.


I kid.

And that doesn't include the book deals!

and I kid not.

[SoonerCoug]

Career track to $600K salary in retirement.

I would presume a very high salary in the absence of transparency. Why wouldn't they want to be open about this sort of thing? If there is nothing to hide, then they should share their salaries with the world.

[Moliere]

One of the problems in my old ward was that too many people had access to the church handbook. So when they didn't agree with a decision made by a leader, they would go to the Bishop citing the handbook. Another example, I got busted by another parent for taking an 11-year son on a Deacon's campout. A Dad had pulled out at the last minute because his wife insisted they go out on a date (they still sent their deacon son on the campout). I got a panicked call from the Scoutmaster asking if I could help out and go camping; otherwise, the campout would have to be canceled. My wife was out town with our daughter and our older kids were at EFY. So I was at home with my 11-year old son and he didn't want to be at home alone. The Scoutmaster said it was OK for me to bring my Boy Scout 11-year old son on the campout with me. We packed and had a good time on the campout. Someone complained to the Bishop that an 11-year was brought on a Deacon's campout in violation of the handbook. The Scoutmaster got in trouble for allowing it and I got talked to as well. I asked what I should have done and was told I should have declined or found a place for my son to spend the night (had I been thinking more clearly I would have brought up his several sermons on the evils of sleepovers).

BTW, 11 year olds can go on scout campouts as long as they have a parent with them, at least that is our ward policy. I've never seen anything in the CHoI that says otherwise. Maybe someone could link the portion of the handbook so I can show it to my bishop, who's 11-year old son went on scout camp this year.

[smokymountainrain]

BTW, 11 year olds can go on scout campouts as long as they have a parent with them, at least that is our ward policy. I've never seen anything in the CHoI that says otherwise. Maybe someone could link the portion of the handbook so I can show it to my bishop, who's 11-year old son went on scout camp this year.

That is standard across the board, in my experience. We had three 11 year olds (and dads, of course) at scout camp this year.

[Art Vandelay]

I never really seen this so called auditioning take place (but my experience is pretty limited). However, it is soooo obvious to minding-their-own-business members, I would think it would be much more apparent to a stake president; especially one who has called more than one bishop previously. And this, obviously, is ignoring the whole belief in inspiration, part of the calling.

Perhaps it is naive on my part, but I would surprised to see a truly covetous individual called as a bishop.

[Scorcho]

We had a party for a YM that was turning 16 and became a priest. The quorum wanted to wake him up really early (a surprise), "kidnap" him, and take him to the church to play video games. I told the priests to bring the XBox and video games and I'd bring the projector.

So we get to the church around 6:30am and the only games they brought were COD and Guitar Hero. We are playing for a bit and another ward shows up to clean the church. We are in the nursery room as it's the only room that allows food and some old lady sticks her head in and her eyes bug out at the sight of 6 of us playing a shooting game (complete with sound blasting from the speakers). I quickly tell her that we'll clean this room when we leave and she quickly closes the door. Then for the next couple minutes we have a parade of people looking in through the door window (remember these are the mullahs that actually show up on time to clean the building).

I was certain I'd hear about it from someone (bishop, stake YM pres, etc.) but I never heard from anyone. Needless to say, I'm pretty sure my bishop wouldn't have cared.

when are they holding the rededication of that nursery room?

[Paperback Writer]

Auditions are about to start in mine.

One of the funniest happenings of my chuch experience was when word leaked of a Bishop being transferred by his company right around the November Bush-Gore election. So everyone in the ward knew we would be getting a new bishop. There was a guy in our ward with a gregarious sense of humor and was borline active which stood in stark contrast to his hyper-active primary president wife. Anyway, he had promised his wife that he would attend chruch and priesthood every week once their oldest son received the AP. He was true to his word and decided to go all out in his activity and campaign for bishop.

It started out as a joke when someone in the foyer didn't recognize him and asked him who he was in front of his wife. He shook her hand and said "I'm Brother So-and-so and I want to be your next Bishop". Soon he was shaking everyone's hand he could and asking for their vote to be the next Bishop. It was a sight to behold...and hilarious. Here was a 30-something guy with longish hair, a scrub beard, untucked polo shirt, un-ironed docker pants, no socks, and boat shoes. Basically, the opposite appearence of the typical LDS Bishop. The next week was more of the same, hand shaking in the foyer and asking people of their vote. He stood up in GD class (remember his wife is in primary) and re-introduced himself and stated that he hoped he would be their next Bishop.

