Should An LDS Member Turn Down A Calling?

[zippythepinhead]

I am interested in your thoughts on this. Is there ever justification for turning down or refusing a calling from your bishop or stake president?

 

[Bishka]

Should they or could they?

They should do whatever they feel comfortable doing.

If they wish to turn down a calling -- their loss (or gain, however you see it).

 

[zippythepinhead]

Should they or could they?

They should do whatever they feel comfortable doing.

If they wish to turn down a calling -- their loss (or gain, however you see it).

The reason that I ask is that if a person is getting burned out doing their current calling should they just go in and resign? That burn out is a friend of mine(me).:help:

 

[Starfish]

I once threatened to go on strike (I was YW pres.). Then I got released. Yipee!
My personal policy to to accept all callings. If there's a real problem, I discuss it up front, and then let them rethink or still issue the calling. It's that whole darn faith and obedience thing.

If you're feeling burnout--go talk it over with your bishop. They're usually quite reasonable people. A sure-fire way to get released from any calling--offer to teach early morning seminary. They'll let you out of anything to do that.

Since I'm now in a calling I LOVE, I periodically remind the bishop to not get any wise ideas about moving me.:tsk:

 

[Katzpur]

I've turned down callings before. Most of the time, though, I'm just really up front about it if the calling is something I know I would be miserable doing. I tell the bishop (or whoever calls me) how I feel and that if they still want me in the calling, I'll accept. Most of the time, they say they understand and would rather have someone in the position who is enthusiastic about it. The last time this happened, it was a calling to teach Primary. I cannot stand teaching Primary and I told them how I felt. I said that I've tried teaching before, but am not comfortable teaching children and would prefer not to. They were fine with that, and just a couple of weeks later called me to be the Gospel Principles teacher -- a calling I absolutely loved. I'd have been a Primary teacher, but I would have been miserable, and that wouldn't have been fair to the kids.

I've also asked to be released when I'm getting burned out. After teaching Relief Society for four years or so, I just thought that it was time for a change. I miss teaching it, but it has given some of the other sisters the opportunity to do it, too. Who knows how long they would have left me in had I not asked to be released.

 

[nutshell]

When I was on my mission I read a story in the Ensign or Liahona (forgot which). The story was about a woman who took a calling against her better judgment. Her husband was having trouble at work, her mom had been diagnosed with cancer, and her kids were struggling in school (actually, I dont' remember exactly what the story said, but you get the idea - things were really rough). She did the calling for a few weeks and, of course, the increased responsbility just made things more difficult for her and her family. She finally talked to her Bishop about it and he told her, lovingly, that she could have brought that stuff up when she was offered the calling. The leaders work by inspiration, but sometimes they need all the info to get the inspiration right. Perhaps the inspiration to issue her a call was the Lord's way of seeing that Church leadership learned of her and her family's struggles (since they weren't telling anyone themselves).

 

[Sola'lor]

When I was on my mission I read a story in the Ensign or Liahona (forgot which).

Hehehe.


I don't think God will give a calling that a person can' handle. But I don't mean that in ahndling a person wil be comfortable. Handling could also mean, barely getting by with your sanity. But anyway. I think a person has the right to reject a calling or approach preisthood leaders for a dismissal. You should go with whatever your feelings are.

 

[Bishka]

Handling could also mean, barely getting by with your sanity.

Wow.

 

[Katzpur]

I once threatened to go on strike (I was YW pres.). Then I got released. Yipee!

I told the bishop's counselor once that if he wanted to see another tithing check from me, he'd release me from the nursery within a month. He did, and I paid up. Okay... so I would have done anyway.

 

[Katzpur]

During the thirty or so years our ward has been in existance, we've had at least two members of our bishoprics who were excommunicated for adultery. I still haven't quite figured out how inspiration fit into those callings, but it would probably have been better for everyone concerned had these men not accepted the callings that were extended to them.

 

[Starfish]

During the thirty or so years our ward has been in existance, we've had at least two members of our bishoprics who were excommunicated for adultery. I still haven't quite figured out how inspiration fit into those callings, but it would probably have been better for everyone concerned had these men not accepted the callings that were extended to them.

