Extending Callings & Releases by Randy F. Rubio

PROPERLY EXTENDING CALLINGS & RELEASES Many callings are extended informally. Members are sometimes not properly oriented with what’s expected of them. Usually, this results to non-performance of duty and leads to a frustrating relationship between you and the member. By extending callings properly and after the manner prescribed in the handbook, you can prevent misunderstanding. When releases are not also properly handled, they can cause ill feelings sometimes leading one into inactivity. As a church leader, you can and should do more than just inform somebody he is called or released. We should use these opportunities to teach, inspire, build faith, and strengthen each other. It’s also a very good time to introduce the gospel culture. You must have already sought the Spirit and have counseled with others to determine whom to call. You may have also conducted a preliminary interview with the member to ascertain if one’s interests, work and personal circumstances are favorable in extending the proposed calling. In certain cases you need to obtain approvals as outlined in the “Chart of Calls” while at the same time you keep the matter strictly confidential. You have already received authorization and you are now ready to proceed.

1. Open the interview with a prayer. “Sis. Morales, thank you for accepting my invitation to talk to you. Before we begin, can we have an opening prayer? Would you please offer the prayer for us?” It really doesn’t matter who says the prayer but I suggest that you ask the interviewee to say the opening prayer. In that way, you can be the voice later expressing your love and concern for the interviewee in the closing prayer.

2. Determine willingness to serve and member’s worthiness. If you have not had the chance to conduct a preliminary interview to determine member’s willingness to serve as well as his or her personal circumstances, this is the time to do it. “I am looking at some opportunities where you might be able to serve in the ward, would you please tell me what are your personal interests and hobbies? What about your time availability? What is your school or job schedule like?” These questions will help you determine if the intended calling is appropriate. This is more ideally done prior to this interview so that when you have the approval all you need to do is extend the call. After you have received the information you need, you may proceed to the next phase.

Extending Callings & Releases

“I would like to ask some questions to determine if you are prepared to receive a calling?” During the phase of determining one’s worthiness, it is well to remember that your questions have to be specific. For example if you simply ask, “Are you worthy in every way to receive a calling?” is not effective. Instead you must ask worthiness questions specifically. Here as some examples. “Bro. Allapitan, do you obey the word of wisdom?” Or “Do you drink coffee, tea, or alcoholic beverages? Do you abstain from smoking and illegal drugs?” Some members especially young people do not always understand what the commandments are so you use this as a teaching opportunity. “Bro. Yap, are you morally clean?” Or “Do you read pornographic material? Do you have sexual relations outside of your marriage?” After asking the general question, it is also helpful to ask the more specific question. Extending callings is part of ministering and perfecting the saints.

3. Extend the call. “I am so proud of you for keeping yourself true and faithful to the covenants you have made at baptism. It looks like you are prepared in every way to receive this call. As your bishop, I am pleased to extend the call to you to be our Ward Young Women president. Are you willing to accept this call?” Give the interviewee time to reflect about the calling and express personal feelings. If the interviewee accepts the call then it’s time to invite the member’s family.

4. Invite the spouse, parent, brother or sister. “I have conferred with your husband on the possibility of extending you a call. Let me now invite him to join us.” Call on the spouse, parent, brother or sister of the interviewee. “Well Bro. Jun, we have just called your wife Mila as our Ward Young Women president. How do you feel about her new calling?” “Bro. & Sis. Villaluz, we have extended to your son Joseph the call to become our Deacon’s quorum president. How do you feel about his new calling?” This is such a wonderful time to draw support from the member’s family. By inviting them briefly during the interview, you also give them the opportunity to experience the spirit of the call. Please don’t skip this process. After they have expressed their feelings or concerns and having resolved them, it’s now time to excuse the family and proceed to the next step. “I would now like to excuse you so that Joseph and I can discuss the details of his new calling. Thank you very much for coming to my office.”

5. Explain the purpose, importance, and responsibilities. If possible, use the handbook to ensure that you are saying the right things. The handbook specifies all the duties and responsibilities of each calling. “Let’s now discuss more details of your calling. As the president of the Primary in the ward, you are to minister to the children by loving, serving, and teaching them the gospel. You also help each child prepare for baptism.” Copyright © 2005 Randy F. Rubio All rights reserved “Being Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”

Extending Callings & Releases

“As ward mission leader one of your most important responsibilities is to prepare and conduct a memorable baptismal service. This is important because one’s baptism is a special moment in one’s life.” “Being Laurel class president you are expected to become a good example to other Laurels. You will be expected to lead with kindness to other class members and compassion towards less-active young women.”

