Ward Mission Leader?

[inquiringmind]

What exactly is a Ward Mission Leader, and what jurisdiction does he have?

Is he over the missionaries and their investigators?

[ERayR]

See Handbook of Instructions Book 2. It is available online at the Church website for those with ward callings.

Basically he formulates his wards mission plan and coordinates the ward missionary activity and keeps the Bishop informed. He works under the direction of the Bishop. That is the bare bones outline. He and ward missionaries teach investigators and do post baptism follow up lessons.

Hope this helps.

[Kenngo1969]

"Leader," perhaps, is a misnomer. Ultimately, the Bishop is the one responsible for missionary work in the Ward. However, the Ward Mission Leader coordinates missionary work in the Ward by ensuring that prospective members and new members have contact ("fellowship") with the Church and its members before and after baptism, that new members are well-integrated into the Ward, that members who have friends and family members who wish to learn more about the Gospel are taught (and otherwise contacted) by the full-time missionaries, et cetera. Ward Missionaries may be called from among the members of the Ward to assist the Ward Mission Leader and the Bishop in carrying out these responsibilities. And no, the Ward Mission Leader does not have "jurisdiction" over the full-time missionaries. Missions are divided into smaller areas known as Zones and Districts. Full-time missionaries are under the jurisdiction of their Mission President and the mission leaders under him: a small group of missionaries (usually 6-8 ) serve in a certain geographic area known as a District and are supervised by another full-time missionary known as a District Leader; a larger group of missionaries (perhaps, say, 24 approximately, although the size of the group is at the Mission President's discretion) who serve in a larger geographical area [composed of several districts] is known as a Zone, and is supervised by two missionaries known as Zone leaders; the Mission President has two adult men who serve as his counselors, as well as (usually) two elders who are known as Assistants to the President, and who assist him in his duties. Ward Mission Leaders do not have responsibility for full-time missionaries, but they do have responsibility for Ward Missionaries, as I explained above.

Edited June 20, 2013 by Kenngo1969

[Kenngo1969]

See Handbook of Instructions Book 2. It is available online at the Church website for those with ward callings. ...

I don't believe Inquiringmind is a member ... yet.

[ERayR]

I don't believe Inquiringmind is a member ... yet.

OOPS.

[The Nehor]

What exactly is a Ward Mission Leader, and what jurisdiction does he have?

Is he over the missionaries and their investigators?

Neither, he assists the missionaries and organizes the ward missionaries and leads them. He has no authority over the missionaries. Bishops and Stake Presidents have no authority over missionaries either. The missionaries can do their job without the ward mission being involved at all. Ideally the ward mission will assist them in their work and increase their success. The Ward Mission Leader can and does make requests of the missionaries.

[ERayR]

Neither, he assists the missionaries and organizes the ward missionaries and leads them. He has no authority over the missionaries. Bishops and Stake Presidents have no authority over missionaries either. The missionaries can do their job without the ward mission being involved at all. Ideally the ward mission will assist them in their work and increase their success. The Ward Mission Leader can and does make requests of the missionaries.

Nevermind

Edited June 20, 2013 by ERayR

[tyler90az]

"Leader," perhaps, is a misnomer.

I do not think that is true if the Bishop is a good leader himself.

[Duncan]

Here is my lived experience as a ward mission leader. I have 6 missionaries, 4 elders and 2 sisters and I love them! they tell me some of their problems and once you've been on a mission you can tell who's truggling and whatnot. The elders call me to go with them or know who can go with them or who in the ward to get help with. I have correlation with them every week, 1-1.5 hours. I go to ward council and PEC-of which I detest. I have to plan baptisms when they come up, and do all that coordination. I am basically the liason for the missionaries to the ward. On the 30th our stake is having a fast for missionary work in our stake and so I am responsible for the last hour of church because it's the 5th Sunday so I have to come up with something. So, I have an assistant whom I love!!!! and so together we do all this stuff. it's a lot fo work. Honestly, I enjoy it mostly and I enjoy talking to the missionaries and helping them out

Edited June 20, 2013 by Duncan

[tyler90az]

Here is my lived experience as a ward mission leader. I have 6 missionaries, 4 elders and 2 sisters and I love them! they tell me some of their problems and once you've been on a mission you can tell the elders call me to go with them or know who can go with them or who in the ward to get help with. I have correlation with them every week, 1-1.5 hours. I go to ward council and PEC-of which I detest. I have to plan baptisms when they come up, and do all that coordination. I am basically the liason for the missionaries to the ward. On the 30th our stake is having a fast for missionary work in our stake and so I am responsible for the last hour of church because it's the 5th Sunday so I have to come up with something. So, I have an assistant whom I love!!!! and so together we do all this stuff. it's a lot fo work. Honestly, I enjoy it mostly and I enjoy talking to the missionaries and helping them out

Sounds like you are a darn good leader.

