Release from calling

[IdahoJones]

Hello I thought Id ask here if anybody has any advice for me. I've been the financial clerk for 4 years now and have enjoyed my calling but its getting old, its like the one calling in the church where there is no spiritual development, your in essence just a paper pusher. I do understand that it an important job and needs to be done to free the Bishop for more important work. But I miss going home from church with my family. I know your not "supposed to" ask to be released from a calling or seek a calling. But I am at my end and have no further desire to write checks or reconcile on that horrible MLS software. So how would you advice me to ask for a release with out harming my chances of getting another calling. Id hate to be black listed as a person who doesn't accept callings...

[Iggy]

Personally I would tell the Bishop exactly what you have posted here.

My husband got stuck with being the financial clerk for 8 years. He got so burned out that he quit going to church for 2 years. Finally the Bishop asked him what was up and he told him. BURN OUT- no opportunity for spiritual growth except in Sacrament. He wasn't even able to go to Preisthood or Sunday School.

Talk with your Bishop- be honest and open with him.

[rameumptom]

I would advise you to humble yourself and remain serving in God's service. It isn't the job that is the problem, but the attitude you have towards it. Brigham Young once gave one of the wealthiest members in Utah the calling of going door to door obtaining old rags from families, to be used in the Deseret newspaper. At first, this brother thought it below him and boring, but obeyed. For him, he humbled himself, and it became a wonderful calling for him as the Lord opened up his eyes to its importance.

Do you think that the bishop's calling is a fun one? He doesn't get to go home on Sundays. In fact, he doesn't get to even sit with his family in Sacrament meeting. The average bishop spends 20-40 hours serving each week, away from his family. He has to deal with quarreling families, quarreling members, immorality among adults and youth, finances, home and visiting teaching, increasing the number of temple attendees, encourage and do missionary work, visit members at Church and in their homes, perform funerals, etc.

Brigham Young had to chastise complaining sisters, because their husbands were on "short" seven year missions to Europe, etc.

You think your calling is droll? I suggest you look within yourself and see how truly you believe the Lord when he states that when you are in the service of your fellow man, you are only in the service of God? How much is your exaltation worth? Do you wish to see your family now on Sundays, or forever together in Celestial realms? Just what kind of sacrifice are you willing to offer the Lord?

Suck it up, man. You have an easy job in the Church. Learn to appreciate it.

I can say this because I've experienced a lot of callings before, including ward clerk, ward financial clerk, ward membership clerk, stake clerk, ward executive secretary, and many, many others. Currently, I'm high priest group leader, and I can guarantee you that a financial clerk has it easy! I've assigned myself 6 families to visit, besides PPIs (I do them Sunday mornings at Church, so I'm also not at home on Sundays), family visits, and trying to get a bunch of old guys to attend to their duties in the Mission of the Church. I do not consider my calling exciting, either. But it is necessary, and I'll perform it as long as the Lord chooses to have me doing it.

[rameumptom]

There is no reason why clerks cannot attend Sunday School and Priesthood. Being in the clerk's office during those hours is not necessary most of the time. It is a cop out.

I do not go to Church on Sundays for spiritual growth. I go to receive the Sacrament. I gain my spiritual strength in my personal studies and prayer. You just cannot get enough from 3 hours on a Sunday to carry you through the rest of the week, if you are not doing the work on the other days.

Joseph Smith did not receive most of his revelations during big meetings. We shouldn't expect to do so, either.

[Elgama]

There is a reason the advice is now for clerks to serve only 5 years, my husband has just been released. Because he is a branch clerk he does everything

I would go and talk to your Bishop maybe not ask to be released but explain how you feel and ask for a blessing then see what he does about it.

-Charley

[john doe]

I would say that I agree with the aggregate of what has already been said. There is usually no good reason for you to miss Sunday School and Priesthood meeting most of the time. On the other hand, if you really are feeling burned out, then you should speak to the bishop and tell him your feelings, and ask if there is a way you could do the calling while also attending the mother meetings as well. If he won't allow that, then ask him to consider releasing you in the near future.

[gualeguaychu]

I can honestly empathize with you as I've been the financial clerk in my ward for 6 years. For me, the one thing I truly enjoy about my calling is knowing that my kids see me return to church every Sunday to count tithing. I want them to see me serve and sacrifice my time for the Lord, and since I've been doing this so long, it's pretty much all my kids have known me to do.

True, this really isn't a calling where you can experience spiritual growth, but I have received blessings, and I would be willing to bet you have as well if you would look for them. Just remember that the Lord called you to this calling, and he knows what you're capable of. If you get burnt out, maybe ask the ward clerk to sub for you for a week to get a break.

[jadams_4040]

Hello I thought Id ask here if anybody has any advice for me. I've been the financial clerk for 4 years now and have enjoyed my calling but its getting old, its like the one calling in the church where there is no spiritual development, your in essence just a paper pusher. I do understand that it an important job and needs to be done to free the Bishop for more important work. But I miss going home from church with my family. I know your not "supposed to" ask to be released from a calling or seek a calling. But I am at my end and have no further desire to write checks or reconcile on that horrible MLS software. So how would you advice me to ask for a release with out harming my chances of getting another calling. Id hate to be black listed as a person who doesn't accept callings...

