MeLee Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 For about a year I served as my wards compassionate service calling. I loved this calling and I was fulfilling it every day. About 5 months ago I was called as a primary teacher but there was no replacement yet for compassionate service so I did both which I actually enjoyed because I still felt like I was a part of Relief Society. Realistically I knew that eventually a replacement will be called. Well about 1 month ago, a replacement was called but I have not been released. I have reminded the bisop twice and my husband has once. The calling was removed from my records but I was not released in sacrament meeting. Is this a normal occurance? What could be the reason for the Bishop not wanting to release me? I wish he would either officially release me or at least give me a reason for not doing so. Am I being over sensitive? Link to comment
MeLee Posted September 26, 2017 Author Share Posted September 26, 2017 *Compassionate Service Coordinator Link to comment
ksfisher Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 18 minutes ago, MeLee said: For about a year I served as my wards compassionate service calling. I loved this calling and I was fulfilling it every day. About 5 months ago I was called as a primary teacher but there was no replacement yet for compassionate service so I did both which I actually enjoyed because I still felt like I was a part of Relief Society. Realistically I knew that eventually a replacement will be called. Well about 1 month ago, a replacement was called but I have not been released. I have reminded the bisop twice and my husband has once. The calling was removed from my records but I was not released in sacrament meeting. Is this a normal occurance? What could be the reason for the Bishop not wanting to release me? I wish he would either officially release me or at least give me a reason for not doing so. Am I being over sensitive? Depending on how large your ward is there can be a lot going on to occupy a bishoprics minds. I wouldn't take it personally. Perhaps you could do the following and help the process along: Double check with the Relief Society President and make sure that all the compassionate service duties are being filled. Ask the executive secretary for an appointment with the bishop or one of his counselors. In that meeting explain that you've never been released. Ask if they'd like you to keep serving in the calling or if they'd like to release you since someone else has been called in your place. Like I said, this is something they have taken care of, but perhaps you could help them with. Every bishopric has it's strengths and weaknesses. 1 Link to comment
e-eye Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 I would just send a simple text before church when the bishop is usually meeting with his counselors and remind them - they probably just have forgot. I'm in a bishopric and we are usually pretty good but sometimes we just miss things like this and appreciate the reminder at the right time. Link to comment
bluebell Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 You could always just ask him. A quick "Hey, I was wondering why I haven't been released from my old calling yet?" would be something easily asked in a church hallway, or wherever. I can't think of any personal reason a bishop would have to not release someone from a calling who has already been released in every way but in Sacrament meeting. They probably just keep forgetting. Link to comment
rpn Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Yes, most would assume by that someone else has been called and is now so designated by the records (which usually happens after setting apart) that you have been released, whether or not it was done officially. Maybe the bishop believes he did it. Maybe he's too embarrassed now to release you formally. Once you've notified him that you haven't been released, then let it go. Link to comment
MeLee Posted September 27, 2017 Author Share Posted September 27, 2017 6 hours ago, rpn said: Yes, most would assume by that someone else has been called and is now so designated by the records (which usually happens after setting apart) that you have been released, whether or not it was done officially. Maybe the bishop believes he did it. Maybe he's too embarrassed now to release you formally. Once you've notified him that you haven't been released, then let it go. I agree, I am not going to bring it up again. I sent him an email about it last week. Not only was I not released last Sunday but he also never responded at all to the email. My husband is an auxiliary leader and when he brought it up once while they were meeting the Bishop just started talking about someone who went inactive because he forgot to release them. Link to comment
Calm Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 32 minutes ago, MeLee said: I agree, I am not going to bring it up again. I sent him an email about it last week. Not only was I not released last Sunday but he also never responded at all to the email. My husband is an auxiliary leader and when he brought it up once while they were meeting the Bishop just started talking about someone who went inactive because he forgot to release them. He sounds like he may not be that organized. Link to comment
strappinglad Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 I suppose at the next Fast and Testimony meeting, you could go to the pulpit and talk about how much you liked your old calling and like your new calling and then formally release yourself, all in favor? 3 Link to comment
Duncan Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 I just got a new calling and they haven't released me yet from my old one, which by the way I was never set apart for but they are apparently "working on it" Link to comment
Rain Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 I was "released" from a calling by by my stake president counselor in his office a couple of weeks ago, but someone has not replaced me yet and I'm supposed to do the calling till someone has been called. Lol its the first time I've been told I was released in the office, but not over the pulpit. I just figured he either didn't mean to day it that way, but I texted later to clarify if he wanted me to continue with what needed to be done in the meantime and he said yes. Link to comment
The Nehor Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 On 9/26/2017 at 9:21 PM, MeLee said: I agree, I am not going to bring it up again. I sent him an email about it last week. Not only was I not released last Sunday but he also never responded at all to the email. My husband is an auxiliary leader and when he brought it up once while they were meeting the Bishop just started talking about someone who went inactive because he forgot to release them. If you go inactive too maybe he will finally take the hint. It is the only way he will learn. Link to comment