[Tacenda]

Sounds like you are a darn good leader.

I know and that's probably not easy with his commander not being the easiest to deal with!

[Duncan]

Sounds like you are a darn good leader.

oh! well! Thank you for your kind words!!!!

[Tacenda]

Sounds like you are a darn good leader.

I know and that's probably not easy with his bishop not being the easiest to deal with!

[Duncan]

I know and that's probably not easy with his bishop not being the easiest to deal with!

Thank you Tacenda!!!!! hope all is well!

[Johnnie Cake]

When I served as ward mission leader I worked with missionaries in a support role, promoted missionary work in my ward boundaries, supported missionaries from our ward serving throughout the world and sat on ward council

[canard78]

OOPS.

Don't worry, CHI2 is useful reading for investigators too - especially as it's in the public domain

[Nofear]

I am basically the liason for the missionaries to the ward.

That's how I view it as well. Unofficially I also see it as the Ward Mission Leader's job to help the missionaries have a positive experience with the local membership and the ward. The most important convert* a missionary can have on a mission is theirself.

* They, of course, should already be converted to the Gospel before going on a mission. In context here "convert" suggests a deepening and strengthing of their conversion.

[David T]

The missionaries can do their job without the ward mission being involved at all. Ideally the ward mission will assist them in their work and increase their success. The Ward Mission Leader can and does make requests of the missionaries.

It's the other way around. The Missionaries are assigned to the wards to assist the wards in their work.

[The Nehor]

It's the other way around. The Missionaries are assigned to the wards to assist the wards in their work.

Nope, sorry. The keys for missionary baptisms rest with the mission president. A bishop cannot authorize baptizing anyone in their ward unless they are 8 years old. The mission president and those he has delegated (missionaries) can. A ward cannot do missionary work (that leads to baptism) without approval from the mission or someone higher up the chain of Priesthood keys. The wards are the primary beneficiaries though and do have a responsibility to assist the mission coordinated through the Bishop and Ward Mission Leader.

[mfbukowski]

Nope, sorry. The keys for missionary baptisms rest with the mission president. A bishop cannot authorize baptizing anyone in their ward unless they are 8 years old. The mission president and those he has delegated (missionaries) can. A ward cannot do missionary work (that leads to baptism) without approval from the mission or someone higher up the chain of Priesthood keys. The wards are the primary beneficiaries though and do have a responsibility to assist the mission coordinated through the Bishop and Ward Mission Leader.

Yep

Baptismal interviews are conducted under the authority of the Mission Pres, as delegated. Theoretically, they could baptize someone the Bishop thought was not yet ready- and indeed that happens.

The WML is the ward liaison with the missionaries who are under the direct authority of the Mission Pres. The WML co-ordinates the interactions between the members and the missionaries, but he has no direct authority over the missionaries

[David T]

Nope, sorry. The keys for missionary baptisms rest with the mission president. A bishop cannot authorize baptizing anyone in their ward unless they are 8 years old. The mission president and those he has delegated (missionaries) can. A ward cannot do missionary work (that leads to baptism) without approval from the mission or someone higher up the chain of Priesthood keys. The wards are the primary beneficiaries though and do have a responsibility to assist the mission coordinated through the Bishop and Ward Mission Leader.

What's interesting is that the training our Stake just received from the visiting 70 - and affirmed by our Mission President on numerous occasions - is that although the Mission President has the Keys of Convert Baptisms, the Stake President and Bishops have the keys pertaining to Finding within the stake. The Missionaries are trained to be prepared and ready to teach when we as a ward need them. They are trained at every opportunity to ask the Ward leaders, "How can we help?"

It was made very clear that the full-time missionaries are sent to wards and stakes to assist in the Work of Salvation being centered there.

It's quite a symbiotic relationship - but to suggest that ward members and leaders are there to help the missionaries is incorrect - ideally, the Missionaries are there to be available around the clock to teach, prepare, and baptize the people being found by the members of the wards and stakes.

