[Teachldsseminary] OT: Callings Letter Date

Teresa Sanofsky tsanofsky at gmail.com
Wed Jul 2 18:57:53 MDT 2008 

As a stake supervisor I've participated in many discussions where the
opportunity to accept an appointment was extended with blessing of the stake
president.  It was always made clear that this was different from a call and
did not carry the same obligation of acceptance.  The same was true each
spring when the teachers were asked their preferences about continuing the
following year or not.

While a local leader has the right of stewardship for his congregation, his
or her stewardship does not extend beyond that.  On the other hand, we know
that the General Authorities are just that - authorities for all of us. This
is from President Packer, given at BYU October 15, 1996:

The Unwritten Order of Things

We do not aspire to calls in the Church, nor do we ask to be released. We
are called to positions in the Church by inspiration. Even if the call is
presented in a clumsy way, it is not wise for us to refuse the call. We must
presuppose that the call comes from the Lord. The fifth article of faith
tells us that we "must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on
of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer
in the ordinances thereof."

If some circumstance makes it difficult for you to continue to serve, you
are free to consult with the leader who called you.  We do not call
ourselves and we do not release ourselves. Sometimes a leader or a teacher
enjoys the prominence of a presiding position so much that, even after
serving for a long time, they do not want to be released. That is a sign
that a  release is timely.  We should do as we are called. We should accept
the calls and accept a release by the same authority.


Teresa in CA


On Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 4:54 PM, BRIAN LILLIE <bwlillie at shaw.ca> wrote:

> Thanks Terry,
>
> Your comments are very much appreciated.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: TERRY L HAYNIE <dnas1 at msn.com>
> Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 5:42 pm
> Subject: Re: [Teachldsseminary] OT: Callings Letter Date
> To: terisab56 at yahoo.com, Free Email list for LDS Seminary Teachers <
> teachldsseminary at latter-dayvillage.com>
>
> > Personally, I have always felt that this is a calling, but in my
> > stake we have had to fill out an appointment or application,
> > usually for 1 year at a time. I have rarely used the mileage re-
> > imbursement and in the 11 years I have taught, have only used
> > the supply budget twice. Maybe now some of the teachers in my
> > stake will take this calling a little more seriously. I've
> > gotten the feeling that in some instances teaching Seminary is
> > on par with Nursery Leader and Scoutmaster, both of which are
> > great positions in the church. This calling has probably been
> > the most satisfying and the hardest I've ever been called to,
> > appointed to, contracted for, or whatever you want to call it.
> > BTW-will this be a Stake calling or a Ward/Branch calling?
> >
> > Sharon Haynie
> > Del Norte CO
> >   ----- Original Message -----
> >   From: terisa<mailto:terisab56 at yahoo.com>
> >   To: Free Email list for LDS Seminary
> > Teachers<mailto:teachldsseminary at latter-dayvillage.com>
> >   Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 4:52 PM
> >   Subject: Re: [Teachldsseminary] OT: Callings Letter Date
> >
> >
> >         As usual, I probably
> > said it wrong. I should have learned by now not to comment.
> > Forgive me. ~Terisa
> >
> >         --- On Wed, 7/2/08,
> > E. Keith (JB) Howick, Jr.
> > <howick at windriverpublishing.com<mailto:howick at windriverpublishing.com>>
> wrote:
> >
> >           From: E.
> > Keith (JB) Howick, Jr.
> > <howick at windriverpublishing.com<mailto:howick at windriverpublishing.com>>
> Subject: Re: [Teachldsseminary] OT: Callings Letter Date
>
> >           To: "Free
> > Email list for LDS Seminary Teachers"
> > <teachldsseminary at latter-dayvillage.com>
> >           Date:
> > Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 4:26 PM
> >
> >
> >           Terisa's
> > remark was interesting.  Do many people think this
> > way?  It's true that when a release is extended from
> > leadership it generally happens during an interview, but
> > Terisa's comment seems to imply that the called can't choose to
> > terminate the calling.  This isn't true.
> >
> >           If anyone
> > out there believes they can only be released from their calling
> > by the grace of their church leaders, please, be at ease.
> > The Gospel's fundamental premise is freedom of choice.
> > While formalities dictate the procedure church leaders use to
> > follow-up on and announce a release, the moment you contact a
> > church leader and tell them that the calling is terminated, it
> > is.  The church has no authority to force anyone to do
> > anything --- least of all to force them to keep a calling until
> > someone else decides a release is warranted.  Releases have
> > always been at the discretion of *both* church leaders and those
> > who are called.
> >
> >           JB Howick
> >           President
> >           Wallace Branch
> >
> >
> >           terisa
> > wrote:
> >                   Releases will be made according to those interviews,
> and not at the teacher's discretion anymore.
> >
> >
> >
> >
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