Can a Man be called as Bishop if he abandoned family and committed adultery?

[MustardSeed]

I echo the need to stick with facts and eliminate emotion. You still may not experience satisfaction, so good luck to you.  
 

My friend was SA By a family member 30 years ago, who is now a bishop.  It’s hard for her.  

[Pyreaux]

I know someone who said they were abused by a member decades ago, and she told the Bishop, or Stake President, but nothing happened, so she thought no one cared and it didn't go higher. So, I just don't want anyone to ever leave issues all in one person's hands. Go up the ladder with real issues, Area Authority Seventies.

[bsjkki]

And never trust the abuser if he said he ‘confessed.’ He probably lied or downplayed their actions. You must also report directly. 
 

A child believed her dad when he said he confessed to his Bishop/mom.  He later had more victims. He was called again to the Bishopric and then she went to the stake and realized her dad had lied about confessing. For years she thought her mom and the church didn’t care about what was done to her. Sad, she didn’t feel she had enough evidence to report to the police. Victims are often scared to involve law enforcement. I can understand why. A good Bishop could really help victims through a legal process. 

[Tacenda]

18 hours ago, Pyreaux said:

I know someone who said they were abused by a member decades ago, and she told the Bishop, or Stake President, but nothing happened, so she thought no one cared and it didn't go higher. So, I just don't want anyone to ever leave issues all in one person's hands. Go up the ladder with real issues, Area Authority Seventies.

But really how does a lowly member status do that?

[Pyreaux]

2 hours ago, Tacenda said:

But really how does a lowly member status do that?

Do you mean her 40 years ago, you ideally went through the leaders that will move it up for you, unless the leader is the problem.  They didn't have report crimes back then, now they have to no matter what.  Its these non-crimes but moral areas that can fall through the cracks. 

If you meant today, you can find the name of the Seventy over your area off the church website or even Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_area_seventies_of_the_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints

If the Stake President doesn't move it up themselves for you, ideally write a letter, you can use the information given for "Contact Us" on the LDS.org website:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
50 East North Temple
Salt Lake City , UT 84150
United States
(801) 240-1000

[gopher]

Doesn't it say somewhere in the handbook you can't serve as a bishop if you have been convicted of a crime?  I know a guy who served jail time for violating some obscure federal law (he claims he was unfairly treated of course).  After he was released, he joked that he wouldn't have to worry about ever being called as a bishop.

[Pyreaux]

I know certain crimes do. Sex Offenders, claiming to be innocent or not, have permanent marks put on their records, that only the Bishop can see, that prevents them from issuing certain callings to them. So, they'll never be a Bishop. You are a liability. I didn't hear whether that goes for any conviction of any crime, though I can see that. Maybe violent or any public crime embarrassing to the church.

[Calm]

2 hours ago, Pyreaux said:

I know certain crimes do. Sex Offenders, claiming to be innocent or not, have permanent marks put on their records, that only the Bishop can see, that prevents them from issuing certain callings to them. So, they'll never be a Bishop. You are a liability. I didn't hear whether that goes for any conviction of any crime, though I can see that. Maybe violent or any public crime embarrassing to the church.

I believe embezzlement, fraud, and other financial crimes will keep you out of any calling that has access to money, but I am not sure how to find documentation for that.

Edited February 25, 2023 by Calm

[prairiegirl123]

On 2/24/2023 at 5:52 AM, Tacenda said:

But really how does a lowly member status do that?

 

On 2/24/2023 at 8:02 AM, Pyreaux said:

Do you mean her 40 years ago, you ideally went through the leaders that will move it up for you, unless the leader is the problem.  They didn't have report crimes back then, now they have to no matter what.  Its these non-crimes but moral areas that can fall through the cracks. 

If you meant today, you can find the name of the Seventy over your area off the church website or even Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_area_seventies_of_the_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints

If the Stake President doesn't move it up themselves for you, ideally write a letter, you can use the information given for "Contact Us" on the LDS.org website:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
50 East North Temple
Salt Lake City , UT 84150
United States
(801) 240-1000

I tried all of that and nothing  helped. It caused my mental health to deteriorate even more. It has been many years since this all happened and it has caused a huge rift in my family. My oldest daughter will barely speak with me because she sides with her father. Had they believed me years ago, we would never have been put into this horrible situation. The only thing that keeps me from going completely over the edge is my faith in Heavenly Father and my Savior.

But I feel so very betrayed by those leaders who chose to not believe me. I've lost my daughter and my 3 grandchildren because of their actions. I thought there could be nothing worse than burying my newborn baby, but this is so much worse.

[Tacenda]

6 hours ago, prairiegirl123 said:

 

I tried all of that and nothing  helped. It caused my mental health to deteriorate even more. It has been many years since this all happened and it has caused a huge rift in my family. My oldest daughter will barely speak with me because she sides with her father. Had they believed me years ago, we would never have been put into this horrible situation. The only thing that keeps me from going completely over the edge is my faith in Heavenly Father and my Savior.

But I feel so very betrayed by those leaders who chose to not believe me. I've lost my daughter and my 3 grandchildren because of their actions. I thought there could be nothing worse than burying my newborn baby, but this is so much worse.

You're not alone, and this needs to go out in the light, how many lives have been affected. I'm so sorry for what you've been through. I wonder if there's any way to reverse all the harm you've been put through. Go back to the sources if they're around still. 

[The Nehor]

On 2/24/2023 at 11:17 AM, gopher said:

Doesn't it say somewhere in the handbook you can't serve as a bishop if you have been convicted of a crime?  I know a guy who served jail time for violating some obscure federal law (he claims he was unfairly treated of course).  After he was released, he joked that he wouldn't have to worry about ever being called as a bishop.

There is no official policy I know of regarding Bishops. There are some guidelines.

On 2/25/2023 at 11:42 AM, Pyreaux said:

I know certain crimes do. Sex Offenders, claiming to be innocent or not, have permanent marks put on their records, that only the Bishop can see, that prevents them from issuing certain callings to them. So, they'll never be a Bishop. You are a liability. I didn't hear whether that goes for any conviction of any crime, though I can see that. Maybe violent or any public crime embarrassing to the church.

Here is the bit from the handbook about annotations:

As authorized by the First Presidency, Church headquarters annotates a person’s membership record in any of the situations listed below.

1. The bishop or stake president submits a Report of Church Membership Council form indicating that the person’s membership was formally restricted or withdrawn for any of the following conduct:

• Incest
• Sexual abuse of a child or youth, sexual exploitation of a child or youth, or serious physical or emotional abuse of a child or youth
• Involvement with child pornography as outlined in 38.6.6
• Plural marriage
• Adult sexual predatory behavior
• Transgender—actions to transition to the opposite of a person’s biological sex at birth (see 38.6.23)
• Embezzling Church funds or stealing Church property (see 32.6.3.3)
• Church welfare abuse
• Threatening behavior (such as sexual, violent, or financial) or conduct that harms the Church

2. The bishop and stake president submit written notification that the person:

• Has admitted to or has been convicted of a crime involving one of the actions listed above.
• Has been found liable in a civil action of fraud or other illegal acts involving one of the actions listed above.

The Stake President can request an annotation be removed but that request has to be approved by the First Presidency.