Freedom Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 do you see not getting too attached to your calling leading to being apathetic and this furthering the frustration of the Bishop?What I mean is, acting as if the calling is ours alone rather than belonging to God and not part of a greater cause. We embrace our calling but should not act as if we have special rights. It is our stewardship, not our property. If our calling has to be disrupted for a greater cause, we should not be offended; if our calling gets neglected because the Bishop or Stake President is focused on weightier matters we should be patient and do what we can to help the kingdom move along as best we can. 1
canard78 Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 IME, all you need to do is to pray to be released if that is His will, and for second wind if it is not. On two occasions I've been released in fairly short order without my telling any mortal. And on a couple of other occasions I've gotten second wind. Heavenly Father runs the church and doesn't let listening leaders mess up when He needs something in His church to be a certain way.I think this is expecting way too much of our leaders. As my mission president used to teach me, an element of inspiration is information. If you're not telling your relevant leader of your challenges there's very low probability of being released. Having served for many years on branch presidencies/PEC people tend to reshuffle callings out of neccessity. If you're not sharing your personal issues with your president there's no reason they should study it out and take it to the Lord. 3
rongo Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 I agree with much of the advice given here. The bishop is ultimately responsible for the disbursement of budget and fast offering money, even if many disagree with how he does it. If you can, you could try to talk to him about this, but if you can't (or if it does no good), there is nothing stopping you and others from organizing a Christmas initiative privately. It would just be at your own cost.The larger problem I see is that you say you and others haven't been having regular meetings with him. I would suggest that you encourage the other auxiliary presidents to request meetings with him and to bring up these concerns along with discussing their stewardships and other concerns. I think these perceived shortcomings in your bishop may stem from him being completely unaware of even the possibility of these types of concerns. The current state of things with people murmuring does not sustain him and is corrosive to all of you having the Spirit. 1
rongo Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 Above all, we want to avoid making our bishops "gun shy" with murmuring and complaints about their actions/inactions and leadership:"Is there a fault in some of the presiding Elders? Yes. What is it? Some of them are subject to a feminine, pusillanimous feeling. A man rises up and says, "I will dictate and oppose my Bishop," and some of the Bishops will dodge, and say, "I do not know but that I am wrong: wife, am I right or wrong?"—and say to every brother they meet, "What do you think about it?" and run round and get the opinion of everybody, to know whether they will sustain him or not. When men learn their duty and calling, and walk up to the best light they have, then, if they do not know precisely how to guide to the best advantage, they are right, if they do the best they can, and can tell all who find fault, "I ask no odds of you: I have done as I have, and have done the will of God, according to the best of my knowledge." (Brigham Young, November 15, 1857. Journal of Discourses 6:44-45)
Calm Posted November 12, 2012 Posted November 12, 2012 Some of them are subject to a feminine, pusillanimous feeling
Bikeemikey Posted November 13, 2012 Posted November 13, 2012 IME, all you need to do is to pray to be released if that is His will, and for second wind if it is not. On two occasions I've been released in fairly short order without my telling any mortal. And on a couple of other occasions I've gotten second wind. Heavenly Father runs the church and doesn't let listening leaders mess up when He needs something in His church to be a certain way.What does this mean?Doesn't let listening leaders mess up ...?Cheers.
ControlFreak Posted November 13, 2012 Posted November 13, 2012 Just talk to your bishop about it. I recently felt that I probably shouldn't serve as EQ president anymore, because I am not convinced of the truthfulness of the church (fairly unconvinced, rather). We had a great discussion, and he actually felt good about leaving me in. So I'm still serving, doing my best to strengthen the ward and the quorum. I had stressed about this issue for a while, but after discussing my concerns, he was fine with it. So now that the air is clear, we all feel much better.OK, mostly I feel much better. He's kind of stressed at my lack of belief. But just discussing the issues seems like the only way to go. Let him know you support him, but feel like the issue ought to be addressed to restore unity in the ward. Nothing good comes of behind the scenes discord. Of course, that's just my opinion, and I'm a professed heretic.
ControlFreak Posted November 13, 2012 Posted November 13, 2012 Also, i think doing something privately is a bad idea. You wouldn't want the bishop to feel like you were under mining him. Rather, I would suggest to him that since he feels it isn't an appropriate use of fast offerings, you would like to get some support from members interested in giving a little and all if he could recommend sine names of those who need help the most. That way you honor his decision, accomplish your objective, and don't undermine the unity of the ward. 1
Calm Posted November 13, 2012 Posted November 13, 2012 (edited) Doing something privately as far as the Christmas Hamper stuff can be approached by simply informing him that doing it outside of a church function allows it to not be a burden on the ward. There are plenty of people who do charity outside of the Church that don't check with the bishop or anyone else so I don't see any real problem with it as long as it is not in competition with a ward function. Getting names from him as suggestions is good idea as long as there is no confidential issue, but I wouldn't limit it to them if someone in the group knows of someone else in need. Edited November 13, 2012 by calmoriah
Thankful Posted November 13, 2012 Posted November 13, 2012 I think so too and also he said it's too much work, like personally I don't want anyone going hungry at Christmas because people couldn't get off their duffs to help out. . Reading this I can't help but think this sounds like a tired bishop who is overwhelmed with his responsibilities and could use some strengthening himself. If he's reluctant to take on more projects, it is most likely NOT that he lacks charity and needs people to get upset and teach him. Rather, he probably is tired thinking that he personally has yet another thing to do. His seeming lack of desire to help may be self-protection from exhaustion and stress.If he's a new bishop as you say, and if he's not meeting regularly with his counsel: it's likely he's still learning to delegate. It does not come easily to all people. Can you encourage those who serve with you in the ward to have patience, NOT complain amongst themselves, but pray for him and truly sustain him? Let him know you stand behind him, trust him, and support him. Assure him that he's doing fine and doesn't have to do it alone. Volunteer to do more yourselves, and reassure him he doesn't have to do it all. The members will come through to help one another if challenged to do so and given the chance.Obviously I don't know the situation or the people involved, but this is just my "2 cents." 2
Duncan Posted November 13, 2012 Author Posted November 13, 2012 .Reading this I can't help but think this sounds like a tired bishop who is overwhelmed with his responsibilities and could use some strengthening himself. If he's reluctant to take on more projects, it is most likely NOT that he lacks charity and needs people to get upset and teach him. Rather, he probably is tired thinking that he personally has yet another thing to do. His seeming lack of desire to help may be self-protection from exhaustion and stress.If he's a new bishop as you say, and if he's not meeting regularly with his counsel: it's likely he's still learning to delegate. It does not come easily to all people. Can you encourage those who serve with you in the ward to have patience, NOT complain amongst themselves, but pray for him and truly sustain him?Let him know you stand behind him, trust him, and support him. Assure him that he's doing fine and doesn't have to do it alone. Volunteer to do more yourselves, and reassure him he doesn't have to do it all. The members will come through to help one another if challenged to do so and given the chance.Obviously I don't know the situation or the people involved, but this is just my "2 cents."well, it's a great two cents!
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