Then dont. Sometimes we all get complacent reagarding blessings. Your calling is a blessing; maybe not right this minute, but if you fullfill it with all you can give, you will someday see and understand why the lord gave you this challenge.:)

[ruthiechan]

I failed at a calling once as Assistant Librarian. I didn't get another one for years after that. Not until after I got married. Then, I moved and failed to attend my final Sunday which was not good (I was a Primary teacher). I got the same calling that I had failed at before. I was determined to do better, and I did, and was blessed. Librarians were at one time expected to miss Sunday School and Relief Society. Now, the Librarians are allowed to go Relief Society, they just come in a few minutes late and leave a few minutes early.

So please, don't fail the Lord like I have, okay? It sucks. It weakens you. It makes you doubt your own sense of self worth. And it takes a lot of time to build that back up. So, talk to your Bishop about the burn out feeling, after all, you've only got another year, and ask for a blessing and come up with a plan to be able to attend at least Priesthood.

[Elgama]

its not failing the Lord or the Bishop to go and talk to them and explain your problems before it gets too bad.

I asked to be released from a calling and I know I was prompted to do so, I had pre-eclampsia the next week and my daughter arrived. I had been Primary President which I loved but had never in a year managed to get anyone else called in. I do not feel I failed anyone

-Charley

[rameumptom]

Charley, the difference is you were prompted to ask for the release. There are reasons to ask for releases. Being burned out, IMNSHO, is not one of them. If we are burned out, it is because we are not filling ourselves with the Spirit otherwise.

When I've had issues, I have gone to my bishop to discuss them. I always put the calling first, concerned on whether the issues were affecting my ability to serve. It was always left to my leader to decide what to do.

For example, I had served for many years in bishoprics and stake callings (I was ordained a high priest at 29). I was working on finishing my bachelor's, that I had worked on for a decade, because callings and full time work forced me to attend school part time. I was stake clerk, and the last few classes I needed were on the same night each week that our stake meetings were. I did not ask the stake president to release me, rather I asked him which should be more important for me: finishing my schooling or serving in that position. He agreed that schooling was more important and released me to finish school. I didn't get off entirely easy, though. I was called as ward executive secretary, and a month later was in the bishopric again.

We have to learn to serve, and when issues come up, to have our leaders make the decision without us placing a demand on them to release us (unless there are major issues, like health, to consider).

[Elgama]

I didn't know I was prompted until a week later:lol: I was so tired of fighting branch politics for my kids, and getting no help that I was burned out, got to point where I may not have continued at church if I had needed to go on. I remember praying I was at the end of what I could give physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually had nothing left to give, I must have been right because from that moment on burdens were lifted incredibly quickly

-Charley

[Jenamarie]

My DH has been our ward's financial clerk for going on 7 years now. He loves it because he gets to attend all his meetings and doesn't have to prepare lessons or attend activities with a bunch of kids (my callings have been in RS, YW, and Primary since he's been in there).

We hadn't really noticed any direct blessings coming from the calling until just recently. My DH is finishing up a Bachelor's degree just now, and hopes to move into a management position sometime after graduating. When he started looking into some of the positions he was interested in last year, just to see what they were asking for in addition to the degree, he found that many of them were asking for the kind of accounting experience that he's gained in his 6 years as a financial clerk! His degree program isn't offering this kind of training, but the church has. Now he'll be able to put down over half a decade's worth of experience with it on his resume.

I would talk things over with your Bishop and let him know how you're feeling. Maybe a good pep talk or Priesthood Blessing may be all you need. Or he may be prompted to move you to another calling where you can recieve more spiritual growth. Although maybe trying to participate more in your sunday school and priesthood meetings might fulfill that for you. Start reading the lessons before hand and such, if you aren't already. Our Callings aren't the only source we have for this kind of growth. :) (and I'm sure you already know that, just trying to point out a bright-side in case your Bishop doesn't release you )

[IdahoJones]

Thank you all for the kind words and great advice. And to clarify I do attend SS and PH. I made it a habit very early in my calling of not skipping those classes to "hide" in the clerks office. This calling can be completed without missing a ton of SS or PH classes (excluding the times the bishop asked me to do something during that time). Our Stake auditor always asked to do the audit during SS and I asked him to schedule them at another time so I could attend my classes. I was at the clerks office last night and the Bishop stopped by, I had a very short conversation with him where I did not ask to be released but just spoke with him about the longevity of my call and he indicated that they had already submitted names to the stake for my replacement. I guess the Lord will answer your prayers.

[applepansy]

IdahoJones, I'm glad you talked to your Bishop. As I read through this thread I kept thinking about Prayer being a big part of our callings.

I had a recent experience that applies in a way. I had two callings when our Bishopric was changed. My husband was called as Ward Missioin Leader. Because of my health issues the new Bishopric was hesitant to call me as his companion. My husband was asked if I could do the calling and he expressed concern that it would be difficult for me to do all that needed to be done.

I try hard to support my husband in his callings and ended up acting as his companion in many ways. This made me uncomfortable. So after praying about it I made an appointment with the Bishop and explained my dilemna. It could be argued that I was "seeking" a calling. Anyway, I'm ended up with three callings. . . but over the last 3 months that has changed and I only have 1-1/2 callings now. The 1/2 calling can be done from my bed!!! :)

My point is prayer is a powerful tool and we need to utilize it in everything we do.

applepansy

P.S. The Lord had given me the physical strength and energy to do what I need to do. Its amazing.

Edited February 19, 2009 by applepansy
added P.S.