Why Do Sunday School Presidents And Councelors Require Priesthood

[DBMormon]

In my most recent interview on the MormonDiscussion Podcast, the person I interviewed mentioned that she didn't see the Sunday School President as a Priesthood calling. I mentioned that it was but that I had no idea why it was. Please don't just say because the church says so.... I accept that but am looking to learn beyond what I already know. Why can't a sister be a SS President or SS councelor, why does Sunday School Presidentcy require Priesthood?

The interview won't be up till later tonight or tomorrow in case you were looking for it.

- Bill

[Duncan]

I have no clue, ours is totally inactive so we don't even have one functioning.

[Cobalt-70]

I say the Sunday School president is, indeed, a priesthood calling. But so is Relief Society president. Priesthood is, among other things, the power to minister and/or preside within the church. We have a two-tiered priesthood system dominated by men. We think that women may minister to and preside over women and children, but that they are not qualified to minister to or preside over men (except in the Primary program).

[The Nehor]

It is not really a Priesthood calling. The auxiliary organizations are there to assist the Priesthood.

Unless you need a lot of subs the calling of Sunday School President and counselors is almost a joke. They do not really do much. When I was SS President I asked if I could retain my teaching calling so I would have something to do. Occasionally I would ask someone to fill in for me so I could attend another class and see how it was doing but that was about it. I think I had one counselor but he was inactive 90% of the time and I would not have trusted him to teach a class in any case even if he was there.

[DBMormon]

The policy is that it is a Priesthood calling, yet what is the Doctrine behind it? Could a Sister be a SS president someday and policy just stands in the way or is there a doctrinal reason.

By the way, I think a sister would make a much better SS president anyway... if it's ever permitted

[The Nehor]

The policy is that it is a Priesthood calling, yet what is the Doctrine behind it? Could a Sister be a SS president someday and policy just stands in the way or is there a doctrinal reason.

By the way, I think a sister would make a much better SS president anyway... if it's ever permitted

It could change tomorrow. There is no published revelation behind Sunday School (it was adapted from Protestant faiths).

I think a sister would do just as well, neither better nor worse. It would of course vary by individual. Changing it would make it an anomaly. It would then be the only non-gender based leadership calling I know of in the Church.

[rongo]

When I was a bishop, we didn't have a Sunday School presidency at all (not even a president). We had much more pressing needs for people, and nobody misses or realizes that there isn't one. Especially since teacher training was taken away from the Sunday School presidency.

I also didn't have an executive secretary for the last three years. The stake presidency took my first one after two weeks (he was amazing, and is the new bishop), and after suffering through three horrible ones, I simply did my own scheduling. It was much better that way, instead of leaving a message and sending a text and an email to the ES and following up with more only to find out that, indeed, appointments weren't made, cancelled, or rescheduled. I think people liked actually scheduling directly through the bishop, too. My response time was excellent, if I missed a call.

The counselors in the stake presidency insisted that I had to have one, but as I pointed out, there is nothing in the handbooks about an ES being mandatory. And we worked much better without one.

[Doctrine 612]

In my reasearch I found that the sunday school Prez was at one time a big deal, now not so much, before the 3 hour block you would come to church for sacrament then go home, and later come back for sunday school and before the classes there would be a meeting and believe it or not they would do the sacrament again, then you would attend your sunday school class. then go home and come back for rs or ph. so this shows that the sunday school prez would lead a meeting.

when I was sunday school prez, I had 2 consolers and 5 sunday school board members, and we had a great time taking care of sunday school needs.

[Tacenda]

I served as the SS Secretary in the 80's. Basically taking roll in the adult classes. Great call to help learn everyone's name, btw.

Edited January 17, 2013 by Tacenda

[cdowis]

Unless you need a lot of subs the calling of Sunday School President and counselors is almost a joke. They do not really do much.

--They participate on the ward council

--responsible for materials and staffing the ward library-- can you think of some resources that would be helpful

--do you have any of the "short term" classes on family, family history, etc.

-- called a class president for the class: to start the class, fill in as a substitute teacher, make announcements

-- have you called a teacher trainer (with the bishop), and held occasional classes.

-- you are in a great position to identify individuals who do not attend church, or only sacrament meeting. Bring them up in ward council

--think of members who have special needs, cannot serve in a regular calling but can contribute to the SS (in the library, for example)

--good grief! You could even make special home visits with your counselors to inactives, to teachers who are struggling.

As a member of the ward council, you can actually make a contribution to a ward activity -- have the teachers prepare the food, do decorations, etc. Why should the RS have all the responsibility for that.

Edited January 17, 2013 by cdowis

[The Nehor]

--They participate on the ward council

--responsible for materials and staffing the ward library-- can you think of some resources that would be helpful

--do you have any of the "short term" classes on family, family history, etc.

-- called a class president for the class: to start the class, fill in as a substitute teacher, make announcements

-- have you called a teacher trainer (with the bishop), and held occasional classes.

-- you are in a great position to identify individuals who do not attend church, or only sacrament meeting. Bring them up in ward council

--think of members who have special needs, cannot serve in a regular calling but can contribute to the SS (in the library, for example)

--good grief! You could even make special home visits with your counselors to inactives, to teachers who are struggling.

As a member of the ward council, you can actually make a contribution to a ward activity -- have the teachers prepare the food, do decorations, etc. Why should the RS have all the responsibility for that.

Busy work.

[Nofear]

It can be a good "training" scenario for somebody to learn a bit more about the function of the Ward Council and participation therein without some of the heavier load callings such as YM Pres or EQ Pres.

[Rivers]

It is not really a Priesthood calling. The auxiliary organizations are there to assist the Priesthood.

