Lds Church Adds Women To Priesthood And Family Executive Council

[smac97]

Here:

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints added women to three leadership committees, officials confirmed Tuesday.

Linda K. Burton, general president of the church’s Relief Society, will now sit on the Faith’s Priesthood and Family Executive Council — previously called the Priesthood Executive Council.

General Young Women’s President Bonnie L. Oscarson will join the Missionary Executive Council.

The General Primary President Rosemary Wixom will be on the Temple and Family History Executive Council.

Oscarson made the announcement on Facebook.

Some information about this council: "The Priesthood Executive Council directs the Priesthood Department and the Curriculum Department of the Church (see Curriculum). The Priesthood Department supervises the activities of the Melchizedek Priesthood and the auxiliaries of the Church. Among these auxiliary organizations are the primary (for young children), the young men and young women (for youth ages twelve to eighteen), the Relief Society (for adult women), and the Sunday school. The members of the general presidencies of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary are women who are called to serve on a part-time basis, while members of the general presidencies of the Young Men and Sunday School are members of the quorums of the Seventy. The principal role of the general presidencies of the auxiliaries is to train and serve the leaders and members of their respective organizations in the stakes and wards of the Church. The Curriculum Department is responsible for planning, developing, and producing printed, audio, and audiovisual materials for the Church. It includes the Curriculum Planning and Development Division, the Audiovisual Planning and Development Division, the Publications Coordination Division, the Scriptures Coordination Division, and the Church Magazines Division."

 

This information appears to be out of date a bit.

 

More here:

 

SALT LAKE CITY — The LDS Church has added women to three important committees, a historic development that gives women significant, permanent, official voice in church leadership.

Church leaders changed the name of the faith's Priesthood Executive Council to the Priesthood and Family Executive Council and invited the church's Relief Society General President, Sister Linda K. Burton, to sit on the council.

The General Young Women President, Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, will join the Missionary Executive Council.

The General Primary President, Sister Rosemary Wixom, will be on the Temple and Family History Executive Council.

Women in the faith's General Relief Society, Young Women and Primary presidencies have contributed to and advised these councils for years, but only when invited to do so for particular issues and not as permanent members. This is the first time women have official positions.

The significant changes in church structure are a continuation of movement and progress made on issues of concern to women in the church.

For many years, LDS leaders have held discussions with women inside and outside of church leadership, listening to their thoughts, concerns and hopes.

The permanent role of the General Young Women president on the Missionary Executive Council comes three years after the beginning of a massive increase in the number of young LDS women serving church missions.

In October 2012, LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson announced the lowering of the missionary age for sisters from 21 to 19.

A church spokeswoman said last year that the age change and other decisions are examples of changes facilitated by the input of LDS women around the world.

Sister Oscarson broke the news about the council assignments Tuesday night in a Facebook post.

"I still vividly remember President Thomas S. Monson announcing the lowered missionary age for young women. Today I witnessed another significant moment - I received an invitation to participate as a member of the Missionary Executive Council. I am honored.

This is one of three key councils of the Church, each led by members of the Twelve.

"What a great time to be a woman in the Church where our voices are needed and valued more than ever. I am grateful for the opportunity to add my perspective and experience to this council as we work together to spread the message of the restored Gospel."

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, responded on Facebook.

"I was very pleased to read Sister Bonnie Oscarson's Facebook post about the new assignments of our women officers to the three general priesthood councils. We need their wisdom and participation! It is sensible that their assignments line up with their current responsibilities.

"Sister Oscarson will serve on the Missionary Executive Council at a time when the Church has an unprecedented number of missionaries, a great number of whom are young women. Sister Wixom's appointment to the Temple and Family History Executive Council will help us teach our young people to learn about their ancestors.

"I was also very pleased to learn that the First Presidency has approved renaming the Priesthood Executive Council to the 'Priesthood and Family Executive Council.' We know Sister Burton will give valuable insight in this new position as she represents women of the Church around the world."

