Is the time having a bishop calling being reduced to 3 years soon?

[MustardSeed]

1 hour ago, SkyRock said:

In the last 20 years, in various locals, we have had 3 bishops transfer for work.  I wondered if that was moving to get released. 

I know 2 who moved to get away from being SP.  
 

 

[blackstrap]

59 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

I know 2 who moved to get away from being SP.  
 

No need for such drastic measures, just walk around with a pack of cigs in your shirt pocket and a hip flask. 😈

[MustardSeed]

21 minutes ago, blackstrap said:

No need for such drastic measures, just walk around with a pack of cigs in your shirt pocket and a hip flask. 😈

That’s what I do. Ha ha! Accidentally trip and let the Tourette’s take over on my way to the podium.🤪😅

Edited April 18, 2024 by MustardSeed

[Doctor Steuss]

2 hours ago, MustardSeed said:

I know 2 who moved to get away from being SP.  
 

This reminds me of an experience I had with my (ex)wife.  She had been a member for about a year, when I received a calling (I believe it was to be a stake missionary, or something like that... rascally memory).  I told her about the calling, and how stressed out I was about the thought of it.  She said "well, then just tell them no."

I tried explaining to her that in the Church, you didn't say no to callings, and gave various reasons.  She replied something along the lines of "Maybe they were inspired to call you, because God needed you to tell them no, and the reasons why you wouldn't be a good fit.  If they don't know about your mental health challenges, then how can they help you and find the right calling for you?"

So... I said "no," and was called a few weeks later to be an assistant over the "adventurers" (I think that's what it was called... basically priest aged boys), and had an absolute blast helping those dudes.

Edited April 18, 2024 by Doctor Steuss

[ksfisher]

7 minutes ago, Doctor Steuss said:

This reminds me of an experience I had with my (ex)wife.  She had been a member for about a year, when I received a calling (I believe it was to be a stake missionary, or something like that... rascally memory).  I told her about the calling, and how stressed out I was about the thought of it.  She said "well, then just tell them no."

I tried explaining to her that in the Church, you didn't say no to callings, and gave various reasons.  She replied something along the lines of "Maybe they were inspired to call you, because God needed you to tell them no, and the reasons why you wouldn't be a good fit.  If they don't know about your mental health challenges, then how can they help you and find the right calling for you?"

So... I said "no," and was called a few weeks later to be an assistant over the "adventurers" (I think that's what it was called... basically priest aged boys), and had an absolute blast helping those dudes.

I've seen this more than once.

Having the person say no to a calling doesn't mean that it was wrong to extend the calling.

[Calm]

41 minutes ago, Doctor Steuss said:

This reminds me of an experience I had with my (ex)wife.  She had been a member for about a year, when I received a calling (I believe it was to be a stake missionary, or something like that... rascally memory).  I told her about the calling, and how stressed out I was about the thought of it.  She said "well, then just tell them no."

I tried explaining to her that in the Church, you didn't say no to callings, and gave various reasons.  She replied something along the lines of "Maybe they were inspired to call you, because God needed you to tell them no, and the reasons why you wouldn't be a good fit.  If they don't know about your mental health challenges, then how can they help you and find the right calling for you?"

So... I said "no," and was called a few weeks later to be an assistant over the "adventurers" (I think that's what it was called... basically priest aged boys), and had an absolute blast helping those dudes.

A very astute answer of hers, imo. 

[mfbukowski]

2 hours ago, Calm said:

astute

Now there's a word you don't want to spell phonetically !  But sometimes....

Edited April 18, 2024 by mfbukowski

[ksfisher]

27 minutes ago, mfbukowski said:

Now there's a word you don't want to spell phonetically !

What are your thoughts on bishops serving for only 3 years versus the typical 5 they serve now?  I haven't noticed anyone who I'm aware has actually served in that calling voicing an opinion.

[mfbukowski]

2 hours ago, Doctor Steuss said:

This reminds me of an experience I had with my (ex)wife.  She had been a member for about a year, when I received a calling (I believe it was to be a stake missionary, or something like that... rascally memory).  I told her about the calling, and how stressed out I was about the thought of it.  She said "well, then just tell them no."

