Can someone tell me where in the new Church Handbook is talks about T&FHL? I was hoping for more gu
Risposte
-
@pstephenson1 pstephenson1 See section 25.4.1 Elders Quorum Presidency and Ward Temple and Family History Leader. Which also links you to 8.3.2.2
A great place to get more detailed instruction/inspiration/ideas is the section for T&FH Leaders in Helper Resources on FamilySearch.org: https://www.familysearch.org/calling/?page=6
0 -
Section 25, subsections 1-7, replace the old Section 5.4.x sections. On the surface, they appear to be little changed, but a careful reading will reveal some really nice but subtle changes, along with some significant differences. For example, there is no entry at all about family history classes anymore. And the wording about organization of indexing is quite different (I'm hoping to see some clarification with more details about that).
One area I'm really wondering about, and really hope it will be made clear next week in the broadcast, is the seeming discrepancy (which I don't view it that way - I just don't understand the differences) between what Elder Renlund so clearly laid out last year, vs. what the Handbooks (both old and new) say about the position of the ward temple and family history leader. In the handbook, it appears to give bishops significant - almost take-it-or-leave-it - leeway in whether to call a ward T&FH leader. Yet the video as well as the printed version of Elder Renlund's talk has remained up for the entire year, which had the 4-slide presentation of the four leadership patterns, and his injunction that to deviate (his word) from pattern number 1 (the "Preferred" pattern, as shown on the slide) "requires" three things: a good reason, permission of the stake president, and confirmation by the Holy Ghost. That seemed very specific, as opposed to the wording in both Handbooks. Unfortunately, I'm aware of some wards where they've focused on the "may" wording in the Handbook, despite stake president direction, and resisted calling a ward T&FH leader. Hopefully we'll get some specific direction next Thursday evening. Personally, I can't imagine an Apostle independently preparing a slide presentation of the four leadership patterns for presentation at a major instruction broadcast, without the knowledge of at least the remainder of the Twelve, if not the First Presidency. And if that was in error, I would expect they would have taken down (or edited) the video, and edited the written transcript. So I'm comfortable with the more directive statements by Elder Renlund, but hope the Handbook wording is clarified for the majority of larger units in the Church.
A friend just sent me a quote from Elder Neal A. Maxwell that I think applies to the Handbook changes (and many more things in general). "As the Lord communicates with the meek and submissive, fewer decibels are required and more nuances are received." - Neal A. Maxwell, “Willing to Submit”, 71. I did my best yesterday as I prayerfully went through the two Handbooks, side by side, line by line (even word by word) to compare and contrast the old and the new. There are many very interesting, and special things that emerged with "simple" wording changes, or even just the order of one sentence being swapped and turned into two sentences. The Brethren don't spend 3+ years working on a new Handbook and just change words because somebody likes a new way of saying it better.... 😊
-- Chris
0 -
thank you!
0 -
Thanks -- I stopped reading at section 24! Clearly I needed to just keep going!
The other link https://www.familysearch.org/calling/?page=6 looks like the same information that was there before. Is that new information or the same old information?
0 -
Chris,
Thank you for your thoughtful insights!
0 -
I think the word "may" is there because we are a worldwide church and some small congregations don't have enough people to fulfill callings. May gives them the option just like truly Large wards have the option to call or not call a leader. It is an outline not a strict guideline which is truly best. Wards should focus where they need to.
0 -
Chapter 25, 27 & 28
0 -
I understand T&FHL refers to the Ward Temple & Family History Leader. The calling can be taken by a specially called Melchizedek Priesthood holder, or be by a member of the Elders Quorum Presidency or by a member of the Bishopric.
0 -
here you go. I am posting this on our naswfamilyhistory.blogspot.com as well. Good info for our Stake Presidencies to have a link online.
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/new-general-handbook
Ted and Karen Meyer, Area Temple And Family History Consultants, Arizona Scottsdale Coordinating Council
0 -
@DavidBeck1 DavidBeck1 - Yes, that's true, but the details were spelled out much more clearly than the general overall instruction in the Handbook (both the brand new one in Section 25, and the now obsolete Handbook 2 (in which it was found in Section 5.4). The Handbook is designed to be used not only be large, organized wards in such places as the United States where the Church has long been firmly established, but also in other areas where there are very, very small branches with few members, and long distances to cover just to even get to Church on Sundays. It was for that reason that the detailed specifics were given one year ago this week in the Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/family-history/for-leaders?lang=eng
The specific discussion about the various patterns of leadership in T&FH work begin to be tightly focused starting at the 10:15 point in the broadcast (Elder Renlund's excellent presentation with the four leadership patterns displayed in four different colored blocks). The ward temple and family history leader is discussed in some detail there.
0 -
Thanks @Kdaymayday Kdaymayday. I spent several hours the other morning, into the afternoon, when that first was released, and compared line by line (even word by word) the old Section 5.4 and the new Section 27. VERY interesting, but sometimes subtle changes. I'm looking forward to Thursday night's Leadership Training broadcast, where I suspect we'll get some real gems.
0 -
Sections 25 thru 28
0 -
In practical usage, the ward T&FH leader can be very useful and effective. The calling frees the ward T&FH consultants to focus on their main objective, to provide one-on-one experiences for ward members in their homes.
