These newsletter messages are more of a community experience rather than a personal experience for me.
As I share perspectives and get incredible replies from many of you, I learn more and gain a deeper understanding of the leadership concepts I discuss here.
As we have focused on the bishopric’s responsibilities and roles, there are some new traditions and misconceptions we need to squash before they sink deep roots in our tradition.
What I am referring to is how we frame the bishopric’s—or more specifically the bishop’s—role outside the General Handbook text.
Often, with the attempt to simplify the bishop’s role, we use phrases or titles like…
“The bishopric is the new Young Men presidency.”
Or…
“The main focus of the bishop is the youth.”
A close reading of chapter 7 in the General Handbook (Titled: The Bishopric) never frames it that way.
The bishop does not have a “main focus on the youth;” but rather, has a “foremost responsibility… to the rising generation in the ward (the children, youth, and young single adults).” (7.1)
So, one could simplify it by saying,
The bishop has a main focus of everyone not married from 1.5 years old to 31 years old.
Wow, that has a much different feel to it, doesn’t it?
Of course, there are certain responsibilities like “priest quorum president” and “regular youth interviews” that tend to cause the bishopric to gravitate towards the youth.
However, it appears similar formalized efforts need to be put in place for the bishopric’s influence to reach those sweet Primary children and those valiant young single adults.
With all that said, join with me now as we come together as a religious community and put the following concepts on the altar…
“The bishopric is the new Young Men presidency.”
“The bishopric’s main focus is the youth.”
Nope.
They are dead.
Let’s all move on and frame the bishopric in the appropriate way.
Sincerely,
Kurt Francom
Executive Director
Leading Saints
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