Why Do Sunday School Presidents And Councelors Require Priesthood

[DBMormon]

I don't want to get into a protracted discussion about it. I will only repeat what was explained to me: A Sunday School president does not preside over people, as a priesthood leader would do, but he presides over a program.

You may take that for what it's worth or whatever implications it might have.

Edited to add:

In virtually all official Church publications (and I use the term "virtually," because there may conceivably be an errant exception here or there) the general Sunday School president is not referred to with the title "President" on either first or subsequent references. This goes back to the concept of Sunday School president not being a priesthood-leadership calling.

In fact, now that I think of it, it was in this connection that our conversation with Church Correlation transpired in the first place. At the Church News, we are instructed not to refer in text to the Sunday School president with the title "President". We use "Brother" instead.

Does this change anything in regards to if women can be a SS President and if it is only policy which could change?

[DBMormon]

I've known a number of two-finger typists who are nonetheless careful in observing the rules of grammar, punctuation, spelling and usage, including some whose livelihood depends on good writing. I don't believe it's necessarily related to skill at the touch-typing method, although that might facilitate it.

Posting on a forum such as this, one potentially has a worldwide readership numbering in the millions (although admittedly it is probably closer to a few thousand). I question whether that makes it any the less "the real world" than writing a memo to employees or a supervisor or business contacts or clients, a document which, I presume, you might take more time and care with even though comparatively few would see it.

If I might draw an analogy here, if when speaking before a group of people in a business meeting or a congregation or class, one presumably would take care to see that he was physically presentable — hair combed, clothes tidy, etc. — it stands to reason one would take at least the same degree of care in personal appearance if he were to be featured on a television program or a widely distributed video with a potential audience numbering in the hundreds, thousands or millions.

But presumably, you care about being persuasive in your discourse, or you wouldn't be posting in the first place. My point is that attention to the mechanics of good writing impacts the persuasiveness and power of one's message. Errors can be distracting, especially where they interfere with clear communication.

Writers who are careless in their attention to the nuts and bolts of writing may be viewed as being careless or less than intelligent in their thought or having inferior education. One could rail against this perception as being unfair, but its existence is nevertheless a fact that must be reckoned with.

Then consider me unkempt. We only need discourse, you need not take me home for dinner to meet your mother. Again if you don't mind, you made your point, this subject matter is closed as far as I am concerned. I do apoligize for my grammar and for being so distracting. It is funny that the editor has so many options yet no spell check here

Edited January 20, 2013 by DBMormon

[Calm]

Does this change anything in regards to if women can be a SS President and if it is only policy which could change?

Well, calling her "Brother" might be problematic in certain contexts.

[DBMormon]

Well, calling her "Brother" might be problematic in certain contexts.

I Concur

[Scott Lloyd]

Does this change anything in regards to if women can be a SS President and if it is only policy which could change?

A question better posed to the apostles and prophets, perhaps. As I told you, I lack interest in the discussion on that topic.

[Scott Lloyd]

Then consider me unkempt. We only need discourse, you need not take me home for dinner to meet your mother. Again if you don't mind, you made your point, this subject matter is closed as far as I am concerned. I do apoligize for my grammar and for being so distracting. It is funny that the editor has so many options yet no spell check here

Ah, the sense of entitlement among the generations born after the advent of word processors.

Edited to add:

Of course, no spell checker software I know of can read your mind and determine whether you mean to say "counselor" or "councilor" -- or figure out whether you mean "there," "their" or "they're."

Edited January 20, 2013 by Scott Lloyd

[wenglund]

Thanks Wade,

While I have heard several historical examples such as yours Wade, they may likely be someone acting out of harmony with the established organizational guidelines. The handbook is crystal clear that only Priesthood Holders can be in a Sunday School Presidency. Unless further info is available I must conclude they either didn't have appropriate instruction, were not aware of the guidelines, or were acting outside of what they had been instructed. Further info would be appreciated.

CFR that the Handbook contained those "crystal clear" instructions back in the late 70's. I ask because, if memory serves me correctly, during PEC I was the one to suggest the female be called to replace me as the Sunday School President, and after checking with the Handbook, the Bishop saw no reason not to extend the call.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[DBMormon]

CFR that the Handbook contained those "crystal clear" instructions back in the late 70's. I ask because, if memory serves me correctly, during PEC I was the one to suggest the female be called to replace me as the Sunday School President, and after checking with the Handbook, the Bishop saw no reason not to extend the call.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Which is why one of my options was they lacked appropriate instruction at those times. I was sharing why there may have been a rift between now (handbook is clear) and then ( why they may not have followed todays instruction).

Edited January 20, 2013 by DBMormon

[Deborah]

When I was at BYU I was called to be SS secretary. I know it's not the same, but I wonder why any woman would aspire to be SS President.