#LDS BISHOPRIC MEETING AGENDA TEMPLATE FULL#

It was the summer of 2011, the Great Recession had clobbered my business, as it had much of the rest of the US and I’m sure the world. I’d been serving as a Bishop for about two years. I believe there are things we hold in common though, and I hope to cover a number of them here. Combine all of the above and your experience will be different than mine. No two membership demographics, areas where served or stake leadership directives are the same. I’d been raised in the church, gone on a mission, served as an Elders Quorum President, served as a Young Men’s President, served as a councilor in the Bishopric for five years immediately prior to being called as Bishop.įor the most part, my time served was very similar to other Bishops. But we were probably average for attendance, level of service, and level of engagement for the wards in the state of California. We were smaller than the other ward that met in our building. I had a fully staffed Ward Council the entire time I served. I had a fully staffed Bishopric, Relief Society Presidency, Elders Quorum Presidency, High Priest Group Leadership, etc. Approximately 140 members attended Sacrament meeting every Sunday. Because of this we had an average size ward, approximately 400 members the entire time I served. Outside of Utah, California has more members than any other state, by almost double – LINK. The church is incredibly strong in California. It brought me and my congregation to our knees in more ways than one. As a business owner, I personally felt its effects.

#LDS BISHOPRIC MEETING AGENDA TEMPLATE FULL#

Our congregation felt the full ramifications of the Great Recession. I served as a Bishop for just over five years in Northern California, March 2009 – May 2014. You’ve got to find your own way – this tells you a little of the path I followed. If others, outside the US, can gain something from my words, great! Please don’t be frustrated if my opinions, strategies, thoughts and ideas simply don’t work in your neck of the woods. That group will find my insights most fitting. Please know that I’m speaking to other Bishop’s in North America.

I’m sure my experience was very different than that of a Bishop in New Zealand. I ran the ship as I felt I was inspired to – in Northern California. So, take what I say with a grain of salt. This isn’t approved by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. If anything, this has been a great exercise for me to put all these thoughts in one place – so I can easily find and share them. I can’t get the thought out of my head that I may end up sitting in that chair again. I hope you’ll find some practical tips you can use today.Īs I compile these thoughts, I keep thinking about my friends that have served as Bishop more than once. Just a little help though, up front, would have made me more effective and helped me be a better minister early in my service. I get it, you need to experience many things yourself. A little help would have gone a long way. I believe I could have been much more effective if I didn’t have to walk the ‘school of hard knocks’ that first year. I was looking for more down to earth, rubber meets the road guidance. Designed to help a Bishop in Cape Town, South Africa as well as one in Anchorage, Alaska. However, this is designed for a broad worldwide church. Yes, the church has handbooks, and Handbook 1 is for Stake Presidents and Bishop’s. Early in my calling I found myself wishing the church had a handbook, or guide, just for Bishop’s. While in the thick of things as a Bishop, I wrote this blog post ( READ THIS FIRST). I was 38 years old when I was called as a Bishop. I’m a husband, father, brother, business owner, runner, loud music listener, mountain bike rider, and wake surfer. Ward Council Agenda – Here’s what we used for PEC / Ward Council meetings.Bishopric Agenda – Here’s what we used for Bishopric.Candy Treasure Chest – Get to know your Primary children.Callings Sheet – One document to rule every calling / release.On correcting Priesthood brethren acting as voice.

Priesthood Ordinances / A Priesthood circle.Help for those who have morality issues:.The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood.You don’t have to be the only one receiving revelation for the ward.My Executive Secretary conducted Bishopric and Ward Council.Executive Secretary – How this man can keep you sane.Helping those struggling with pornography.Let me explain how I handled welfare in my ward.Office Hours – Like a professor at a university.First Order of Business – Who’s Responsible for What?.In the Beginning: What to do when you’re first called. Sorry, I’m not a web developer : )Ĭlick the links below to jump to specific sections in the post. *If any of the links in the table of contents don’t work, you’ll need to scroll down. One man’s attempt to help those who lead.

Lds bishopric meeting agenda template