6. Inform the member to whom he or she is directly accountable for. “As the bishop, you are accountable to me your stake president. I would like to conduct monthly stewardship interviews with you. During these interviews I would appreciate if I receive your monthly home teaching report as well as the progress on the families you have focused for reactivation.” “Bro. del Rosario my first counselor in the bishopric is the person assigned to oversee Sunday School. You will be directly accountable to him. You should meet with him regularly to report progress and discuss you concerns with our Sunday School program.”

7. Specify the required meetings, handbooks, manuals and other supplies. “As the elders quorum president you are to attend our weekly priesthood executive meeting every Thursday 7:00 p.m. at the chapel. You will also need to meet with your own presidency weekly to discuss all matters pertaining to quorum work. You will also be expected to attend all stake leadership and general priesthood meetings. Here’s the Melchizedek Priesthood handbook. Kindly read the entire section by Sunday next week.” “The Ward Activities committee meets once a month on the 3rd Saturday at 5:00 p.m. As the chairman, you will conduct these meetings. Here’s the manual for the Activities Committee. I will also ask the custodian to endorse to you all the sports equipment in the ward. You will sign a list of all these equipment and we will account them with you when you are released.” This is your best chance to inform the interviewee the calling’s duties and responsibilities, to specify all the meetings he has to attend and obtain his commitment, clarify expectations, and establish the parameters of the leader-member relationship.

8. Introduce the GOSPEL CULTURE. This is also an excellent opportunity to teach the gospel culture. By doing so, you both have a clear understanding of what’s expected of each other. You will also likely prevent performance deficiencies. As the leader, you also renew your personal commitment to perform within the gospel culture. “I have a list of our most common cultural traits that interfere with the work of the Lord. Let’s go over them and see how we can commit ourselves to adapting the gospel culture so that we can effectively perform our callings. We also have within our culture and the gospel the solutions to these common problems.” The common practice of arriving 30 minutes to 1 hour late to our meetings or appointments. (Filipino time) “Can you and I commit to being in our meetings on time – the Lord’s time? I promise to be here at least five minutes before our meeting starts.”

Extending Callings & Releases

Making a promise to someone without a real intention of keeping it in order not to offend another. (Walang isang salita) “How about making a promise that we don’t intend to keep? Can we make a promise to keep our promises?” ☺ “If I asked you to submit the latest weekly financial report, I would appreciate your promise to give it to me but more so that you keep your promise? I also promise to keep my own promises.” “If what I require is not realistic, it’s also okay with me if you say no and you can give me a more reasonable promise that you can keep. Remember it’s alright to say no if it’s the truth.” Resorting to all kinds of excuses when unable to keep a promise or commitment. (Palusot) “If we are unable to do something, we admit it, sincerely apologize and repent.” One of our biggest handicaps as leaders is our reluctance to provide our members with constructive feedback. We want to remain polite because we consider it rude to tell another about what he or she can improve on. We can minimize, if not, totally eliminate this handicap if during this interview we ask for permission to give feedback when appropriate. Easily taking offense when being corrected. (Balat sibuyas) “As your priesthood leader it is my job to teach you. Think of me like a coach. As a coach I will point out your strengths first and also areas where you need to improve. We will do it in private and I will be considerate with your feelings. How do you feel about receiving constructive feedback from me?” “Now that I have your permission to give you feedback, you can also tell me what you think needs to improve with me or some aspect in our callings. I will welcome it also. Now that we are both committed to give each other feedback, let’s also commit not take offense or intentionally give offense in doing so. Do we have an agreement?” (Refer to the Gospel Culture article for the entire list and of course, add your own or discuss only what’s appropriate)

9. Teach about covenants and its promised blessings. Sell the benefits of the call. “Let us now talk about covenants. A covenant is a promise you make to the Lord. In return, the Lord promises to bless you when you fulfill your part of the promise. As you magnify your calling and keep God’s commandments, you will be blessed with good health. You will receive greater understanding of the gospel. You will learn how to lead and motivate people, a skill which shall make you more valuable as an employee. You will…..” “By accepting the call to be the Ward Mission Leader, you promise to attend weekly PEC every Thursday at 7:00 p.m., attend stake leadership meeting every second Tuesday of the month at the stake center also at 7:00 p.m., conduct baptismal services, teach the Gospel Essentials class in Sunday school every Sunday, ten hours of missionary work every week, fill-up convert baptism checklist for every new convert, etc. Do you wish to commit yourself to these promises? During our stewardship interviews we will review this covenant you have made to the Lord through me today. Let me also say that the Lord has promised blessings for you when you magnify your calling.” Keep all the commandments and covenants by which ye are bound; and I will cause the heavens to shake for your good, and Satan shall tremble and Zion shall rejoice upon the hills and flourish; [D&C 35:24] Copyright © 2005 Randy F. Rubio All rights reserved “Being Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”