Stargazer Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Just as a point of church government, you are not released from your calling at the pulpit, you are released from your calling at the moment the bishop, branch president or stake president tells you that you are released. What is done at the pulpit is to announce your release. If your release is not announced from the pulpit, it doesn't change the fact that you no longer hold that calling. Asking for a vote of thanks is NOT required, by the way, it's just a courtesy, although it is mentioned in the handbook. From the moment the presiding authority tells you that you are released, you no longer hold that calling. From Handbook 2: "To issue a release, an authorized leader meets with the member personally, informs him or her of the release, and expresses appreciation for the service. The leader also asks the person to return any current, usable materials so they can be given to the successor. Only those who need to know are informed of a release before it is announced publicly. "The same congregation that sustained a person gives a vote of thanks when the person is released. An authorized priesthood officer may say: “'[Name] has been released as [position], and we propose that he [or she] be given a vote of thanks for his [or her] service. Those who wish to express their appreciation may manifest it by the uplifted hand.' No dissenting vote is called for." My take on this is that you no longer have this calling. You have no further responsibility towards it, as far as I can see. The presiding authority is in any case under no obligation to call someone else to perform it. Thus the work of the calling devolves upon the next responsible authority, which is the Relief Society presidency. And if you stop doing the work, eventually someone will notice and ask about the matter. And then perhaps the bishopric will get a clue about calling someone else. In the meantime, as I said, it is the RS president's job now. 3 Link to comment
MeLee Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 On 9/29/2017 at 9:15 PM, Stargazer said: Just as a point of church government, you are not released from your calling at the pulpit, you are released from your calling at the moment the bishop, branch president or stake president tells you that you are released. What is done at the pulpit is to announce your release. If your release is not announced from the pulpit, it doesn't change the fact that you no longer hold that calling. Asking for a vote of thanks is NOT required, by the way, it's just a courtesy, although it is mentioned in the handbook. From the moment the presiding authority tells you that you are released, you no longer hold that calling. From Handbook 2: "To issue a release, an authorized leader meets with the member personally, informs him or her of the release, and expresses appreciation for the service. The leader also asks the person to return any current, usable materials so they can be given to the successor. Only those who need to know are informed of a release before it is announced publicly. "The same congregation that sustained a person gives a vote of thanks when the person is released. An authorized priesthood officer may say: “'[Name] has been released as [position], and we propose that he [or she] be given a vote of thanks for his [or her] service. Those who wish to express their appreciation may manifest it by the uplifted hand.' No dissenting vote is called for." My take on this is that you no longer have this calling. You have no further responsibility towards it, as far as I can see. The presiding authority is in any case under no obligation to call someone else to perform it. Thus the work of the calling devolves upon the next responsible authority, which is the Relief Society presidency. And if you stop doing the work, eventually someone will notice and ask about the matter. And then perhaps the bishopric will get a clue about calling someone else. In the meantime, as I said, it is the RS president's job now. As I already mentioned in the original post someone else was called as the compassionate service coordinator. I was not told by a member of the bishopric that I was released nor was I released during Sacrament meeting. The calling was however taken off my records. Link to comment
Stargazer Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 18 hours ago, MeLee said: As I already mentioned in the original post someone else was called as the compassionate service coordinator. I was not told by a member of the bishopric that I was released nor was I released during Sacrament meeting. The calling was however taken off my records. OK, I'd guess that effectively releases you, then. I missed the part about not being told you were released. If the record says you're not doing it, then there we are! Link to comment
MeLee Posted October 6, 2017 Author Share Posted October 6, 2017 On 10/5/2017 at 12:34 AM, Stargazer said: OK, I'd guess that effectively releases you, then. I missed the part about not being told you were released. If the record says you're not doing it, then there we are! Yep. However this post was never about wondering if I still had the calling. It was about gently reminding the bishop three times that I had not been properly released and him still not oficially releasing me nor giving any explanation. Sure people forget things all the time and I don't even care if it's over the pulpit. A personal thank you for your service, you're released would suffice. As you already posted from the handbook; the proper way to release someone is to first tell that person they are being released. Then announcing the release in sacrament meeting. It kind of hurts when you put so much into a calling then one Sunday you're replaced and you notice the calling isn't on your records anymore without being told by a member of the bishopric or being given any type of thanks. Even people who have already moved out of the ward are formally released. It hurts even more that it was just kind of shrugged off as no big deal. Link to comment
Stargazer Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 13 hours ago, MeLee said: Yep. However this post was never about wondering if I still had the calling. It was about gently reminding the bishop three times that I had not been properly released and him still not oficially releasing me nor giving any explanation. Sure people forget things all the time and I don't even care if it's over the pulpit. A personal thank you for your service, you're released would suffice. As you already posted from the handbook; the proper way to release someone is to first tell that person they are being released. Then announcing the release in sacrament meeting. It kind of hurts when you put so much into a calling then one Sunday you're replaced and you notice the calling isn't on your records anymore without being told by a member of the bishopric or being given any type of thanks. Even people who have already moved out of the ward are formally released. It hurts even more that it was just kind of shrugged off as no big deal. I see your point, believe me. But my advice is just to shrug it off and move on. Link to comment
nuclearfuels Posted November 1, 2017 Share Posted November 1, 2017 Dont take it personally. give it a week or two Link to comment
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