Sweet Release?

[_Bazooka]

I have, however, prepared most of my thoughts for my exit interview.

Hey man, name removal is a pretty big step....are you sure you've thought this through?

My release may be the workings of a self-fulfilling prophecy more than anything else? If so, then the Bishop may have been craftier than i first imagined.

I've yet to meet a Bishop that was craftier than I imagined. But that's maybe an issue with my imagination!

[_subgenius]

Just got the word...Stake President wants to meet with me during 2nd hour this sunday - Boom!



any thoughts on how i should play this with the SP?

[_Res Ipsa]

Don't "play." Be honest and straightforward. With his gift of discernment, the SP will see through any playing anyway.

[_CameronMO]

any thoughts on how i should play this with the SP?

A couple options:
1. Blow it off. Don't go. Do something productive on Sunday for a change, like something Jesus would want us to do.
2. Just email him saying you don't need to meet; that you accept the release.
3. Tell him you're disappointed he didn't listen to the Lord's Annointed, and hand him a copy of the CES Letter and this form with your information: http://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/wiki/i ... orm_letter

Can't go wrong with any of those options.

[_Bazooka]

Tape it!

[_moksha]

If he releases you, stare him straight in the eyes and tell him, "this calls for a ice-cold Diet Coke". Drink it with gusto and think of the extra time you will have to make message board posts during the last part of the Elders Quorum meeting.

Coke and message boards. Talk about a sweet release!

[_CameronMO]

Update

[_subgenius]

It went as expected. The fallacy of men was evident but I feel great and many brethren were eager to shake my hand and offer a sincere congratulations.
Honestly, the calling was a great experience and gave me great insight into both church administration and the character of people...often unique and often the same.

It has, however reaffirmed my concerns over the Bishop and his either ignorance or denial of D&C 121.

First, you should know that the SP and I also discussed a request that our oldest daughter be allowed to enroll in online seminary. The Bishop had already given me a less than honest response to the request, but had sent it up the chain of the command (the Bishop was unaware that I had already spoken to a member that just moved out of our ward and had gone through the process). Anyway, the SP gave me a boilerplate rejection of the request - but when confronted with the rather contradicting example of the member i had talked with - the SP mentioned a circumstance which I knew was not true, and i quickly corrected it....the SP seemed genuinely surprised that he was "misinformed".

While I am enjoying the proverbial cigarette in the wake of my release, i am at odds with how to confront the Bishop about this emerging issue.
I have the impression that he must be confronted, but I am unsure of an appropriate strategy at the moment.

[_Bazooka]

It went as expected. The fallacy of men was evident but I feel great and many brethren were eager to shake my hand and offer a sincere congratulations.
Honestly, the calling was a great experience and gave me great insight into both church administration and the character of people...often unique and often the same.

It has, however reaffirmed my concerns over the Bishop and his either ignorance or denial of D&C 121.

First, you should know that the SP and I also discussed a request that our oldest daughter be allowed to enroll in online seminary. The Bishop had already given me a less than honest response to the request, but had sent it up the chain of the command (the Bishop was unaware that I had already spoken to a member that just moved out of our ward and had gone through the process). Anyway, the SP gave me a boilerplate rejection of the request - but when confronted with the rather contradicting example of the member i had talked with - the SP mentioned a circumstance which I knew was not true, and i quickly corrected it....the SP seemed genuinely surprised that he was "misinformed".

While I am enjoying the proverbial cigarette in the wake of my release, i am at odds with how to confront the Bishop about this emerging issue.
I have the impression that he must be confronted, but I am unsure of an appropriate strategy at the moment.

Thanks for the update.

A couple of questions on the seminary thing.
Is your daughter within the eligibility age for seminary? If yes, what's the big deal around doing it online rather than face to face?

In your position I'd be requesting a meeting with your Bishop with the SP present. I'd be speaking in fairly short sentences and demanding expedient and clear answers. But that's just me, and I'm obnoxious when rattled.

[_subgenius]

Thanks for the update.

A couple of questions on the seminary thing.
Is your daughter within the eligibility age for seminary? If yes, what's the big deal around doing it online rather than face to face?

yes, this is her second year attending. Not real sure, but his wife teaches seminary and my daughter is part of a group of girls that does not exactly agree with the blatant favoritism the bishop's wife shows to her own kids in seminary.
However, the online program is apparently just in consideration for remotely located students where the travel is burdensome...ours was an appeal to relieve her burdensome schedule which early morning seminary would be a logical pressure point...the cause stated was the travel distance burden was not met...yet when I noted that a few weeks ago no such measure was considered with my daughter's friend, the SP seemed genuinely surprised that this young lady did not, in fact, live in a "remote location".

In your position I'd be requesting a meeting with your Bishop with the SP present. I'd be speaking in fairly short sentences and demanding expedient and clear answers. But that's just me, and I'm obnoxious when rattled.

Currently I have considered just informing the Bishop of the inconsistencies and the obvious misleading statements he made to me personally (i.e. he initially stated that he was unaware of how the approval process worked...but he had just gone through it a few weeks prior). My short conclusion being to advise him to revisit D&C 121 : 41-46.
Then it would just be an effort of quiet, and righteous, subterfuge on my part...as for the SP, i would rather keep that bridge un-burnt for the time being.