Extending Callings & Releases

10. Identify special concerns and invite the member to ask questions about the calling. It is rare to find a person in church who is already familiar with the duties and responsibilities of their callings. It is helpful to you to always assume that one wants to do a good job but don’t always know how. In this way you will be more attentive to the training needs of members. It’s now time to ask the interviewee for specific concerns from what you have discussed so far and outline the training process. “Bishop, I don’t know how to conduct Mutual Night activities and my counselors are also new like me.” “Okay, I will make myself available to show you how to conduct Mutual Night activities. I will also find out from the stake president if he can arrange for the stake young men and young women presidencies to come and train you. You will meet with my first counselor to discuss matters pertaining to the Young Men program monthly including your regular stewardship interview. Please determine with Bro. Rodriguez the day and time for this monthly meeting. Do you still have other concerns?” “President, I am not sure that I will be able to come and see you personally every 2nd Tuesday of month for the home teaching reports and interview. My job requires me to travel to our branch office in Cebu on that day also.” “Well, in that case Bishop, let’s schedule you on a different day. How about meeting with me on the third Sunday in the stake center at 5:00 p.m. Will that be better for you?”

11. Review for understanding, summarize agreements, bear testimony and close with a prayer. To close the interview, you need to first review that all of the important points you have discussed have been understood clearly – “This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to extend to you a new calling. I know the Lord has given inspiration to give this call to you. Shall we briefly summarize what we have discussed so far? So what is the purpose of the call? What responsibilities are required of you? What meetings are you supposed to attend? ” Listen to the responses of the interviewee and determine if s/he has understood you correctly. Clarify when you think that understanding with some of your discussion points have not been clear. Then summarize agreements – “So we have agreed that you will come every Sunday at 8:00 a.m. just before Sacrament meeting starts to supervise the preparation of the sacrament by the Aaronic Priesthood. You will also teach the deacon’s class except on the 2nd Sunday which the bishopric will handle. You will also attend the mutual night activities on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.” Bear testimony to give the person a witness of the work of the Lord – “I give you my testimony that this is the work of the Lord. It is an honor and privilege for us to be a part of it. I testify to you that I have been blessed with both material and spiritual blessings as I have magnified my callings. My family has been in good health for the past 15 years and I have never been out of employment for almost 20 years now. I know that the Lord is always mindful of the needs of those that serve Him. I testify that you have been called of God.” Close the interview with a prayer with you acting as the voice specifically to address the needs and concerns of the member – “We thank thee for Susan’s willingness to accept the call of Ward Family History consultant. We pray that thou wilt give her the understanding and enlightenment of family history work. Bless her with the time and opportunity to learn her duties and responsibilities. Grant her with good health and strength as she magnifies this call. We plead with thee to protect her children when she is away from them while performing her calling. Please sustain her husband’s work that they may always be provided with all their temporal needs.” Copyright © 2005 Randy F. Rubio All rights reserved “Being Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”

Extending Callings & Releases

Properly Extending a Release A release from a church calling is to be handled more carefully than extending callings. Thus, when considering releasing a person, stricter confidentiality must be followed. The member must first hear it from Church officers not through the grapevine. The incumbent person occupying a church calling must first be informed of the release and then the person to be extended the call just vacated should be informed afterwards. This is ideal although it’s not always realistic. If you work towards this ideal, you will spare yourself from the misunderstanding that often comes with improper releases. [If possible and practical, a person who is released should be given a new opportunity to serve in another capacity.] Open the interview with a prayer. Invite the interviewee to act as the voice. State the purpose of the interview. “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. I have asked you to meet with me so we can discuss your release from your present calling. Before you are released, I would like to ask you a few questions and would really appreciate your honest answers.” Consider the following discussion points – “What have you learned from your calling?” “What blessings have you received as you magnified your calling?” “Can you tell me some spiritual experiences you have had while performing your duties and responsibilities?” “Is there anything you might have done differently or wish you could have improved?” This is your opportunity also to receive feedback for your leadership effectiveness or ineffectiveness – “What have we done to help you become successful in your calling?” “Is there anything I could have done for you that I did not do?” “Did you feel that we were supportive enough in your calling? What else could we have done?” “How could I have been more helpful?” Remember, feedback is the breakfast of champions. “I think you are right. I could have conducted more stewardship interviews in that case I would have been able to remind you about your duties.” “You feel that you have not been properly trained. I thought all along that you received training from your stake counterparts. I should have not assumed that. I can do better next time.” Extend praise and commendation if deserved. Thank the person for his or her service and be specific with some of their accomplishments, if any. “Bro. Mutuc, I really appreciate the service you have performed as elders’ quorum president for the past two years. You have increased hometeaching by 40%, reactivated 4 elders, and successfully facilitated the ordination of 10 prospective elders. Your work has been commendable.” If not, express counsel to how the interviewee could have performed better. It requires our boldness without being harsh. “From what I have observed was that your attendance to meetings were inconsistent. Reports were not submitted on time. I challenged you to hold regular presidency meetings but this you have also failed to do. I’m sure there were reasons for this. However, no matter how valid our reasons are it does really excuse us from not doing the best we can. I know you are capable of doing more.” Copyright © 2005 Randy F. Rubio All rights reserved “Being Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”

