Dealing with Welfare issues as Bishop of ungrateful people.

[grapevine]

There are many people that need help but would rather live in cardboard box. I am one of them. That is why Bishops and EQP's are to seek out people. But there are also people that demand help and don't do what the Bishop tells them. Call the flock to repentance. Upset they don't get enough help. When I worked at DI in Rexburg some lady could not stand her Bishop. She was on food stamps and lived in Subsidized housing so probably went the rounds there.

I taught many people that wanted us to be the go between for getting gas and food orders. Taught one couple living in sin so could not get baptized heard they let missionaries teach them since ex was LDS so that they could get some help. Bishops either feel guilty about being too stingy or too generous not much of an in between there.

Shortly after Dallin gave his talk on helping Bishop lady in ward in mission told of how she had to call Bishop in Priesthood Meeting because she did not know who her home teachers were at times. Go home teaching but did she read talk. Same talk where Dallin told of some needy member that kept Bishop at church all day on Christmas. Couldn't that lady have waited a day or two so he could spend the day with fam?

Jeff told of Bishop that answered phone on date night with wife and Bishop there all night. Lady on line I guess thought of leaving husband. Apr 2002. I remember Bishop being delayed visiting grandchildren do to needy members.

I am sure that many people that need help appreciate it. However those that have been Bishops have you had to deal with real Donkey's who threw a fit when they didn't get the help they thought they needed, and criticized people they asked for help from.

Another lady on mission Elderly and fairly homebound always talked of how Bishop pretended she did not exist. I was thinking did she go to Temple. Converted to last Bishop probably not church. Like Bishop who is Husband Father and has job has time to deal with every member. Attention starved.

Bishop is not something anyone asks for. Thankless sometimes. Good those sought out will appreciate help, but times give people temporal help that are critical and don't seem to appreciate it.

[wuapinmon]

What does "had rounds there" mean?

[grapevine]

What does "had rounds there" mean?

Changed it probably went the rounds with her Bishop on that issue.

[Donuthole]

Dealing with church welfare issues is the absolute worst part of being ward clerk. Worse even than disciplinary councils. It's sad that it's this way, as I would like to think providing welfare would be a joyous experience. Any joy, however, is fast overshadowed by entitled people gaming the system.

[CardiacCoug]

Obviously there have to be some common sense rules/guidelines about who gets help. But really I think the expectations for people getting welfare have to be pretty damn low, right? After all, if these people had their shit together they wouldn't need help. You're helping people who either can't or won't help themselves and so most will be messed up in one way or another, not necessarily their fault obviously.

It wouldn't bother me that much to help people who don't deserve and/or appreciate it. That's the type of person who needs help.

[grapevine]

Dealing with church welfare issues is the absolute worst part of being ward clerk. Worse even than disciplinary councils. It's sad that it's this way, as I would like to think providing welfare would be a joyous experience. Any joy, however, is fast overshadowed by entitled people gaming the system.

I as membership clerk have ordered supplies also told to order food order once too. I just ordered if after Bishop told me too tried not to look at who needed it. For the Ward and Stake Clerks RS and EQ Presidents deciding when to and when not to help and how much I think that is a difficult part of the calling. Too Generous or Too Stingy. Bishop has difficult decision in determining who is gaming the system and if people are doing there part to who legitimately needs the help. Inspiration always a key.

[Omaha 680]

Obviously there have to be some common sense rules/guidelines about who gets help. But really I think the expectations for people getting welfare have to be pretty damn low, right? After all, if these people had their shit together they wouldn't need help. You're helping people who either can't or won't help themselves and so most will be messed up in one way or another, not necessarily their fault obviously.

It wouldn't bother me that much to help people who don't deserve and/or appreciate it. That's the type of person who needs help.

I've said this before but I've always seen Bishops I have worked with lean to the compassionate side if there is any question on whether to extend aid or not. But there are some people who simply will not lift a finger to help themselves. If there is any personal effort requested of them because they are receiving assistance they will find every excuse not to do it. We had a few in the branch in Omaha who had their rent and groceries paid for many months in a row by the church. Often all that was asked of them is that they come help clean the church on the days it was our branch's turn (something members who are not receiving assistance are asked to do anyway). But this was too much to ask of many and they would not show up unless you sent someone to their house to get them. What are you supposed to do in cases like that? I think welfare is one of the things the church does very well because it fills an immediate need and alleviates suffering but it also is designed to help people progress. In extreme cases this won't mean progressing to be a productive member of society, but some progress is needed. There was a guy I home taught who one of his conditions for continued assistance was to get out of the house before noon. It sounds ridiculous but if needing rent money from the church will get him to make that lifestyle change than the welfare program is succeeding with him.

There are some people who will be chroinic cases and need assistance for much of their lives. That's fine because church welfare sholdn't be looked at as an investment that we have to get a return on. But I think it has to be a tool to help lift people when possible.

[Donuthole]

Obviously there have to be some common sense rules/guidelines about who gets help. But really I think the expectations for people getting welfare have to be pretty damn low, right? After all, if these people had their shit together they wouldn't need help. You're helping people who either can't or won't help themselves and so most will be messed up in one way or another, not necessarily their fault obviously.

It wouldn't bother me that much to help people who don't deserve and/or appreciate it. That's the type of person who needs help.

i think you're thinking about the people who need food. Those people almost always really need the help and are very grateful. I'm talking more about people who submit their housing and/or utility bills for payment by the ward. I could have been more clear about that in my initial post. Sorry.

[Surfah]

My last bishop was famous for always saying the Church offers a hand up, not a handout. And he used that philosophy in determining actual need. Still he erred on the side of compassion most times after an initial consult since most members never asked for help until it was urgent. Afterward, he gave the members a list of things they needed to do and asked the RSP, EQP and HPGL to follow up by reviewing the finances of the families. More often times than not it is was a good experience. Occasionally though it sucked. We had one couple who were in an emergency at the end of every other month it seemed. They'd come to church only when they needed a bill paid. They wouldn't do anything the Bishop asked of them so he finally refused them any help. The sister took to social media and trashed our bishop, RS pres and everyone else involved.

[Uncle Ted]

Why could the bishop just pay folks in the need of welfare to clean the building? I would recommend that he pay with cash so to avoid payroll taxes.