MustardSeed Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 Today we had ward conference. Both hours were great. Would it be against the rules of the new hand book if the Stake and ward relief society presidents and EQ president joined on the stand? There were 12 men on the stand. Zero women. This is 2020. Does it REALLY have to be only priesthood on the stand? I’ll bring it up with stake president who is my friend but only if it’s not a hard rule. 4
Popular Post DispensatorMysteriorum Posted February 10, 2020 Popular Post Posted February 10, 2020 7 hours ago, MustardSeed said: Today we had ward conference. Both hours were great. Would it be against the rules of the new hand book if the Stake and ward relief society presidents and EQ president joined on the stand? There were 12 men on the stand. Zero women. This is 2020. Does it REALLY have to be only priesthood on the stand? I’ll bring it up with stake president who is my friend but only if it’s not a hard rule. 12 men on the stand?! I'm just curious as to whom that was. I'd imagine 6--bishopric and stake presidency, but not 12. I'm the bishop in our ward. Not too long ago the stake relief society showed up in our ward. I invited them to sit on the stand. The stake president was on his way to visit the ward that day and hadn't gotten there yet. When he showed up I told him I invited them to sit on the stand and asked if that was ok. He said it was. Then, at the end of the meeting, there was a little extra time. I suggested he ask the stake RSP to stand up and share some thoughts. He did, and it was wonderful. 8
bluebell Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 8 hours ago, MustardSeed said: Today we had ward conference. Both hours were great. Would it be against the rules of the new hand book if the Stake and ward relief society presidents and EQ president joined on the stand? There were 12 men on the stand. Zero women. This is 2020. Does it REALLY have to be only priesthood on the stand? I’ll bring it up with stake president who is my friend but only if it’s not a hard rule. In one of my previous stakes all ward "officers" (can't remember what they are called now) always sat on the stand for WC. This included the YW stake presidency, the primary presidency, and the RS presidency. This was back in the early 2000s. 2
Duncan Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 (edited) I've only seen one Stake, the La Verne California Stake who had something like this, for Stake Conference they had the HC on the Stand. Today, in our ward for ward conference, they only have the Stake Presidency and the Bishopric on the stand and nobody cares one whit who is on the High Council😌 Edited February 10, 2020 by Duncan 1
pogi Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 I'd rather be sitting with my family. What is the point of having everyone up on the stand anyway? 4
Tacenda Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 26 minutes ago, pogi said: I'd rather be sitting with my family. What is the point of having everyone up on the stand anyway? That's what I was thinking, but I understand MustardSeed's problem with it as well. But in the back of my mind I'm wondering if the sisters thought that they'd rather not be on the stand, not sure.
Calm Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 51 minutes ago, pogi said: I'd rather be sitting with my family. What is the point of having everyone up on the stand anyway? So as to let people become more familiar and therefore comfortable with their leaders in most cases I have been told. Some leaders have said it gives them a chance to see who is there and who isn't, which can help them know who might need checking on to see if they need help. Not all ward members have a chance to be friends with leaders, especially if the ward is spread out and the only time a family comes to church is on Sunday. 2
Nacho2dope Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 10 hours ago, MustardSeed said: Today we had ward conference. Both hours were great. Would it be against the rules of the new hand book if the Stake and ward relief society presidents and EQ president joined on the stand? There were 12 men on the stand. Zero women. This is 2020. Does it REALLY have to be only priesthood on the stand? I’ll bring it up with stake president who is my friend but only if it’s not a hard rule. We have both ward and stake conference coming up so I want to keep an eye out for this. Our last stake conference only had women speakers minus the stake presidency, Temple and Mission president. The Temple and Mission presidents wife's also spoke. All of the women speakers were on the stand.