Extending Callings & Releases

After allowing the interviewee to reflect and express his or her thoughts about the calling, it’s now time to teach a very important principle. Again, this is another teaching opportunity. “Let me now bring up a very important principle. In the church we do not get promoted or demoted. When an elders’ quorum president is released, he does not necessarily become the bishop, or the bishop being called as stake president, or the stake president become an area authority seventy, etc. The Lord calls us to where we are needed the most and where we can learn the most. We move around from calling to calling. In fact, being released from a call is a calling by itself. Sometimes we are not even called to a specific position. We can continue to serve as home or visiting teachers. Such callings are as noble as other callings in the church. There is no need to aspire for callings. The Lord knows who we are and what we are capable of. He will give us the opportunity to serve when the time comes.” Then extend the release – I would now like to extend to you an honorable release as _______________________. Will you accept your release with good feelings?” “Thank you for accepting your release. We will be calling Bro. Santos to replace you as elders’ quorum president. Will you be there to sustain him and his new counselors? We would appreciate it if you could come.” If interviewee has ill feelings this is the best time to resolve it with patience and understanding – “I know the feeling when we don’t perform in our callings to the best of our ability. We feel the burden of guilt and our hearts are heavy. It can either discourage us or challenge us to do better next time. We can repent, seek the Lord’s forgiveness and commit to do all the best we can in our next calling.” Sometimes the release and a new call are extended within the same interview. “Sister de los Santos, I would now like extend to you an honorable release as the ward Young Women president. Will you accept your release with good feelings?....... We have prayed fervently about this and the bishopric has been unanimous. I would now like to extend to you a new calling to be the ward Relief Society president. You will be sustained next Sunday and set apart after all our meetings. We would like to invite your family to be present.” Close with a prayer with you as the voice and particularly referring to the personal needs and concerns of the interviewee. “We thank thee for the dedicated service rendered by Bro. Victorino. He has blessed the lives of many people in this ward. We ask thee to continue to bless him as he serves thee in whatever capacity now or in the future. Bless his heart with pure intentions in the service of his fellowbeings.”

Properly Setting Apart Extending the call, sustaining the person in a new calling, and properly setting the person apart completes the process. Individuals who are called and their families must feel the significance and magnificence of the opportunity to serve. In a designated room, have the individual called and his or her family members invited to witness the setting apart. This can include spouse, children, brothers, sisters, and in-laws. Even special friends may also join. Be thoroughly familiar with the procedures of setting apart as outlined in the Church Handbook of Instructions. Only bishops and stake presidents confer the keys to presidents of quorums and auxiliaries. Invite fathers or brothers who are worthy priesthood holders to assist in the setting apart as appropriate. Invite the released priesthood holders if worthy to assist in setting apart their successors. This will build the spirit of unity and support to the newly called persons. Copyright © 2005 Randy F. Rubio All rights reserved “Being Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”

Extending Callings & Releases

Calling the Right People for the Right Job Callings in the church require certain personalities and temperament in order for men and women to succeed in them. In our units where your talent resource may be very minimal, you might not have as much of a choice. However, you can increase the chances of members succeeding in their callings by matching their personalities with the requirements of the call. Since we believe that ‘men are called of God by prophecy’ it is an essential step for you to pray to whom the call should be given and be worthy to receive inspiration. While the Lord will let you know whom to call, He also requires that you ‘study it out in your mind.’ Here are some ideas to consider – High Priest Group Leader and Elders’ Quorum President. Must have strong leadership qualities of planning, organizing, and implementing. Service-oriented and friendly. Committed and dedicated to work. Has the ability to make things happen. Relief Society President. Caring, loving and nurturing. She should have a deep sense of compassion for the poor and needy. She is approachable and well-mannered. Patient and long-suffering. Ward Mission Leader. Loves missionary work. Has served an honorable mission or preparing to go on a mission. Keep high standards of worthiness and proper missionary grooming. Young Men and Young Women Presidents. Usually they should be friendly and outgoing. They relate well to young people and have a cheerful disposition. Good role models for young people to follow. They have attended Seminary or Institute, have served honorable missions, and married in the temple. Primary President. One who is fond of and enjoys being with children. Sunday School President. An effective teacher and committed to gospel teaching.

Step 1

Step 2

Worthiness interview Extending the Call

Sustain and Set Apart

Step 3 Initiate Training Read Handbook together

Step 4 Conduct regular Stewardship Interviews

Step 5 Teach, coach, mentor, and motivate