Duncan Posted September 11, 2011 Posted September 11, 2011 I got a new calling today, I am the new Ward Mission Leader, I know, I know, but as I always do when they put me in a headlock until I consent to a new calling "why me, others are more qualified". Amid my jumbly thoughts I was thinking why does the Ward Mission Leader have to be a guy? Ther really aren't any Priesthood duties in it that you can't ask someone else to do, so why a guy?
Duncan Posted September 11, 2011 Author Posted September 11, 2011 It's still a priesthood calling.what do you mean? As I see it is coordinating missionary efforts in the ward, but you aren't necessarily baptizing, confirming, or conferring the Priesthood on anyone.
Pahoran Posted September 11, 2011 Posted September 11, 2011 what do you mean? As I see it is coordinating missionary efforts in the ward, but you aren't necessarily baptizing, confirming, or conferring the Priesthood on anyone.Congratulations. WML is (IMHO) the best calling in the Church.I guess there are a number of reasons, but the one that jumps out at me is that it's a Priesthood calling because the WML is a member of the ward PEC.Enjoy your new calling!Regards,Pahoran 1
Duncan Posted September 11, 2011 Author Posted September 11, 2011 Congratulations. WML is (IMHO) the best calling in the Church.I guess there are a number of reasons, but the one that jumps out at me is that it's a Priesthood calling because the WML is a member of the ward PEC.Enjoy your new calling!Regards,PahoranThanks! I hope everything goes well, the Bishop and I get along great, so that helps! 2
ERayR Posted September 12, 2011 Posted September 12, 2011 (edited) I got a new calling today, I am the new Ward Mission Leader, I know, I know, but as I always do when they put me in a headlock until I consent to a new calling "why me, others are more qualified". Amid my jumbly thoughts I was thinking why does the Ward Mission Leader have to be a guy? Ther really aren't any Priesthood duties in it that you can't ask someone else to do, so why a guy? I have not checked recently but back in olden times when I was a Seventy and held that position I interviewed candidates for baptism. Edited September 12, 2011 by ERayR
Duncan Posted September 12, 2011 Author Posted September 12, 2011 I have not checked recently but back in olden times when I was a Seventy and held that position I interviewed candidates for baptism.Today the District leader does it and then if something is amiss then a counselor in the Mission Presidency does it
Bernard Gui Posted September 12, 2011 Posted September 12, 2011 Thanks! I hope everything goes well, the Bishop and I get along great, so that helps!Mrs. Gui I and I served together a while back. I was WML and she was a ward missionary. See if your bishop will oblige you. It made us a lot more effective. We loved the callings. Good luck!Bernard 1
Duncan Posted September 12, 2011 Author Posted September 12, 2011 (edited) Mrs. Gui I and I served together a while back. I was WML and she was a ward missionary. See if your bishop will oblige you. It made us a lot more effective. We loved the callings. Good luck!BernardI am not married...but maybe my Bishop has some unmarried female cousins or something! Edited September 12, 2011 by Duncan
altersteve Posted September 12, 2011 Posted September 12, 2011 (edited) what do you mean? As I see it is coordinating missionary efforts in the ward, but you aren't necessarily baptizing, confirming, or conferring the Priesthood on anyone.The priesthood is Christ's authority: the power to make decisions, under His inspiration and direction, for whatever position He has called you to, as His chosen leader of a quorum, organization, activity, ward, stake, etc. It is the authority to speak and act in Christ's name as if He were the one saying or doing it. So a priesthood calling doesn't have to be a position where baptisms, confirmations, and so forth are the main job; it is any position where proper authority from God is required. And His authority is needed for coordinating missionary efforts in the ward. Priesthood duties are not limited to baptizing, confirming, conferring the priesthood, or giving priesthood blessings. These are very important duties, but the most important duty of every priesthood holder is to stand in the Lord's place as a leader that He has personally chosen. Edited September 12, 2011 by altersteve
Bernard Gui Posted September 12, 2011 Posted September 12, 2011 I am not married...but maybe my Bishop has some unmarried female cousins or something!We can hope!
cdowis Posted September 12, 2011 Posted September 12, 2011 A practical reason is that the ML deals closely with the Elders. Generally speaking, leaders work with those of the same sex, such as a woman with the YM, and brothern with the scouts. If the ward has Sisters, I would suppose that the ML is accompanied with his wife.
mnn727 Posted September 12, 2011 Posted September 12, 2011 what do you mean? As I see it is coordinating missionary efforts in the ward, but you aren't necessarily baptizing, confirming, or conferring the Priesthood on anyone.But you preside at Baptisms unless there is a Bishop or Stake President in attendance and Baptisms are Priesthood ordinances,
Zakuska Posted September 12, 2011 Posted September 12, 2011 Since our ward is quite aged. Several of our ward Mission leaders have been couples. Of course the calling was given to the Man and the woman tagged along with.
ERMD Posted September 12, 2011 Posted September 12, 2011 But you preside at Baptisms unless there is a Bishop or Stake President in attendance and Baptisms are Priesthood ordinances,Not exactly. Counselors in stake presidencies and bishoprics preside in the absence of those who hold priesthood keys; a high councilor may be delegated to preside by the stake president if more than one ward is involved. For convert baptisms, a counselor or the ward mission leader may conduct the meeting.
David T Posted September 12, 2011 Posted September 12, 2011 I was recently a WML. Now I'm the High Councilor assigned to missionary work... and to train the WML!When I was a WML, I felt it was unfortunate that a Man needed to fill that position, because one of my ward missionaries - a woman - was fantastic, and I would have had her as my Assistant WML, and trained her as my replacement. Alas, doesn't work that way yet.The WML is, in many ways, the Bishop's right hand man in coordinating the Ward Council to work together to fulfill their Ward Mission Plan. He doesn't write the Mission Plan, but he facilitates its being developed by the WC as a sort of moderator. He assigns ward missionaries to fulfill needed tasks and as representatives/delegates among the different auxilliaries, and with the full time missionaries as well. He participates in the Priesthood Executive Committee. He is in charge of coordinating and planning Convert Baptismal Services, and coordinating and scheduling the Confirmation. Basically, since the 'keys' or responsibility of 'Finding' are centered in the ward, it's the Bishop's responsibility - delegated to the WML - to generating teaching opportunities for the Missionaries. It's a lot of responsibility for a calling many don't know too much about. 1
mfbukowski Posted September 12, 2011 Posted September 12, 2011 WML is a key, key, KEY position in the ward.I know of at least one bishop who was counseled to actually release one of his counselors and make him WML, and "pick just about anyone" to be a counselor, in a ward that was in trouble.The reason?Because a good, dedicated and enthusiastic WML can grow the ward and provide good converts to fill all the positions - including Bishopric counselors - where "all" counselors do is add one more voice to the "Key 5", and the Ward Council!So be a good WML and understand that calling to be as important as it can be! 1
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