JAHS Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 At our ward conference nobody else besides the bishopric sits on the stand except for the stake president and whoever is speaking. All Ward and stake officers sit in the congregation. 3
MustardSeed Posted February 10, 2020 Author Posted February 10, 2020 (edited) We had some high priests, all three stake clerks, the organ player....all three bishopric and all three stake presidency ... second hour had all adults together and the stakes presidency directed us in the importance of shifting our cultural expectations of bishops duties from “ward father” to “youth pastor”. (My words not theirs.) It was GREAT. They want us to turn to our EQ presidency and RS presidency for personal support in all ways other than worthiness issues. I’m serious when I say my husband asked “who is the RS president?” I couldn’t name any of the counselors in either EQ or RS. I had a guest with me Sunday briefly. I wonder how they thought about the visual of 12 men on the stage. Also, if women are to carry more responsibilities it is my opinion they should be as visual as the menfolk. Edited February 10, 2020 by MustardSeed 4
MustardSeed Posted February 10, 2020 Author Posted February 10, 2020 2 hours ago, pogi said: I'd rather be sitting with my family. What is the point of having everyone up on the stand anyway? Have everyone or no one imo
bluebell Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 3 hours ago, pogi said: I'd rather be sitting with my family. What is the point of having everyone up on the stand anyway? You'd only be sitting with your family if it happened to be your ward that was having ward conference. The majority of the time you'd be attending a different way than your family attends. So in that situation, in a pew or on the stand, it wouldn't impact your family at all. 2
bluebell Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 2 hours ago, JAHS said: At our ward conference nobody else besides the bishopric sits on the stand except for the stake president and whoever is speaking. All Ward and stake officers sit in the congregation. This is how it's done in my stake as well, except that the high counselor for the ward sits up on the stand too, but that's true of most Sundays and not just WC since he's always there.
Tacenda Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 (edited) 6 hours ago, MustardSeed said: We had some high priests, all three stake clerks, the organ player....all three bishopric and all three stake presidency ... second hour had all adults together and the stakes presidency directed us in the importance of shifting our cultural expectations of bishops duties from “ward father” to “youth pastor”. (My words not theirs.) It was GREAT. They want us to turn to our EQ presidency and RS presidency for personal support in all ways other than worthiness issues. I’m serious when I say my husband asked “who is the RS president?” I couldn’t name any of the counselors in either EQ or RS. I had a guest with me Sunday briefly. I wonder how they thought about the visual of 12 men on the stage. Also, if women are to carry more responsibilities it is my opinion they should be as visual as the menfolk. Never thought of that! (bold) Do they not sit up front in Relief Society anymore? I remember having to sit up front every week. I've been out of the loop for quite some time. It would be good to once in a while maybe have the RS/EQ presidents give talks etc. to familiarize those that need it. Edited February 11, 2020 by Tacenda
Scott Lloyd Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 10 hours ago, pogi said: I'd rather be sitting with my family. What is the point of having everyone up on the stand anyway? The bishopric is always on the stand. Somebody with a stake calling has to conduct the sustainings, whether that person be the stake clerk or a counselor in the stake presidency. And the stake president typically speaks during the meeting. But I’m not sure why all three would need to be up there. We should bear in mind that space on the stand is scarce, especially if the ward choir is to perform.
Scott Lloyd Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 6 hours ago, bluebell said: This is how it's done in my stake as well, except that the high counselor for the ward sits up on the stand too, but that's true of most Sundays and not just WC since he's always there. My stake too. When I was stake Sunday School President, I never sat on the stand at ward conferences. 1
Scott Lloyd Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 10 hours ago, MustardSeed said: We had some high priests, all three stake clerks, the organ player....all three bishopric and all three stake presidency ... Bishopric plus stake presidency plus three stake clerks would be nine. The organist could be female or male (I can't think of a ward I've been in where the organist has not been female). I can't imagine who the additional high priests would be, as there are no longer high priests groups on a ward level. Some high councilors, perhaps? And I can't think of why they would need three stake clerks up there. One is plenty to read the sustainings. And they don't even need a clerk for that. A counselor in the stake presidency could do it.