Ward Mission Leaders are the Bishop's right-hand-men when it comes to delegation in the Wards to unify the Ward (and specifically the Ward Council) in working together to fulfilling the Work of Salvation in the Ward (Conversion, Retention, and Activation). For all intents and purposes, they are a Third Counselor. And yes, as part of this, the Full-Time Missionaries are viewed as an auxiliary attachment/assignment to the Ward.

It's a pretty substantial role, and only recently has the Church been putting out substantial training material and descriptions for the WML. (The WML, by the way, is not supposed to create the Ward Mission Plan - but to facilitate and moderate its creation by the Ward Council).

As part of my calling (High Councilor assigned to Missionary Work) I meet with the MP and SP regularly as this relationship is discussed and facilitated.

The curt "Nope, Sorry" response doesn't cut it in this case.

Edited June 21, 2013 by David T

[Duncan]

What's interesting is that the training our Stake just received from the visiting 70 - and affirmed by our Mission President on numerous occasions - is that although the Mission President has the Keys of Convert Baptisms, the Stake President and Bishops have the keys pertaining to Finding within the stake. The Missionaries are trained to be prepared and ready to teach when we as a ward need them. They are trained at every opportunity to ask the Ward leaders, "How can we help?"

It was made very clear that the full-time missionaries are sent to wards and stakes to assist in the Work of Salvation being centered there.

It's quite a symbiotic relationship - but to suggest that ward members and leaders are there to help the missionaries is incorrect - ideally, the Missionaries are there to be available around the clock to teach, prepare, and baptize the people being found by the members of the wards and stakes.

Ward Mission Leaders are the Bishop's right-hand-men when it comes to delegation in the Wards to unify the Ward (and specifically the Ward Council) in working together to fulfilling the Work of Salvation in the Ward (Conversion, Retention, and Activation). For all intents and purposes, they are a Third Counselor. And yes, as part of this, the Full-Time Missionaries are viewed as an auxiliary attachment/assignment to the Ward.

It's a pretty substantial role, and only recently has the Church been putting out substantial training material and descriptions for the WML. (The WML, by the way, is not supposed to create the Ward Mission Plan - but to facilitate and moderate its creation by the Ward Council).

As part of my calling (High Councilor assigned to Missionary Work) I meet with the MP and SP regularly as this relationship is discussed and facilitated.

The curt "Nope, Sorry" response doesn't cut it in this case.

where do you live? I want to live there! our missionary efforts here are about effective as a pig on stilts sometimes

[Rain]

Ward Mission Leaders are the Bishop's right-hand-men when it comes to delegation in the Wards to unify the Ward (and specifically the Ward Council) in working together to fulfilling the Work of Salvation in the Ward (Conversion, Retention, and Activation). For all intents and purposes, they are a Third Counselor...

It's a pretty substantial role, and only recently has the Church been putting out substantial training material and descriptions for the WML. (The WML, by the way, is not supposed to create the Ward Mission Plan - but to facilitate and moderate its creation by the Ward Council).

 

I was doing a search and came across this thread and laughed.  

 

Dh was just called as WML.  I was called as a ward missionary.  We have lived in the ward a few months - new home, new state and new job for DH. And he is trying to go back to school for a master's degree.

 

Because of all this I am helping DH find info in how to do his calling and even just what he is supposed to do. One of the things I am doing for DH is watching the training and taking notes.  We've been reading the Power of Every Day Missionaries and something said in there goes right along with what you said - that there really isn't a lot of training of how  to do the calling like there is in other callings.

 

So here are some struggles we are having:

 

It seems the missionaries are the connection between the bishop and us here instead of the other way around.

 

There is a ward mission plan that the ward counsel put together, but it is rather lengthy in some respects than simple like the handbook suggests. In fact, We understand that some thought it should be shorter, but others thought "the youth" would like it if it were more flowery. There is also a lot of inspiring words to motivate someone, but really aren't part of the plan.

 

The plan also has wishes instead of goals (more on that in a minute) and no followup built in.  The plan also focuses on what the general membership of the ward will be doing rather than the ward counsel and there was really not much preparation except something was printed and is supposed to be distributed to the  members through home teachers.  ie there is no prepare, invite follow-up before just telling the members they should be doing this.

 

Wishes instead of goals: we've found that many people make wishes for other people rather than goals for self.  For example: "Five people will come to church" rather than "we will invite 5 people to come to church".   

