Saturday, June 28, 2008 we were privileged to attend the meeting with President Johnson, the area president, the district council, the mission presidency and the couples in Trinidad. We were seated in the living room at the mission home, with the district council members sitting in chairs in the middle of the room and the couples on the couches along the sides of the room. President Johnson started the meeting by asking the district council why they wanted to be a stake. He drew out the reasons and benefits of having a stake in Trinidad. The council members articulated the blessing of having a stake. We were impressed with the quality of the answers and the depth of understanding of the commitment that it is going to require of them. He challenged them to start acting like wards and like a stake. The most impressive comment made was that when you are a district, you draw on the church resources, but when you become a stake you contribute to the church for the benefit of others and you are self sufficient.
Once Trinidad becomes a stake, the couples will no longer assist in the wards, only the branches. The same will be true of the missionaries, they will teach and baptize and confirm, then the ward takes over with the fellowshipping, ordinations, etc. He asked them if they were ready to take on the extra work and responsibility that becoming a stake will require and they seemed very excited to do it.
Currently, there is one high priest on the island who is a native. Actually he was ordained a high priest in Nova Scotia where he has lived for several years. All of the rest of the leaders are elders. A couple of the branch presidents are return missionaries from their community and add a lot of depth and they are good examples to the older members. A stake will create a need for 6 bishops and 12 counselors plus all of the stake positions, the presidency, patriarch, and the high council members, all of whom will need to be high priests.
President Johnson created a diagram of the organization of a stake and asked each member of the district presidency and the council members, “who are your sheep”? We all learned a great deal. No one has more than 12 sheep for whom they are directly responsible. It made so much sense how each was to function and train and support.
He ended the meeting by saying that we were ready to become a stake and he would recommend it to Salt Lake. Two members of the seventy will come sometime between September and November and organize the stake. President Robison had been hoping for Aug 24th as the date for it to happen. Evidently it won’t be that soon.
3 comments:
It is interesting to consider all of the logistic challenges the members will face as they move towards becoming a stake. There are probably so many things that we don't even think about as members here in the states as a challenge. I would imagine that in a third world place such as Trinidad there is so much to learn not only about the gospel, but about the culture of the church as well. So many members have only been in the church a short time. I suppose it will be a real testimony builder to watch the Lord as he shapes and molds his people there. Keep us posted on the growing pains and triumphs I am sure are to come.
It is an exciting time in your area. The culture of Mormonism is a real thing and I imagine there is a learning curve there. How is your retention rate? We got a postcard from you. What time of year do the turtles nest? Maybe I will come then... :) How are you coming on baby steps? Have you GQ'ed the UPS guy yet? I hope you are enjoying serving in the office, even if you do have to wear sweaters. :)
Sounds like things are moving along nicely. I love getting the monthly news letters. They are so inspirational.
Post a Comment