Calm Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Scott Lloyd said: can't think of a ward I've been in where the organist has not been female The organist was male in the last two wards I have been in. Can't remember what the first did, but the second is a music teacher. He also composed his own arrangements and did the choir. Very creative and passionate. Edited February 11, 2020 by Calm
rockpond Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 14 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said: We should bear in mind that space on the stand is scarce, especially if the ward choir is to perform. Yep this is certainly true in our building. You've got the choir seats and then one row of seats in the front of the rostrum that are just enough for the SP (3), Bishopric (3), Deacon "runner", Music Leader, Priests blessing the sacrament, and 2-3 speakers. That maxes it out. I supposed that if we were to follow the pattern set in General Conference, ward conferences would have every organization presidency seated on the stand. But it would be crazy to build our chapels that way for two Sundays per year (4 if you include stake conference). 2
MustardSeed Posted February 12, 2020 Author Posted February 12, 2020 (edited) On 2/10/2020 at 9:33 PM, Scott Lloyd said: Bishopric plus stake presidency plus three stake clerks would be nine. The organist could be female or male (I can't think of a ward I've been in where the organist has not been female). I can't imagine who the additional high priests would be, as there are no longer high priests groups on a ward level. Some high councilors, perhaps? And I can't think of why they would need three stake clerks up there. One is plenty to read the sustainings. And they don't even need a clerk for that. A counselor in the stake presidency could do it. I said high priests and meant high counselors. Edited February 12, 2020 by MustardSeed
Hamba Tuhan Posted February 12, 2020 Posted February 12, 2020 1 hour ago, MustardSeed said: I said high priests and meant high counselors. The poor high counsellors in your stake! We just sit with the rest of the congregation at ward conferences.
Scott Lloyd Posted February 12, 2020 Posted February 12, 2020 On 2/10/2020 at 10:33 PM, Scott Lloyd said: Bishopric plus stake presidency plus three stake clerks would be nine. The organist could be female or male (I can't think of a ward I've been in where the organist has not been female). I can't imagine who the additional high priests would be, as there are no longer high priests groups on a ward level. Some high councilors, perhaps? And I can't think of why they would need three stake clerks up there. One is plenty to read the sustainings. And they don't even need a clerk for that. A counselor in the stake presidency could do it. 1 hour ago, MustardSeed said: I said high priests and meant high counselors. 48 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said: The poor high counsellors in your stake! We just sit with the rest of the congregation at ward conferences. Heh. So here we have high councilors spelled three different ways. Here is how I remember the proper spelling: A man who is a member of a high council (spelled with -il) is a high councilor (spelled with -ilor). A member of a bishopric or presidency provides counsel (spelled with -el) as needed to the officer who presides. That person is thus called a counselor (spelled with -elor). Hamba is no doubt using the older, British spelling for counsellor (with a double l), which is not wrong, except that the correct word in this instance is neither counselor nor counsellor, but councilor.
Hamba Tuhan Posted February 12, 2020 Posted February 12, 2020 48 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said: Heh. So here we have high councilors spelled three different ways Sorry. Yep, I meant ‘councillor’ but fell under the spell of the previous post. And I still feel bad for those who have to sit up front for no reason that I can detect. 1
BlueDreams Posted February 12, 2020 Posted February 12, 2020 On 2/10/2020 at 6:28 PM, Tacenda said: Never thought of that! (bold) Do they not sit up front in Relief Society anymore? I remember having to sit up front every week. I've been out of the loop for quite some time. It would be good to once in a while maybe have the RS/EQ presidents give talks etc. to familiarize those that need it. They do for at least the first bit in my ward...the one problem is that a good chunk of the women aren’t in RS much of the time, often teaching the youth. If my ward had a switch in presidency the last few weeks I wouldn’t have a clue. with luv, BD 2
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