Other changes for women in the church in the past three years include new leadership roles for sister missionaries, the inclusion of more women in congregation leadership meetings known as ward councils and prayers by women at semiannual general conference meetings.

Sister Burton also posted on Facebook later Tuesday night.

"It is with a thankful heart that I have been appointed to serve on the Priesthood and Family Executive Council. Good men and women of the Church throughout history have worked together to build a strong foundation for Christ's restored Gospel to flourish and give hope to a world that is so often without light. It is now more important than ever that we stand together and follow Heavenly Father's plan to bring his children home."

Exciting stuff!

-Smac

Edited August 19, 2015 by smac97

[The Nehor]

Their response was probably more like: "What, yet another committee? Why?"

[Saint Sinner]

Here:Some information about this council: "The Priesthood Executive Council directs the Priesthood Department and the Curriculum Department of the Church (see Curriculum). The Priesthood Department supervises the activities of the Melchizedek Priesthood and the auxiliaries of the Church. Among these auxiliary organizations are the primary (for young children), the young men and young women (for youth ages twelve to eighteen), the Relief Society (for adult women), and the Sunday school. The members of the general presidencies of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary are women who are called to serve on a part-time basis, while members of the general presidencies of the Young Men and Sunday School are members of the quorums of the Seventy. The principal role of the general presidencies of the auxiliaries is to train and serve the leaders and members of their respective organizations in the stakes and wards of the Church. The Curriculum Department is responsible for planning, developing, and producing printed, audio, and audiovisual materials for the Church. It includes the Curriculum Planning and Development Division, the Audiovisual Planning and Development Division, the Publications Coordination Division, the Scriptures Coordination Division, and the Church Magazines Division." This information appears to be out of date a bit. More here: Exciting stuff!-Smac

I don't know what all this means but it seems to be a good thing. I just hope this doesn't get tarnished with radical feminism.

[jkwilliams]

When I was executive secretary, my bishop often lamented the proliferation of meetings. He would always say, "What on earth happened to 'reduce and simplify'?" 

[stemelbow]

Glad to see change, particularly when it gives women more say in the affairs of the Church. This kind of stuff is simple and has been a long time coming.

[HappyJackWagon]

This reminds me of a recent thread where we discussed the role of women in PEC and some suggested PEC would soon disappear. At the general level PEC is gone. It is now Priesthood Executive and Family Council where women are more than just visitors to someone elses council meeting. I wonder how long it will take for this to be implemented at the local level.

[Jude2]

I know damned if they do and damned if they don’t but I just don’t like the feeling they’re giving into the feminist.  

[Kenngo1969]

Their response was probably more like: "What, yet another committee? Why?"

If so, that might be proof positive that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cannot win.  On the one hand, people such as Kate Kelly clamor for a greater voice (yes, I know she said that nothing less than female ordination would suffice, but ...).  On the other hand, when women are given that voice, they say, "What, yet another meeting?"

 

When I was executive secretary, my bishop often lamented the proliferation of meetings. He would always say, "What on earth happened to 'reduce and simplify'?" 

In general, I agree with your bishop: At times in the Church of Jesus Christ, we seem inordinately fond of having meetings to plan the meeting to plan the meeting to ...  Then there's the 14th Article of Faith: "We believe in meetings, we hope for meetings, we have endured many meetings, and we hope to be able to endure all meetings."  I've been in circumstances (and I'm sure most of us have) in which, when I get home, a family member asks, "How was your meeting?" and I respond, "It was long."  However, I do think an effective balance must and can be struck wherein even "extra" meetings can be uplifting and edifying, and wherein effective "doing" is preceded by effective planning.  And, as I told The Nehor, it won't really do for people to clamor for a greater voice, then to carp about "yet another meeting" (a meeting which, by the way, would be held regardless: it's simply a question of whose presence is requested) when given that voice by being invited to attend.

