DiscussMormonism.com

Was informed this past Sunday that my current tenure as Elders Quorum President would be coming to an end...perhaps.
The Bishop and I had a discussion about his request to have the Stake President release me from my calling as EQP.
For those of you having had similar experiences you can possibly relate to how this is a bittersweet experience for me.

That being said, my release has not yet been made official and has the possibility of not occurring at all - and the following is perhaps why:

A few months ago we had multi-Stake ward leadership meeting (Bishopric, auxiliaries, quorums, etc.) presided over by Elder Tom Perry of the 12. During this meeting, which was also simulcast to some Stakes not in personal attendance, a few leaders were individually asked to stand as "object lessons". As EQP i was one of these who stood. Elder Perry inquired as to how long I had been serving as EQP, to which I responded. Upon my response, Elder Perry promptly turned to our Stake President and exhorted him to not release for me from this calling for at least another 18 months, and established a seemingly minimal standard time to be served for all EQP within earshot.
Our ward's Bishop, also in attendance at this meeting, had confided in me shortly after this meeting that he had been considering submitting me for release around that time but Elder Perry's passionate advisement changed that decision. I will also admit that this current Bishop is not the Bishop that I was called to serve with and he is new to his calling (little less than a year). I will also note that our Bishop and I have some conflicting ideas about how some priorities of ward should be handled, and what some of these priorities should be - I am not always a quiet and compliant member of ward council. While I understand that our Bishop is just learning the ropes, my requested release is coinciding with a bit of house cleaning within the ward council - which arguably may need to happen.
But
Now, well ahead of the 18 months previously mentioned the Bishop has made this submission - and so I am curious how the Bishop has resolved this recent experience from Elder Perry and I am even more curious to learn how our Stake President will resolve his experience from Elder Perry.

So, anyone have a similar experience like this with a release from a calling?

It sounds like your new Bishop wants an EQP that will simply say yes to him.

That seems to be a trend, in that SP's are calling Bishops who are compliant to their wishes.

Water runs downhill, regardless of what L. Tom wants.

Did you happen to notice if Elder Perry had a briefcase with him?

Bazooka wrote:It sounds like your new Bishop wants an EQP that will simply say yes to him.

I am inclined to agree, and that may merit a discussion about what role the EQP's keys are to play in the ward and for the Stake.

Bazooka wrote:That seems to be a trend, in that SP's are calling Bishops who are compliant to their wishes.

Bazooka wrote:Water runs downhill, regardless of what L. Tom wants.

So, it is worth stirring the pot during my "exit interview" by casually mentioning my surprise given Elder Perry's comments?

Bazooka wrote:Did you happen to notice if Elder Perry had a briefcase with him?

None noticed. He was vibrant and impromptu. A larger than life presence in the room, much greater impression than the first time i had made his acquaintance.

Personally I'd challenge him outright and upfront, unless I wanted the release.
In which case I'd smile and sprint for the door as soon as the closing prayer was finished.

You sound like you're smarting a bit over the release.

From time to time, when a calling is extended, a member may comment that the calling came from desperation rather than inspiration/revelation.

I see no reason why the same can't be said for releases.

Bazooka wrote:Personally I'd challenge him outright and upfront, unless I wanted the release.
In which case I'd smile and sprint for the door as soon as the closing prayer was finished.

You sound like you're smarting a bit over the release.

well, i did mention it was bittersweet..."smarting" is a bit exaggerated.

I am favoring the sweet more than the bitter, so I am hoping the SP will incline towards my release, in the "Lord can Trump anyone at anytime and anyway" sort of manner.
However, I thought it might be an interesting point to bring up for their own edification as I walk out the door...after all, I still hold priesthood keys, and surely you would agree that my promptings are every much as valid as the Bishop's, the SP's, and Elder Perry's...correct?

CameronMO wrote:From time to time, when a calling is extended, a member may comment that the calling came from desperation rather than inspiration/revelation.

I see no reason why the same can't be said for releases.

interesting view...and to the point i am raising.
But contrast that with this:

"A person must be called of God to serve in the Church (see Articles of Faith 1:5). Leaders seek the guidance of the Spirit in determining whom to call. "

"Releases from Church callings should come by inspiration..."

https://www.LDS.org/handbook/handbook-2 ... ng=eng#191

Just wondering, but how involved is the Stake Presidency/High Council in your ward meetings, ward council meetings, EQP meetings, etc.?

I'm asking because you have a stake calling. The stake president called you. He set you apart. You report to the SP and have your PPIs with him. Why is the bishop even involved in this?

CameronMO wrote:Just wondering, but how involved is the Stake Presidency/High Council in your ward meetings, ward council meetings, EQP meetings, etc.?

prior SP and HC were intimately invovled...new one, not so much...if at all. He conducts PPI with Bishop and has never contacted me...so...

CameronMO wrote:I'm asking because you have a stake calling. The stake president called you. He set you apart. You report to the SP and have your PPIs with him. Why is the bishop even involved in this?

Arguably...the Bishop still presides over the Melchizedek Priesthood for the Ward and presides over Home Teaching as far as assignment approvals, etc. He is also supposed to "counsel" with me on any callings i may extend, which he has interpreted as giving approval for. It seems that he may be forgetful about "keys"...nevertheless, this is why i ask what i ask in the OP...should the SP decide to recall and heed the counsel from Elder Perry, it would be a precarious political situation to say the least.

Subgenius, your promptings about yourself are, in point of fact, MORE relevant than those of Perry, your SP or Bishop.

You should go with what you think is right.