[Teachldsseminary] OT: Callings Letter Date

BRIAN LILLIE bwlillie at shaw.ca
Wed Jul 2 20:24:18 MDT 2008


This talk by President Packer is one of my "all time favorites".   Our Stake Presidency referred to it alot when I served on our Stake High Council.

----- Original Message -----
From: Teresa Sanofsky <tsanofsky at gmail.com>
Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 6:58 pm
Subject: Re: [Teachldsseminary] OT: Callings Letter Date
To: Free Email list for LDS Seminary Teachers <teachldsseminary at latter-dayvillage.com>

> 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 
> administerin 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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