What does it mean to preside?

[Art Vandelay]

I'm sure this has been discussed in every EQ that has ever existed. I've never felt like I've had a firm grasp of what presiding actually means. From a church organizational standpoint, whoever has the highest (??) keys presides in a meeting - though at times that doesn't even require speaking during said meeting. In my home presiding seems to mean calling on someone to pray ..... after my wife reminds me, it's time to have family prayer.

[Commando]

It means you're the president of that meeting. :rockon2:

[smokymountainrain]

I'm sure this has been discussed in every EQ that has ever existed. I've never felt like I've had a firm grasp of what presiding actually means. From a church organizational standpoint, whoever has the highest (??) keys presides in a meeting - though at times that doesn't even require speaking during said meeting. In my home presiding seems to mean calling on someone to pray ..... After my wife reminds me, it's time to have family prayer.

That is a pretty funny aspect of mormonism. Mrs SMR remembers to say all the prayers, she decides when we have the prayers and my only role is to pick the person who either hasn't said it in a while, will say the shortest prayer (if I need to get back to the game) or will complain the least.

[snowcat]

That is a pretty funny aspect of mormonism. Mrs SMR remembers to say all the prayers, she decides when we have the prayers and my only role is to pick the person who either hasn't said it in a while, will say the shortest prayer (if I need to get back to the game) or will complain the least.

[LVAllen]

I think it means you are an ex-officio member of each relevant committee, and you chair the most significant committees. Preferably by using RONR.

[wuapinmon]

All shall genuflect toward Oxford:

Etymology: < Middle French, French présider to govern or control (c1365), to have the seat of authority at an assembly, to act as chairman or president (1388), to direct, control (1545) < classical Latin praesidēre to exercise superintendence at official functions or ceremonies, to govern, control, to guard < prae- pre- prefix + sedēre to sit (see sedent adj.). Compare Old Occitan presidir (1400), Catalan presidir (second half of the 15th cent.), Spanish presidir (a1457), Portuguese presidir (15th cent.), Italian presiedere (a1375).

1. intr. To exercise authority or control over; to rule, govern. Also fig.: to reign supreme.

2.intr.

Thesaurus »
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a. To occupy the seat of authority at an assembly or meeting; to act as chairman or president.

b. To sit at the head of the table.

d. To officiate at a religious ceremony; (Christian Church) to act as the celebrant at a Eucharist; to say mass (cf. president n. 2f). Freq. with at.

3. trans. To direct, control; to chair.


5. intr._ to preside at the piano (also organ, harpsichord, etc.): to play the piano, etc., at a gathering; spec. to conduct or lead an orchestra or band while playing the specified instrument.

The ones I skipped are dead usages (Obs. Rare).

[Clark Addison]

All shall genuflect toward Oxford:

Etymology: < Middle French, French présider to govern or control (c1365), to have the seat of authority at an assembly, to act as chairman or president (1388), to direct, control (1545) < classical Latin praesidēre to exercise superintendence at official functions or ceremonies, to govern, control, to guard < prae- pre- prefix + sedēre to sit (see sedent adj.). Compare Old Occitan presidir (1400), Catalan presidir (second half of the 15th cent.), Spanish presidir (a1457), Portuguese presidir (15th cent.), Italian presiedere (a1375).

1. intr. To exercise authority or control over; to rule, govern. Also fig.: to reign supreme.

2.intr.

Thesaurus »
Categories »

a. To occupy the seat of authority at an assembly or meeting; to act as chairman or president.

b. To sit at the head of the table.

d. To officiate at a religious ceremony; (Christian Church) to act as the celebrant at a Eucharist; to say mass (cf. president n. 2f). Freq. with at.

3. trans. To direct, control; to chair.


5. intr._ to preside at the piano (also organ, harpsichord, etc.): to play the piano, etc., at a gathering; spec. to conduct or lead an orchestra or band while playing the specified instrument.

The ones I skipped are dead usages (Obs. Rare).

30 years ago, this was a much easier question to answer. If you asked what it meant to preside in church, everyone would basically agree that it means something very similar to what is said here: To rule or to be in charge. What complicates it now, of course, is that:

1. If the Priesthood is present, it presides
2. Women can't have the priesthood
3. We don't really want to say that, whenever men are around, they are in charge

That is what has led us to the place where "preside" means to sit up front and call on someone to pray. It basically won't be resolved until women get the Priesthood. Then, presiding will once again mean to be in charge, because it won't be sexist to say so.

[wuapinmon]

30 years ago, this was a much easier question to answer. If you asked what it meant to preside in church, everyone would basically agree that it means something very similar to what is said here: To rule or to be in charge. What complicates it now, of course, is that:

1. If the Priesthood is present, it presides
2. Women can't have the priesthood
3. We don't really want to say that, whenever men are around, they are in charge

That is what has led us to the place where "preside" means to sit up front and call on someone to pray. It basically won't be resolved until women get the Priesthood. Then, presiding will once again mean to be in charge, because it won't be sexist to say so.

I've heard people try to get around that by saying something like "Husbands preside in righteousness over their families as priesthood leaders do over their quorums, groups, wards, and stakes." That "in righteousness" probably worked for a decade or so. Now, I agree with you. I love that "prae" is the root, not "pre."

[Eddie]

In our family it means 2(b).

I get to set at one end of the table.