 

And, as I've said before, most people who carp about "Why the Church doesn't do more about ..." have absolutely no idea how much the Church of Jesus Christ actually is doing.  Would that every member of the Church of Jesus Christ could rotate through a Ward Council.  I reiterated the point I made in the first sentence of this paragraph just the other day in speaking with my mother, who is a counselor in a Relief Society Presidency and she told me about all of the compassionate service she is involved in.

[Kenngo1969]

I know damned if they do and damned if they don’t but I just don’t like the feeling they’re giving into the feminist.  

If you wonder about how much the Lord had to do with any given change, you could always ask Him.  In my view, "giving in to the feminists" would be if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were to issue a statement apologizing for its misogynistic past, confessing that it was wrong all along to not ordain women, and announcing that worthy females now will receive the priesthood. Personally, as much as I would have no problem if the Church of Jesus Christ were to issue a statement doing only the third of those three things, I also have no problem with the fact that the Church is recognizing that there are many things (short of ordination) that it can do to give women a greater voice.

[BlueDreams]

I know damned if they do and damned if they don’t but I just don’t like the feeling they’re giving into the feminist.  

 

Jude, there isn't a feminist v church experience in general. Feminism isn't an outright enemy of the Church/faith anymore than most other forms of philosophy/constructs in the world today. I mean by this that all philosophies/beliefs structures not directly defined as "the gospel" are likely to have points of agreement and all of them are going to have points of disagreement or incongruence. The core ideology surrounding feminism is definitely congruent with the gospel. Certain branches of it do not. Ergo, the church is not giving into the feminists, but finding a path that's more congruent with their own teachings about women....which also happen to be congruent with certain feminist beliefs.  

 

 

With luv,

BD

[The Nehor]

This reminds me of a recent thread where we discussed the role of women in PEC and some suggested PEC would soon disappear. At the general level PEC is gone. It is now Priesthood Executive and Family Council where women are more than just visitors to someone elses council meeting. I wonder how long it will take for this to be implemented at the local level.

I do not have a problem with this at all. I just find it odd that some people feel thrilled that other people have to do more work.

I imagine if they set up a meeting for stake auxiliary leaders to communicate with the general auxiliary leadership and some of the Twelve twice a year many would herald it as "a step towards equality" and the like but really it is just another burden on the leaders.

[The Nehor]

When I was executive secretary, my bishop often lamented the proliferation of meetings. He would always say, "What on earth happened to 'reduce and simplify'?"

My favorite meeting in the church was in an incredibly dull meeting where assignments were handed out to ward leaders. When asked if anyone had any suggestions one leader proposed dispensing with the meeting entirely and just emailing the assignments. The people in charge said the meeting was necessary. The bishop found out and abolished the meeting.

Meetings serve a psychological need/want in a lot of people. They like to feel included or in charge or in control or heard. I just wish we had an auxiliary meeting committee we could put all those people on so they can leave the rest of us alone.

[Tacenda]

I don't know what all this means but it seems to be a good thing. I just hope this doesn't get tarnished with radical feminism.

Blame it on Kate Kelly!   

[HappyJackWagon]

I do not have a problem with this at all. I just find it odd that some people feel thrilled that other people have to do more work.

I imagine if they set up a meeting for stake auxiliary leaders to communicate with the general auxiliary leadership and some of the Twelve twice a year many would herald it as "a step towards equality" and the like but really it is just another burden on the leaders.

Equality means sharing the good and the bad. I'm not happy people have more work but I am pleased that women at least have the opportunity to participate if they desire to. Of course, no one is going to physically force them to attend a meeting. They now have agency in regards to participation whereas before the decision was already made for them.

[Rain]

Meetings are a great place to work together as a council. If the only thing happening in a meeting is reporting on people or giving assignments then those in charge have missed the point of a council. When councils work effectively together then there is actually less work to be done. That's why it is important to have women at the meetings. Not that women at the meeting make it a council, but when you are really using it as a council then it is important to have all the voices there.

