Ward meeting presiding authority "line of succession"

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johnshaw
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Re: Ward meeting presiding authority "line of succession"

#11

Post by johnshaw »

I've been trying hard to write something I think is appropriate for the situation, but I can't even imagine a scenario where a priesthood leader would need to make a decision at a Young Women's camp, unless all the stake young women leaders were hit by lightning or somehow dead. In my mind this scenario envisions Women Leaders incapable of making a decision. A 'Senior' Bishop has NO Priesthood keys, nor delegated authority to 'Preside' and/or make a decision FOR THE CAMP.
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Re: Ward meeting presiding authority "line of succession"

#12

Post by russellhltn »

johnshaw wrote:I've been trying hard to write something I think is appropriate for the situation, but I can't even imagine a scenario where a priesthood leader would need to make a decision at a Young Women's camp, unless all the stake young women leaders were hit by lightning or somehow dead.
While I struggle at that as well, it could be the question is more doctrinal than organizational. That could affect if a particular activity is acceptable or not.
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rflamb
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Re: Ward meeting presiding authority "line of succession"

#13

Post by rflamb »

bccoop2 wrote:Related, but slightly different circumstances: Stake Girls Camp.

Who is the presiding authority when no member of the stake presidency is present? A Bishop? If so, which one? If no Bishop is present? High priest? if so, which one? If not high priest, an Elder? If so, which one?

We recently had this very circumstance, where we needed an authority to make a decision for the camp; there were no members of the stake presidency in attendance; we appealed to the longest serving bishop in the stake. Was this correct? and can you please point to instruction supporting this position?

Stake High Councilor over young women's would preside in the absence of a member of the stake presidency. Other than that the Stake should designate who presides before hand.
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aebrown
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Re: Ward meeting presiding authority "line of succession"

#14

Post by aebrown »

rflamb wrote:
bccoop2 wrote:Related, but slightly different circumstances: Stake Girls Camp.

Who is the presiding authority when no member of the stake presidency is present? A Bishop? If so, which one? If no Bishop is present? High priest? if so, which one? If not high priest, an Elder? If so, which one?

We recently had this very circumstance, where we needed an authority to make a decision for the camp; there were no members of the stake presidency in attendance; we appealed to the longest serving bishop in the stake. Was this correct? and can you please point to instruction supporting this position?
Stake High Councilor over young women's would preside in the absence of a member of the stake presidency. Other than that the Stake should designate who presides before hand.
I see no justification in any handbook for your declaration that the high councilor assigned to Young Women would preside. Handbook 2 is very careful to say that "The stake president assigns one of his counselors to oversee the stake Young Women organization" (HB 2, 10.10.1), but "The stake president assigns a member of the high council to work with the stake Young Women presidency" (HB 2, 10.10.2). Note that the high councilor is not overseeing, but rather working with the Young Women presidency. Section 15.3 ("Represent the Stake Presidency") is careful to maintain this same distinction.

The strongest statement I can find in this regard is in HB 2, Section 10.8.6, which says: "Camp leaders organize and conduct the camp program under the direction of the Young Women presidency." I don't see any reason for the assumption that some seem to be making that a man with no direct line of authority over the stake Young Women presidency (which describes any high councilor as well as any bishop) would have more authority than those specifically given authority to direct the camp: the stake Young Women presidency.
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Re: Ward meeting presiding authority "line of succession"

#15

Post by GutierrezLA »

lajackson wrote:
bccoop2 wrote:we appealed to the longest serving bishop in the stake. Was this correct? and can you please point to instruction supporting this position?
I am not aware that there is any official instruction for this situation, but under the circumstances I think you were okay, although I would have discussed it with all of the bishops present. A high councilor never presides, but it was a stake activity, and if a high councilor was present, I would have included him in the discussion. And, of course, the stake Young Women presidency.

Nowadays, you might also have been able to call a member of the stake presidency for assistance.

Hi!

Just to clarify:
even when it is not that common, High councilors can preside, for example in handbook 2 20.3.4: "Services That Involve More Than One Ward. For Eight-Year-Old Children of Record. A member of the stake presidency usually presides over baptismal services for 8-year-old children of record when the services involve more than one ward. However, the stake presidency may authorize a high councilor to preside. A member of the bishopric from each of the wards involved should attend."
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Re: Ward meeting presiding authority "line of succession"

#16

Post by cchang »

bccoop2 wrote:Related, but slightly different circumstances: Stake Girls Camp.

Who is the presiding authority when no member of the stake presidency is present? A Bishop? If so, which one? If no Bishop is present? High priest? if so, which one? If not high priest, an Elder? If so, which one?

We recently had this very circumstance, where we needed an authority to make a decision for the camp; there were no members of the stake presidency in attendance; we appealed to the longest serving bishop in the stake. Was this correct? and can you please point to instruction supporting this position?
I have a similar question along with this for Ward activities and when it is and is not required for someone on the presiding Bishopric presidency to preside over the activity? For example, does the Bishop or one of his counselors need to preside over a Youth Picnic activity at the park, Primary Easter egg hunt, etc.
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johnshaw
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Re: Ward meeting presiding authority "line of succession"

#17

Post by johnshaw »

The auxiliary head has all the delegated priesthood authority required to 'preside' in their auxiliary meetings/activities, etc...

Handbook 13.4 under activities has this interesting tid-bid that is the only reference that might in a round-about way, indicate the importance of a 'presiding authority' at planned activities.

"Members of the bishopric or stake presidency are invited to attend as much of the conference as possible. Young Men and Young Women presidencies are encouraged to attend the entire conference."

If the Bishopric/Stake Presidency is differentiated in a way that the handbook indicates from the Young Men and Young Women presidencies it indicates, to me, there isn't a need for a 'presiding authority' at an activity outside the leader of the org that is running the activity.
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Re: Ward meeting presiding authority "line of succession"

#18

Post by Jessiepooh »

Not sure how much help this will be, but something interesting did happen this week in sacrament meeting. I am part of a very small branch that has, I believe, 29 active members if you dont count the children that are too young to be baptized, and this past week, for various reasons the branch president, and both of his counselors were not present. This was not anticipated, because one of the two counselors was expected to be there, bit was called in to work early that morning, too late for any adjustments or planning. The result was the very nervous elder's quorum president doing a wonderful job studdering his way through presiding and conducting the meeting of 14 members on his own. I felt kind of bad for him because he was clearly unprepared, I think he was made aware of the situation when he woke up just a couple hours before the meeting began, but it was still a wonderful meeting.
EthanBratt
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Re: Ward meeting presiding authority "line of succession"

#19

Post by EthanBratt »

I realize this is almost two years old but I figured I would chime in. I presided as and EQP over a sacrament meeting because the bishop and both counselors were out of town. I was told that this was because I held keys and the HPGL did not. I was also told that if I had been absent, it actually would have been the teacher's quorum president that would have presided. This came from the bishop at the time.
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Re: Ward meeting presiding authority "line of succession"

#20

Post by eblood66 »

EthanBratt wrote:I presided as and EQP over a sacrament meeting because the bishop and both counselors were out of town. I was told that this was because I held keys and the HPGL did not. I was also told that if I had been absent, it actually would have been the teacher's quorum president that would have presided. This came from the bishop at the time.
The presiding authority for a sacrament meeting is specified in Handbook 2 Section 18.2 in the first two paragraphs. When the entire bishopric is absent and there is no higher authority it's up the to stake president. There is no restriction other than it must be a priesthood holder although it does indicate it is usually the Elder's Quorum President. But if the elder's quorum president isn't available I expect another Melchizedek priesthood holder would be chosen.
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