Stewardship interview?

[JThimm88]

Background info: In our first student-married ward, my husband and I were family history specialists and we taught a family history class during the Sunday school hour. About 6 months later, ward boundaries were split and we're now in our second student-married ward, have once again been called as family history specialists, but our bishop has given us very little guidance on what to do with our calling. We told him we wouldn't mind teaching a Sunday school class, but he told us that with a ward as small as ours we probably wouldn't be doing that. The only guidance given to us was that we should just make ourselves available to those who want help with family history. We ended up making an announcement before giving talks in sacrament meeting that we're the family history specialists and if anyone wants help in that area to come see us. Unfortunately nobody has. (And now we're not exactly sure about how to go about seeing if people would be interested in learning more... could we just go ahead and ask a family or two if they'd like to come over sometime and we could walk them through new.familysearch.org, etc?)

Today my husband got a call from the exec. secretary who told us that the bishop wants to meet with us for a "stewardship interview" regarding our calling. I looked on LDS.org to see if I could find out what exactly that interview was as neither my husband or I know exactly what it is, but didn't find anything very definitive.

So, that brings me to my actual question: what exactly is a stewardship interview and what can my husband and I expect?

[pam]

I've never heard of an interview called that. Unless it's something common that he has placed a new name on. Will be interesting to find out an answer to that one.

[JThimm88]

I've never heard of an interview called that. Unless it's something common that he has placed a new name on. Will be interesting to find out an answer to that one.

Well, I'm glad my husband and I get to be the guinea pigs and see what this is all about, lol. My guess, after reading some articles on LDS.org, is that it's just an interview to see how our calling is going, but I'm not quite sure!

[pam]

That was my first thought. Why not just say I'd like to talk to you and see how your callings are going?

[UrbanFool]

It might be a good thing to teach on 5th Sundays! Is there someone else running your Family History Center?

[JThimm88]

I googled "'stewardship interview' LDS church" and this link came up:

Meridian Magazine: Leadership

Apparently it's called a "stewardship reporting interview" or "stewardship interview" for short. This article pretty much sums it up. Interesting that in the article it states that "Relief society leaders interview visiting teachers." ...True, but during my time in the church (which has only been 2 years, granted) they've only been called "visiting teaching interviews," not the latter. Go figure!

[JThimm88]

It might be a good thing to teach on 5th Sundays! Is there someone else running your Family History Center?

We're in Rexburg so the family history center is actually at the library at BYU-ID; specialists/missionaries run it there. As far as in our ward, I'm not even sure who's above my husband and I. In our last ward there were temple consultants, and we went through them, but our ward hasn't had anyone called yet in that area.

Never thought about 5th Sunday teaching; depending on what our bishop talks with us about tomorrow, who knows, we could bring that idea up if it seems appropriate at the time. :)

[Snow]

You are clearly doing something wrong. The bishop wouldn't call the interview unless he were deeply concerned about you and your stewardship. If you had been paying attention to the Spirit and living worthily, you would have lots of people interested in family history. Prepare for the worst.

On a happier note: I hear the Methodists are looking for new member.

[UrbanFool]

I hope you're joking.

[Dravin]

I hope you're joking.

He is, it's the Baptists that are looking.

Edited July 20, 2010 by Dravin

[Moksha]

So, that brings me to my actual question: what exactly is a stewardship interview and what can my husband and I expect?

I think it might have something to do with the new Airlines Ward. Just be familiar with the drop down masks and the clearly marked exits and you will both do fine.

[JThimm88]

You are clearly doing something wrong. The bishop wouldn't call the interview unless he were deeply concerned about you and your stewardship. If you had been paying attention to the Spirit and living worthily, you would have lots of people interested in family history. Prepare for the worst.

On a happier note: I hear the Methodists are looking for new member.

Not sure how much I appreciate this comment, Snow. I've read a few of the comments you leave on threads and I can never tell if you're joking or just being offensive.

At any rate ... our interview went fine and we didn't even meet with the bishop, but rather the second counselor, who simply wanted to know how our work was going and how the bishopric could further help us. We suggested that a Sunday school class would probably benefit most people as a lot of individuals just don't have time to get together during the week with school and family matters, and apparently they're going to consider it as it was something we brought up to them when we first received our calling anyway.

[JThimm88]

I think it might have something to do with the new Airlines Ward. Just be familiar with the drop down masks and the clearly marked exits and you will both do fine.

If there was a "laugh" button, I would have pressed it. :)

[Wingnut]

Not sure how much I appreciate this comment, Snow. I've read a few of the comments you leave on threads and I can never tell if you're joking or just being offensive.

The answer to that is "yes."

[NeuroTypical]

Snow has an almost celestial ability to work the "Reproving betimes with sharpness" thing. However, there's an active betting pool about whether he's ever done it "when moved upon by the Holy Ghost". And nobody has ever produced a single documented example of him "showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy".

So currently, odds of Snow getting translated anytime soon are about 5,232,555,940:1. And lots of people keep him on their enemies list.

LM

(And I have at least twice those odds on a good day, so nyeah-nyeah!)

[Snow]

Not sure how much I appreciate this comment, Snow. I've read a few of the comments you leave on threads and I can never tell if you're joking or just being offensive.

At any rate ... our interview went fine and we didn't even meet with the bishop, but rather the second counselor, who simply wanted to know how our work was going and how the bishopric could further help us. We suggested that a Sunday school class would probably benefit most people as a lot of individuals just don't have time to get together during the week with school and family matters, and apparently they're going to consider it as it was something we brought up to them when we first received our calling anyway.

I am bewildered that you could think that my post was a joke.

While it's true that the interview didn't turn out the way I predicted, I think the reason is obvious. Your Bishop read my post and realized that you probably deserved a second chance.

Please don't blow it this time.

[mightynancy]

Snow has skills, and as we say around here "Ya gotta admire the skills." Usually, this is in reference to my daughter, who has chain-jerking skills galore.