 

In short the plan is:

 

• baptize 6 people
• Have service projects and invite people
• ward families will invite 3 people to church activities
• members should update lds.org (the idea is you will be able to recoginize faces and get access to announcements through the website) and facebook profiles
• every new person in the building will be greeted by at least 3 people in each of the hours.

 

So they have some good ideas going, but as it stands it doesn't work well.  

 

Let's take the profiles.  I think the plan/goal should be something like:

 

• In sacrament meeting we will explain why we would like lds.org profiles to be updated.  We will let members know they can have their picture taken in the cultural hall after church or follow written instructions to be given at the door as members leave. The ward clerk will monitor who else needs updated and invite again those who have not done so to do it.

 

• We will send a link by email through lds.org to the facebook pages of the missionaries in our ward so that ward members can friend them.

 

 

So....how would DH go through helping the ward create a more workable plan?  While the WML doesn't create the plan he is supposed to be working under it so it would be nice to have it work for him. 

 

By the way - in case your ward is starting a plan I thought this was a great resource:  sample building block plan

[mfbukowski]

I was doing a search and came across this thread and laughed.  

 

Dh was just called as WML.  I was called as a ward missionary.  We have lived in the ward a few months - new home, new state and new job for DH. And he is trying to go back to school for a master's degree.

 

Because of all this I am helping DH find info in how to do his calling and even just what he is supposed to do. One of the things I am doing for DH is watching the training and taking notes.  We've been reading the Power of Every Day Missionaries and something said in there goes right along with what you said - that there really isn't a lot of training of how  to do the calling like there is in other callings.

 

So here are some struggles we are having:

 

It seems the missionaries are the connection between the bishop and us here instead of the other way around.

 

There is a ward mission plan that the ward counsel put together, but it is rather lengthy in some respects than simple like the handbook suggests. In fact, We understand that some thought it should be shorter, but others thought "the youth" would like it if it were more flowery. There is also a lot of inspiring words to motivate someone, but really aren't part of the plan.

 

The plan also has wishes instead of goals (more on that in a minute) and no followup built in.  The plan also focuses on what the general membership of the ward will be doing rather than the ward counsel and there was really not much preparation except something was printed and is supposed to be distributed to the  members through home teachers.  ie there is no prepare, invite follow-up before just telling the members they should be doing this.

 

Wishes instead of goals: we've found that many people make wishes for other people rather than goals for self.  For example: "Five people will come to church" rather than "we will invite 5 people to come to church".   

 

In short the plan is:

• baptize 6 people
• Have service projects and invite people
• ward families will invite 3 people to church activities
• members should update lds.org (the idea is you will be able to recoginize faces and get access to announcements through the website) and facebook profiles
• every new person in the building will be greeted by at least 3 people in each of the hours.

So they have some good ideas going, but as it stands it doesn't work well.  

 

Let's take the profiles.  I think the plan/goal should be something like:

• In sacrament meeting we will explain why we would like lds.org profiles to be updated.  We will let members know they can have their picture taken in the cultural hall after church or follow written instructions to be given at the door as members leave. The ward clerk will monitor who else needs updated and invite again those who have not done so to do it.

• We will send a link by email through lds.org to the facebook pages of the missionaries in our ward so that ward members can friend them.

So....how would DH go through helping the ward create a more workable plan?  While the WML doesn't create the plan he is supposed to be working under it so it would be nice to have it work for him. 

 

By the way - in case your ward is starting a plan I thought this was a great resource:  sample building block plan

Step one is for him to have a one on one with the bishop to share his concerns.

The plan is one portion of it, but he should not feel restricted by it. It's just words on a page and typically is not that important in practice as long as the goals are being met.

Every step of the implementation does not need to be in the plan.

If he wants to arrange for pictures, have him get the bishops permission, and then speak in sacrament meeting explaining how it will work.

He need not feel restricted by the plan especially if he wants to exceed its goals.

The bishop will be delighted to have a creative self starter in that position- I would ignore the shortcomings of the plan and go full speed ahead.

And it is true that the WML can be more important than a bishopric counselor

When I was a bishop I had a general authority encourage me to release my best counselor and make him the WML because in that position he could grow the ward better than as a counselor.

[Bernard Gui]

Most importantly, they coordinate meals for the elders and sisters. Feeding the missionaries is serious work.