This charade lasted almost a month until a new Bishop was finally announced. During that Sacrament meeting when the just released Bishop took the stand to speak, he asked this person to join him on the stand. As he stood next to him, the former Bishop informed his congregation that in the spirit of the departing President Clinton, he is offerring a full Bishop's pardon to this man for his unsuccessful campaign antics to become the next Bishop. It was the hardest I've ever laughed in a Sacrament meeting.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I never really seen this so called auditioning take place (but my experience is pretty limited). However, it is soooo obvious to minding-their-own-business members, I would think it would be much more apparent to a stake president; especially one who has called more than one bishop previously. And this, obviously, is ignoring the whole belief in inspiration, part of the calling.

Perhaps it is naive on my part, but I would surprised to see a truly covetous individual called as a bishop.

I have told this story a few times, so please forgive me.

Case #1: When I was a kid we were notified that our bishop would be stepping down. For the next 2-3 weeks a guy in our neighborhood put on an impressive campaign. He started wearing his best suits and ties, commented every chance he could get in meetings, and prior to priesthood he would go up and down the aisle and personally shake hands with everyone in attendance. It was something to be behold.

Case #2: A few years ago we were again in a bishop transition period and my neighbor told me that he had a dream telling him that he should be the new bishop (he was not remotely bishop material). He said that he went to visit the SP to inform him of the revelation. To his shock, the SP was rather rude to him.

[Paperback Writer]

BTW, 11 year olds can go on scout campouts as long as they have a parent with them, at least that is our ward policy. I've never seen anything in the CHoI that says otherwise. Maybe someone could link the portion of the handbook so I can show it to my bishop, who's 11-year old son went on scout camp this year.

I just reviewed the LDS Scouting Handbook expecting to see something there about prohibiting 11-year-olds from camping with deacons (besides the 3 times a year they are allowed to camp) but there's no such direction. So I think this policy is at the stake level. My stake has gone back and forth with it. I attended scout camp with two of my 11-year old sons but the policy changed sometime after my youngest son went to camp with me. Because I knew it was against policy when I went on that next campout with him. I had thought it was because the church may have changed its policy but that is not the case. Just another example of how my stake is messed up. Stake rules on top of LDS BSA rules on top of regular BSA rules. But I know for a fact it is currently prohibited by my stake because it came up this past summer. Another adult volunteer was needed for scout camp and he wanted to take his 11-year old son but was told he couldn't (next volunteer, as if there is a long line).

And the issue came up again when we planned an 11-year old campout. A couple of deacons asked if they could join us and we thought it was a good idea as we we pressing the PP for a troop guide and thought it would make for a good audition. Unbeknownst to us, the scoutmaster announced our campout to the DQ and we were told to expect a couple more boys but couldn't get an exact count. So in additon to four 11-year old scouts, eight deacons show up at the church and we don't have enough car seats and room for all the gear (none of the DQ leaders showed up, just the scouts). Didn't get anywhere with calling the YM leaders for help so the RS had to come to the rescue and haul scouts and gear to the campsite. We decided to implement our own policy that if DQ scouts were going to camp with the 11-year-old scouts, they had to furnish leaders and transportation. I wanted the policy to be that if a deacon came with us that his father had to come along as well until I was informed that it would exclude certain boys (or almost all of them).

[PaloAltoCougar]

I have told this story a few times, so please forgive me.

Case #1: When I was a kid we were notified that our bishop would be stepping down. For the next 2-3 weeks a guy in our neighborhood put on an impressive campaign. He started wearing his best suits and ties, commented every chance he could get in meetings, and prior to priesthood he would go up and down the aisle and personally shake hands with everyone in attendance. It was something to be behold.

Case #2: A few years ago we were again in a bishop transition period and my neighbor told me that he had a dream telling him that he should be the new bishop (he was not remotely bishop material). He said that he went to visit the SP to inform him of the revelation. To his shock, the SP was rather rude to him.

For those who might otherwise be worthy of the calling but do not wish for it, I'm thinking these aren't bad strategies. As I've reported before, at least 2-3 times a week, the GA's receive letters from men that read something like, "After many years of managing a successful business, I'm now about to retire and would be willing to serve as a mission president, and I have the skills to be a very good one." None of these correspondents have ever been called to be a mission president.

[jay santos]

That is standard across the board, in my experience. We had three 11 year olds (and dads, of course) at scout camp this year.

Same

[creekster]

I have told this story a few times, so please forgive me.