[JAHS]

It certainly makes sense to have a woman on the Missionary executive council, what with the remarkable increase in youg women serving missions now.

[Jude2]

Jude, there isn't a feminist v church experience in general. Feminism isn't an outright enemy of the Church/faith anymore than most other forms of philosophy/constructs in the world today. I mean by this that all philosophies/beliefs structures not directly defined as "the gospel" are likely to have points of agreement and all of them are going to have points of disagreement or incongruence. The core ideology surrounding feminism is definitely congruent with the gospel. Certain branches of it do not. Ergo, the church is not giving into the feminists, but finding a path that's more congruent with their own teachings about women....which also happen to be congruent with certain feminist beliefs.  

 

 

With luv,

BD

Emma complained about the Brethren spiting tobacco on her polished floor and we got the Word of Wisdom so sometime complaining is a good thing.   

 

It’s the community organizing I object to.   

[jpv]

This reminds me of a recent thread where we discussed the role of women in PEC and some suggested PEC would soon disappear. At the general level PEC is gone. It is now Priesthood Executive and Family Council where women are more than just visitors to someone elses council meeting. I wonder how long it will take for this to be implemented at the local level.

Our ward hasn't had a all-male PEC for years (at least 3).

[The Nehor]

Equality means sharing the good and the bad. I'm not happy people have more work but I am pleased that women at least have the opportunity to participate if they desire to. Of course, no one is going to physically force them to attend a meeting. They now have agency in regards to participation whereas before the decision was already made for them.

They do have agency to skip it just like the bishop has the option to skip bishopric meetings. Cannot see it ending well though. That is another thing I do not get. In the church we are not supposed to seek office so saying it increases opportunities seems off to me. I have the opportunity to try to become a VP with my employer. I do not have the opportunity to be a bishop. I might be called to be one but there is no checklist of things I should do to seek the office.

[JAHS]

I have mentioned this before. Here's another example of a news item that was correctly put in the News sub forum and then a couple hours later it was also posted here in the "General DIscussions" fourm. So now we have two separate conversations going on the same subject. If a news item is really worth talking about perhaps we don't really need a News sub forum.  Any other ideas on how to prevent duplication?   Just sayin.

[KevinG]

I know damned if they do and damned if they don’t but I just don’t like the feeling they’re giving into the feminist.  

 

'Cause we all know the sisters are secretly burning to attend more meetings on Sunday!  

 

Seriously, even a badly thought out protest movement can sometimes provide some feedback that is useful.  So what if the feminists or Ordain Women crowd was off the reservation.  It may have caused the brethren to consider the ongoing role of women in councils.  

 

My wife used to provide great intelligence on what was going on with the women under her stewardship as compassionate service leader.  It was sometimes the best insight we had as a Bishopric into our sisters lives and concerns.

Edited August 19, 2015 by KevinG

[HappyJackWagon]

Our ward hasn't had a all-male PEC for years (at least 3).

Ok. Good for your ward. Many wards have been inviting RS Presidents for a while but it doesn't change the fact that they aren't a permanent member of the council. They are invited guests which can change the dynamic of the meeting.

 

Changing the name of the meeting and making women official members of the council is a positive and productive change.

[Duncan]

Ok. Good for your ward. Many wards have been inviting RS Presidents for a while but it doesn't change the fact that they aren't a permanent member of the council. They are invited guests which can change the dynamic of the meeting.

 

Changing the name of the meeting and making women official members of the council is a positive and productive change.

 

is that change just on the general level or is this the the new norm for wards and branches?

[Ahab]

is that change just on the general level or is this the the new norm for wards and branches?

I haven't seen it announced yet but it makes sense that their examples should be followed at the local levels.

Not really more meetings. The names have just changed with more people in those meetings.

[JAHS]

I haven't seen it announced yet but it makes sense that their examples should be followed at the local levels.

Not really more meetings. The names have just changed with more people in those meetings.

But they won't all fit in our small Bishop's office.