I tried explaining to her that in the Church, you didn't say no to callings, and gave various reasons.  She replied something along the lines of "Maybe they were inspired to call you, because God needed you to tell them no, and the reasons why you wouldn't be a good fit.  If they don't know about your mental health challenges, then how can they help you and find the right calling for you?"

So... I said "no," and was called a few weeks later to be an assistant over the "adventurers" (I think that's what it was called... basically priest aged boys), and had an absolute blast helping those dudes.

Well I suppose it depends on where you live.

Here , in the real world  "mission field" full-tithe payers with the leadership experience, undivorced, and married to "one wife" can be a rather limited requirement to become a bishop.  Now add in a ward with sacrament attendance around 50 - not uncommon in the stake- the majority of which are widows, let's say, then the problem of getting a new bishop becomes a problem.

And I think that is of late more the rule than an exception.  

I have a brother-in-law in the mid-west with a geographically HUGE ward about 50 miles across- and he takes newly baked home-made bread to do his home visits.

Not many of those around, for a good reason.   So you have places where a 3 year limit may be virtually impossible, and places where one can have a genuine option to refuse the call for legitimate personal reasons, like the one above.

So I am sure that any changes, IF ANY will be presented as "guidelines".   And we all know how much that means.   With wards growing smaller, it could be a problem.

Edited April 18, 2024 by mfbukowski

[Calm]

My son by another mother asked to be released after three years as a bishop as his family needed his attention and while there were others that could care for the ward, only he could be there as he needed to be for his family.

Made me proud and I told him so.  Knowing him, he was a great bishop for those three years and better the ward had him for three than not at all.

I think it is unfortunate that this is not a mindset that is more common in the Church so there might be less dread of being called and less anxiety over the calling.

Edited April 18, 2024 by Calm

[Tacenda]

19 minutes ago, Calm said:

My son by another mother asked to be released after three years as a bishop as his family needed his attention and while there were others that could care for the ward, only he could be there as he needed to be for his family.

Made me proud and I told him so.  Knowing him, he was a great bishop for those three years and better the ward had him for three than not at all.

I think it is unfortunate that this is not a mindset that is more common in the Church so there might be less dread of being called and less anxiety over the calling.

Years ago I remember a neighbor gal, she was in her early thirties maybe, would tell the bishop when called that she would only serve two years at any calling she was asked to do. I thought that was bold! Kind of liked the take charge of your own life attitude. I was the type that would never say no up until my faith crisis, of a Primary Teacher in the D&C year of course. 

[mfbukowski]

2 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Years ago I remember a neighbor gal, she was in her early thirties maybe, would tell the bishop when called that she would only serve two years at any calling she was asked to do. I thought that was bold! Kind of liked the take charge of your own life attitude. I was the type that would never say no up until my faith crisis, of a Primary Teacher in the D&C year of course. 

How about two years in the Celestial Kingdom, then Poof! ?

Had to ask it.... 

[Calm]

28 minutes ago, mfbukowski said:

How about two years in the Celestial Kingdom, then Poof! ?

Had to ask it.... 

if she knew herself and knew she could best serve for 2 years only for whatever reason and accepted other callings once she was released and did her best in those, why would it matter if she was only serving in one calling or 5 over ten years?  Better to be honest about your limitations than do a poor job. 

Edited April 18, 2024 by Calm

[blackstrap]

28 minutes ago, mfbukowski said:

How about two years in the Celestial Kingdom,

Primary = Celestial kingdom ?  You will get arguments for and against !

[ZealouslyStriving]

12 minutes ago, blackstrap said:

Primary = Celestial kingdom ?  You will get arguments for and against !

One of the primary purposes of the Celestial Kingdom is to bear spirit children, so.....