Case #1: When I was a kid we were notified that our bishop would be stepping down. For the next 2-3 weeks a guy in our neighborhood put on an impressive campaign. He started wearing his best suits and ties, commented every chance he could get in meetings, and prior to priesthood he would go up and down the aisle and personally shake hands with everyone in attendance. It was something to be behold.

Case #2: A few years ago we were again in a bishop transition period and my neighbor told me that he had a dream telling him that he should be the new bishop (he was not remotely bishop material). He said that he went to visit the SP to inform him of the revelation. To his shock, the SP was rather rude to him.

We had a guy in our ward some years back who was called to be on the scout committee. He accepted but told the counselor that he knew he would not be in the calling long as a new bishop was going to be called in the next month and, well, lets just say he was inpsired to know he would be involved. The new bishop was called and this guy continued to serve on the scout committee for many years.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I just reviewed the LDS Scouting Handbook expecting to see something there about prohibiting 11-year-olds from camping with deacons (besides the 3 times a year they are allowed to camp) but there's no such direction. So I think this policy is at the stake level. My stake has gone back and forth with it. I attended scout camp with two of my 11-year old sons but the policy changed sometime after my youngest son went to camp with me. Because I knew it was against policy when I went on that next campout with him. I had thought it was because the church may have changed its policy but that is not the case. Just another example of how my stake is messed up. Stake rules on top of LDS BSA rules on top of regular BSA rules. But I know for a fact it is currently prohibited by my stake because it came up this past summer. Another adult volunteer was needed for scout camp and he wanted to take his 11-year old son but was told he couldn't (next volunteer, as if there is a long line).

And the issue came up again when we planned an 11-year old campout. A couple of deacons asked if they could join us and we thought it was a good idea as we we pressing the PP for a troop guide and thought it would make for a good audition. Unbeknownst to us, the scoutmaster announced our campout to the DQ and we were told to expect a couple more boys but couldn't get an exact count. So in additon to four 11-year old scouts, eight deacons show up at the church and we don't have enough car seats and room for all the gear (none of the DQ leaders showed up, just the scouts). Didn't get anywhere with calling the YM leaders for help so the RS had to come to the rescue and haul scouts and gear to the campsite. We decided to implement our own policy that if DQ scouts were going to camp with the 11-year-old scouts, they had to furnish leaders and transportation. I wanted the policy to be that if a deacon came with us that his father had to come along as well until I was informed that it would exclude certain boys (or almost all of them).

In general it is not a good idea to mix 11-yr-old scouts in with regular scouts on activities, just due to the dynamics of age difference. The older scouts tend to pick on the 11-yr-olds and it can sour them on scouting. Furthermore, church policy (general handbook? primary handbook?) is that 11-yr-olds should only do three overnight camps per year. However that is a general rule for the 11-yr-old programs. Furthermore, leaders are discouraged from bringing younger kids because they can be a distraction and limit the effectiveness of the leader in keeping track of the kids (imagine a leader with a bunch of little kids at camp, for example). However, for wards with really small numbers, it might make good sense to mix up more as long as you have good leadership.

That being said, if a father or scout leader has to go on a campout and he wants to bring along an 11-yr-old son, I can't imagine why anyone would care. Your stake would be nuts to make a big deal about it.

I learned a long time ago that you shouldn't worry too much about overzealous leaders in cases like this. If they nitpick about something just say: "Fine, go ahead and release me." If you are doing a good job overall, that will shut them up faster than anything. The last thing they want to do is find a replacement for an effective scout leader.

[Katy Lied]

Another example, I got busted by another parent for taking an 11-year son on a Deacon's campout. A Dad had pulled out at the last minute because his wife insisted they go out on a date (they still sent their deacon son on the campout). I got a panicked call from the Scoutmaster asking if I could help out and go camping; otherwise, the campout would have to be canceled. My wife was out town with our daughter and our older kids were at EFY. So I was at home with my 11-year old son and he didn't want to be at home alone. The Scoutmaster said it was OK for me to bring my Boy Scout 11-year old son on the campout with me. We packed and had a good time on the campout. Someone complained to the Bishop that an 11-year was brought on a Deacon's campout in violation of the handbook. The Scoutmaster got in trouble for allowing it and I got talked to as well. I asked what I should have done and was told I should have declined or found a place for my son to spend the night (had I been thinking more clearly I would have brought up his several sermons on the evils of sleepovers).

It is discouraged to be in the same car alone with a deacon who is not your son, let along taking him camping with you. Taking your son along was the best protection you could have.