How awful. This is not much of a comparison--when I was seeking a secretary, I was inspired to submit a name. She was called and then never showed up or did anything. I always wondered the reason for the inspiration, and the only thing I can think of is that she, and I, needed the test. (She's very active and responsible today.) But who knows?
That's what led to my "strike". I wasn't getting any help and trying to carry 3 jobs in the organization.

Years ago my former stake president went down the same road as your two bishopric members. It shows that none of us is immune to temptation.

 

[zippythepinhead]

I was in nursery for one year with my wife. We got realeased. By moving

 

[zomg]

I recently accepted a calling to be a Cub Scout leader with my wife. I don't think we have yet to be sustained, thank heavens. I'm seriously thinking about turning it down. I work graveyard shifts and have been off anti-depressants for several weeks while the insurance company figures out if I really need it.

This along with a few other reasons make me feel unable to complete this calling. I've always had the opinion it is okay to say "no" if you would rather not have a certain calling.

 

[Starfish]

OTOH I have accepted callings that scared the socks off me, and I grew a lot through doing them.

When my husband and I were still in the baby-and-toddler years, he was called to be bishop--age 29. For part of his tenure, he also served as YM president, concurrently. We were also building a new house and starting a new business. Needless to say, it was tough--probably my greatest trial in the Church. However, we have been tremendously blessed. I don't know if the blessings and the trial were connected-- but we really have been blessed over the years.

 

[Katzpur]

I recently accepted a calling to be a Cub Scout leader with my wife. I don't think we have yet to be sustained, thank heavens. I'm seriously thinking about turning it down. I work graveyard shifts and have been off anti-depressants for several weeks while the insurance company figures out if I really need it.

This along with a few other reasons make me feel unable to complete this calling. I've always had the opinion it is okay to say "no" if you would rather not have a certain calling.

I'm with you, Fire. Obviously, each of us is going to have callings we love and other callings we're not that crazy about, and I think that most callings, if performed to the best of our abilities, will help us to grow and will end up being a blessing to us. But we each know our own limitations (including issues like depression, which I also suffer from) and we can't expect our bishop to be a mind-reader. I have found that being totally honest with the bishop about why I would prefer not to accept a calling has generally resulted in him thanking me for telling him how I feel and telling me that he will ask someone else instead. I've never had a bishop make me feel ashamed or guilty for saying, "You know what? I think maybe I need to say no to that."

 

[zippythepinhead]

I'm with you, Fire. Obviously, each of us is going to have callings we love and other callings we're not that crazy about, and I think that most callings, if performed to the best of our abilities, will help us to grow and will end up being a blessing to us. But we each know our own limitations (including issues like depression, which I also suffer from) and we can't expect our bishop to be a mind-reader. I have found that being totally honest with the bishop about why I would prefer not to accept a calling has generally resulted in him thanking me for telling him how I feel and telling me that he will ask someone else instead. I've never had a bishop make me feel ashamed or guilty for saying, "You know what? I think maybe I need to say no to that."

Katz speaks wisdom of the calling:bow:

 

[Bishka]

. I've never had a bishop make me feel ashamed or guilty for saying, "You know what? I think maybe I need to say no to that."

Neither have I.

Though I've had members make me feel that way.

 

[zippythepinhead]

Neither have I.

Though I've had members make me feel that way.

Bishka, because you will not work in the nursery you will burn in Hell. Then you will hang in the Telestial Kingdom with the Vlad the Impaler

 

[Katzpur]

Bishka, because you will not work in the nursery you will burn in Hell. Then you will hang in the Telestial Kingdom with the Vlad the Impaler

Bishka's favorite calling is probably nursery. Being willing to serve in the nursery is one way to be everybody's favorite ward member. Anyway, I think being in the Telestial Kingdom with Vlad the Impaler might be more pleasant than being in the Celestial Kingdom with MadHatter.

 

[nutshell]

Neither have I.

Though I've had members make me feel that way.

How do the members know you turned down a calling?