[mfbukowski]

1 hour ago, Calm said:

if she knew herself and knew she could best serve for 2 years only for whatever reason and accepted other callings once she was released and did her best in those, why would it matter if she was only serving in one calling or 5 over ten years?  Better to be honest about your limitations than do a poor job. 

Oh yeah, who actually DOES their best possible jobs on callings?  How about ministering? A poor job is now the standard, unfortunately, everyone knows we have lives to live and need dollars to survive, temples to visit, etc etc.  Better to do a poor job when really needed than refusing all together.  THAT is the reality and everyone knows it.

You are just causing more pain to the person who calls you to the position- what about him/her?

Let's make a requirement  to be a bishop for a month for every person in the ward and THEN call someone else.  Best wishes.

 

Edited April 19, 2024 by mfbukowski

[mfbukowski]

1 hour ago, blackstrap said:

Primary = Celestial kingdom ?  You will get arguments for and against !

Ask Jesus about that one.  I don't think being on the cross was much fun.  He is the standard, so pick your behavior accordingly.   Yes, he knows how tough it is better than you do, and yes he knows we are limited and weak.   Stay that way or don't. We all have to repent and I am certainly one of the worst

[mfbukowski]

1 hour ago, blackstrap said:

Primary = Celestial kingdom ?  You will get arguments for and against !

Trust me. You have baby primary and then adult primary.  If you have only served in baby primary, try adult primary.  How often does a primary teacher get to counsel their parents?  That is for the adult primary leader.

I'd take the kids every time.

[mfbukowski]

1 hour ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

One of the primary purposes of the Celestial Kingdom is to bear spirit children, so.....

The parents should be their FIRST and perhaps ONLY primary teachers if you ask me.  But that doesn't get them socialized - 

[blackstrap]

I  knew that I should have put an emoji on the end of my post . 🤕

[SkyRock]

On 4/18/2024 at 7:51 AM, MustardSeed said:

I know 2 who moved to get away from being SP.  
 

 

I know one who had an affair to get released......

[Kenngo1969]

On 4/18/2024 at 9:54 AM, blackstrap said:

No need for such drastic measures, just walk around with a pack of cigs in your shirt pocket and a hip flask. 😈

My cousin went to an interview with his Stake President with a can of beer, a pack of chewing tobacco, and a pack of cigarettes in his briefcase.  He opened the briefcase and told the Stake President, "Now, I don't use any of these ... but I could!"

He got called as a bishop anyway.    

He died way too soon.  He was only about five years older than I am.   (See you soon, Wayne ... but not too soon!)

[Stargazer]

On 4/18/2024 at 2:41 PM, SkyRock said:

In the last 20 years, in various locals, we have had 3 bishops transfer for work.  I wondered if that was moving to get released. 

Not that I've seen everything, but over the past 40 years or so, I've only seen two bishops being released before their term was up. One was legitimately due to an employment change -- not moving to get released, because it was a genuine work promotion. The other was because the ward was downgraded to a branch due to congregation size.

[Stargazer]

On 4/19/2024 at 12:51 AM, Calm said:

if she knew herself and knew she could best serve for 2 years only for whatever reason and accepted other callings once she was released and did her best in those, why would it matter if she was only serving in one calling or 5 over ten years?  Better to be honest about your limitations than do a poor job. 

I got called as elders quorum president a few years ago, and as I told the stake president, I'd give it my best shot, even though for me it would be like being an English literature major in a calculus class. By the time they released me, I had grown to love it. It was one of the those callings where you are glad to be released from the responsibility, while at the same time feeling resentful that you have to give it up. 

Back in my old US stake, the stake clerk had been the same man for well over 15 years. The current stake finance clerk has been the same guy for the past 15 years, too. I was a ward clerk for 8 years and was very annoyed to be released. Then they let me be a singles branch finance clerk for 7 years before I moved out of the stake. I love administrative callings. Leadership callings not so much.

[Stargazer]

On 4/19/2024 at 2:22 AM, mfbukowski said:

Oh yeah, who actually DOES their best possible jobs on callings?

That's my brother. He does NOTHING by halves. He is the prototype for magnifying one's calling.