Unless you need a lot of subs the calling of Sunday School President and counselors is almost a joke. They do not really do much. When I was SS President I asked if I could retain my teaching calling so I would have something to do. Occasionally I would ask someone to fill in for me so I could attend another class and see how it was doing but that was about it. I think I had one counselor but he was inactive 90% of the time and I would not have trusted him to teach a class in any case even if he was there.

When I was a counselor in the sunday school presidency, I was given the task of ringing the bell to signal the end of class. That is an important responsibiltiy.

[rongo]

It's also one you can have one of the youth do (they love it!).

[Ahab]

The Priesthood is the authority to oversee other men. Women can oversee other women but they don't ever oversee any man. They assist, or at least they can, but women do not oversee men, and for a man to oversee other men he is given the Priesthood because that's the way our Father wants it to be.

Try thinking of it like this: We're all brothers and sisters, as children of our Father in heaven, and the Priesthood gives us the authority of our Father in heaven, just as Jesus Christ has it. Without it, we'd all be equal in our capacity as brothers and sisters, but the Priesthood gives us the role or the authority of our Father. It's a male role, so it's given to males. Women aren't males.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

In my most recent interview on the MormonDiscussion Podcast, the person I interviewed mentioned that she didn't see the Sunday School President as a Priesthood calling. I mentioned that it was but that I had no idea why it was. Please don't just say because the church says so.... I accept that but am looking to learn beyond what I already know. Why can't a sister be a SS President or SS councelor, why does Sunday School Presidentcy require Priesthood?

The interview won't be up till later tonight or tomorrow in case you were looking for it.

- Bill

Unless things have changed you could be a Sunday School teacher and not be a member. 23 of my 33 years in the Church I have taught Sunday School, if they will let me do it, they will let anyone.

[bluebell]

The Priesthood is the authority to oversee other men. Women can oversee other women but they don't ever oversee any man. They assist, or at least they can, but women do not oversee men, and for a man to oversee other men he is given the Priesthood because that's the way our Father wants it to be.

Try thinking of it like this: We're all brothers and sisters, as children of our Father in heaven, and the Priesthood gives us the authority of our Father in heaven, just as Jesus Christ has it. Without it, we'd all be equal in our capacity as brothers and sisters, but the Priesthood gives us the role or the authority of our Father. It's a male role, so it's given to males. Women aren't males.

Primary presidents and counselors often oversee male primary workers though.

Edited January 17, 2013 by bluebell

[rongo]

Unless things have changed you could be a Sunday School teacher and not be a member. 23 of my 33 years in the Church I have taught Sunday School, if they will let me do it, they will let anyone.

It's contrary to policy, but it does happen. When we first moved into our area here ten years ago, a non-member woman taught primary. She had had five children with the son of a stake president in Mexico, and attended Church regularly, but could not get baptized because the father of her children (whom she was still with, and had been for over 25 years) refused to marry her. He was completely inactive.

She was a nice lady, and a fine teacher, but I don't think she should have been teaching church classes.

[The Nehor]

When I was a counselor in the sunday school presidency, I was given the task of ringing the bell to signal the end of class. That is an important responsibiltiy.

Reminds me of a story I read as a kid about a kid being selected as class president and his duty was to turn the light on and off in the classroom. He showed up late one day and the lights were still off as he was not there to perform his duty. He was fired and told to train a replacement. After about a month the training paid off and his replacement got the hang of the switch.

[Ahab]

Primary presidents and counselors often oversee male primary workers though.

You think so, huh? Who gives the men their callings? That's the person who I think of as the one who oversees them, which is usually someone in the bishopric at the ward level. And I know other men in the ward have the same authority as someone in the bishopric, but they don't have the same calling.

You did mention an example that I hadn't thought about before, though. I'll look into this some more to see if I can see some other distinctions on this issue.

[bluebell]

You think so, huh? Who gives the men their callings? That's the person who I think of as the one who oversees them, which is usually someone in the bishopric at the ward level. And I know other men in the ward have the same authority as someone in the bishopric, but they don't have the same calling.

You did mention an example that I hadn't thought about before, though. I'll look into this some more to see if I can see some other distinctions on this issue.

If that's how you see who oversees someone, then why did you claim that women oversee women, as all callings come from the bishop-a male?

You said-"Women can oversee other women but they don't ever oversee any man." Using your definition of 'oversee' which you've provided here, when exactly can a woman oversee another woman in the church?

Edited January 17, 2013 by bluebell

[glitterNgold]

I say the Sunday School president is, indeed, a priesthood calling. But so is Relief Society president.

Then the RS president should be ordained.

[cinepro]

You think so, huh? Who gives the men their callings? That's the person who I think of as the one who oversees them, which is usually someone in the bishopric at the ward level. And I know other men in the ward have the same authority as someone in the bishopric, but they don't have the same calling.

You did mention an example that I hadn't thought about before, though. I'll look into this some more to see if I can see some other distinctions on this issue.

When I was the Blazer Scout/ 11yo leader, I most definitely answered to the Primary President! She was in charge of my budget and making sure I was doing my job.

[Nofear]

You said-"Women can oversee other women but they don't ever oversee any man." Using your definition of 'oversee' which you've provided here, when exactly can a woman oversee another woman in the church?

I seem to have missed Ahab's assertion anywhere CHI1 or CHI2 or any leader training. Maybe it's having spoken with women in the Church a time or two that has muddled my thinking and blinded me. A pox upon estrogen!

[Ahab]

If that's how you see who oversees someone, then why did you claim that women oversee women, as all callings come from the bishop-a male?

You said-"Women can oversee other women but they don't ever oversee any man." Using your definition of 'oversee' which you've provided here, when exactly can a woman oversee another woman in the church?

Good catch. I was wrong. Thank God that doesn't happen very often. I will repent in sackcloth and ashes.