We report to our leader in emails and he sends it out to the other consultants, so everyone can see who is working in what way with whom. He maintains spread sheets showing all ward members' progress and the consultants' work loads. He sends us the monthly report and reminds us of upcoming training and learning opportunities. He recommends people for the consultant calling, reports to the elders quorum, correlates with the youth consultants and the youth organizations and keeps tabs on the training status of the consultants. He represents T&FH in ward council when needed, holds regular meetings with the ward T&FH consultants and promotes the ward goals.
I suppose the counselor in the elders quorum could do all that, but that position also has other meetings and responsibilities, making it a very heavy load.
0 -
@Carole McIntyre Bravo to your ward's leadership organization! Imagine if every ward functioned like that - just what we were taught last February in the demonstration meeting hosted by Elder Bednar, with some local enhancements in how to actually accomplish all that in an effective and efficient way. Thanks for the "model."
-- Chris
0 -
When the new handbook 2 came out we went thry it carefully and made this for the TFHLeaders. Reviewing the new version this is still viable and helpful. https://youtu.be/MoBkZA1nmB8
0 -
for a start talk to your assigned leaders in your ward or stake, they are the ones who will guide you plus there's a devotional on the 29th by Elder Stevenson. I hope this will help...
0 -
Thank you for your last paragraph about the quote by Neal A. Maxwell, relating it to the subtle changes in the Handbook. That touched me, and opened my eyes to a different message about the changes to the handbook.
0 -
@Cindy Hecker - I basically agree with your response. I just hope the message from Elder Renlund last Thursday (27 Feb 2020) isn't lost, where he referenced what was said one year ago, and then he went on to immediately re-state that the "preferred" leadership pattern is to be used except in smaller wards and branches. He made that exceptionally clear last year, so the message is really a combination of the fact that the Handbook (whether the now "Obsolete" Handbook 2 or the brand new General Handbook) necessarily has to be constructed to apply to a worldwide Church with highly variable local circumstances. At the same time, it cannot and should not be relied on solely for local policy decisions, as Elder Renlund also stated last year with this "three things" criteria for deviating from the "standard pattern": (1) a good reason, (2) approval of the stake president, and (3) confirmation by the Holy Ghost. And with him immediately going to a discussion of the central role of the ward temple and family history leader in this almost all-encompassing process, it's now clear that when the Brethren speak (meaning particularly the Twelve and the First Presidency, especially when one of the Twelve is backed up by other members of the same body, and they each acknowledge that they're speaking with one voice), we risk not having our work blessed if we don't follow. And then the Handbook and what the Brethren are saying aren't conflicting or incompatible with each other.
Sadly, I've seen the Handbook wording used as the sole justification for setting up local programs contrary to what was provided last year with the three criteria for deviation from the "standard pattern." And note that my statement referenced the "seeming discrepancy," meaning I wasn't at all sure it really was a discrepancy - it just needed clarification that I hoped for last Thursday. And that clarification was very clearly provided by Elder Renlund. 😊
-- Chris
0 -
This is true. In our Area meeting we were told that indeed, because we are a worldwide church, and have areas as small as A handful of members, the Bishop needs to be the Temple and Family History Leader. We took apart the handbook to show the leader exactly what his calling consists of. I I’ll try to find Brent’s or Lance’s exact response and could send it to you if you would like to send us your email us at naswfamilyhistory@gmail.com.
0 -
Handbook #2 5.4 describes the calling and responsibilities.
0 -
It would probably be best to use the new General Handbook just published last week. While at first glance there don't seem to be any significant changes, in fact there are some very important things to be gained by using the new General Handbook (Section 25). I did a line-by-line (even word-by-word) comparison the very day the new General Handbook was published last week, between it and the now officially "Obsolete" Handbook 2 Section 5.4, and was amazed at what I found. Sometimes it was "just" very subtle changes of word order, or the wording itself that initially would seem to mean exactly the same thing as the old Handbook. Prayerful consideration of each version, side by side, is very instructive (particularly for leaders I think).
-- Chris
0 -
May we send you something that may be of interest for your calling?
0 -
Chris we sharpened up and shortened that presentation to cover just retention of converts and what Elder Bednar asked us to focus on—getting new members to the Temple within 60 days With their own names. Let me know if you would like a copy
Karen Meyer
0 -
@Kdaymayday Kdaymayday Who was that directed to?
-- Chris
0 -
-
I'd love to see it, and will likely pass it along to my HC. Thanks. I presume you'll just use my email address as you did with the previous one. I appreciate it very much.
-- Chris
0 -
certainly! PamStephenson01@aol.com
0 -
Hi Karen,
Would you also send me your shortened presentation that you referenced above in your message to Chris? kristenmurphy06@gmail.com. I am very interested in seeing it! Thanks for sharing!
0 -
I love this Carole! In years past we were missing the feedback or reporting back to the TFHL. It’s also crucial when training a consultant without traditional curriculum and materials to study, to have leader who demonstrates, observes and corrects gently. We’ve noticed that helping them learn the one on one method seemed to increase their self esteem.
0
