What is the purpose of PEC?

[MarginOfError]

I don't know the answer to this question. Any ideas? Given the instruction below, I really don't know what the point of PEC is. I'd really like to figure this out before my next bishopric meeting so that I can give some feedback on meeting schedule.

4.3 Priesthood Executive Committee

The ward priesthood executive committee (PEC) includes the bishopric, ward clerk, ward executive secretary, high priests group leader, elders quorum president, ward mission leader, and Young Men president.

The PEC meets regularly to consider priesthood matters. Generally, the PEC need not consider matters that will be discussed by the ward council. However, it may be beneficial for the PEC to preview some matters that will be on the ward council’s agenda. For convenience, the PEC could meet just before the ward council meeting.

As needed, the bishop may invite the Relief Society president to attend some ward PEC meetings to discuss confidential welfare matters and to coordinate home teaching and visiting teaching assignments.

Edited November 15, 2010 by MarginOfError

[Wingnut]

I don't know the answer to this question. Any ideas? Given the instruction below, I really don't know what the point of PEC is. I'd really like to figure this out before my next bishopric meeting so that I can give some feedback on meeting schedule.

The PEC meets regularly to consider priesthood matters.

My thought is that it should be part training and part reviewing of home teaching and other priesthood-specific duties.

The idea that PEC meets "briefly before Ward Council," though is odd. It sounds like a quick five-minute get-together thing.

[Gwen]

i would say to discuss the things that would be confidential that you would not discuss in the general ward counsel. things you all need to know about, maybe find a solution to (like reoccurring fast offering needs). i could see it being useful in a branch like ours where the group is so small that basically everyone is in branch counsel. if you discuss something confidential there nearly the entire branch will know about it. this would keep it to a smaller group and keep things more private.

[Wingnut]

i would say to discuss the things that would be confidential that you would not discuss in the general ward counsel. things you all need to know about, maybe find a solution to (like reoccurring fast offering needs). i could see it being useful in a branch like ours where the group is so small that basically everyone is in branch counsel. if you discuss something confidential there nearly the entire branch will know about it. this would keep it to a smaller group and keep things more private.

But the nature of Ward Councils is changing. There will be confidential matters discussed in WC more than before. In fact, confidentiality was spoken of and emphasized a few times during the training broadcast.

[Gwen]

i didn't see the training broadcast. if that's changing then maybe it's a good thing, we can cut the number of meetings our priesthood have to do. lol

that being said i'm not sure it's a good idea for the entire branch to know of reoccurring issues. i personally don't want to know about them unless i have to.

[Wingnut]

i didn't see the training broadcast. if that's changing then maybe it's a good thing, we can cut the number of meetings our priesthood have to do. lol

There was a major focus on increasing the use and importance of the Ward Council, in an effort to decrease the workload of bishops.

[bytor2112]

Our PEC meeting was a full 75 minutes Sunday. 7:30 Am.....yuck.

[MarginOfError]

Our PEC meeting was a full 75 minutes Sunday. 7:30 Am.....yuck.

Ours was 60 minutes, which is quite normal. But we're contemplating cutting PEC to once a month with ward council twice a month.

The home teaching/visiting teaching discussions make sense to me. And as I think about them, it occurs to me that it could be good, dedicated time to reporting on home teaching. For example, the monthly report the presidencies are supposed to collect about which families have and have not been visited (specifically, the have not been visited). It would be a good time to discuss why they aren't being visited, assess their needs, determine what-if any-course of action is needed, and make assignments. Of course, visiting teaching could also be reported at this meeting. This type of discussion would naturally flow into welfare issues as well.

[bytor2112]

Ours is usually 60 minutes...at least half of the meeting is reporting from the full time missionaries.

Edited November 15, 2010 by bytor2112

[MarginOfError]

Ours is ususally 60 minutes...at least half of the meeting is reporting from the full time missionaries.

Yours too? I can't figure out why we have the full-time missionaries there, other than the bishop saying "that's how I've always seen it done." We tried a small intervention once in bishopric meeting. The counselors, myself, and the secretary all told him that we never once went to PEC when we were missionaries. That didn't seem to phase him much.

[Gwen]

the quote you used from the handbook did not say missionaries should be there. insist the handbook be followed? lol

[bytor2112]

Our format is as follows:

1. Roll call

2. Opening prayer

3. Spiritual thought

3. Handbook training

4. Missionary reporting ( at least half of the meeting)

5. Quick comments from EQP, YM, HP and Ward Mission Leader.

6. Closing prayer.

[Bacdoc]

We've had periods of time when the missionaries came to PEC and didn't. I find that when the missionaries are there, I've had a better relationship with them, and found I was serving the ward mission better because I knew them and saw them. When the missionaries don't attend meetings, as busy as I am on Sunday, I rarely get the chance to talk to them, and I'm ashamed to say there have been periods where I don't even remember their names.

So, I believe it's good for the missionaries to attend PEC and ward council because then at least the leadership of the ward is familiar with them and having dialog with them about the work and it feels as if we are all working together for the investigators good. However, it should be said that if you let them the missionaries will take all the time, and very much need direction. It depends on the Bishop, and certainly the Mission President.

JMHO.

[Wingnut]

This type of discussion would naturally flow into welfare ssues as well.

And yet, welfare issues should not be discussed outside of the Ward Council anymore. The welfare committee is the Ward Council now.

Ours is usually 60 minutes...at least half of the meeting is reporting from the full time missionaries.

the quote you used from the handbook did not say missionaries should be there. insist the handbook be followed? lol

The new handbook states, "As recommended by the ward mission leader, the bishop may occasionally invite full-time missionaries to meet with the ward council." The missionaries are not referenced in the three paragraphs dedicated to PEC. The ward mission leader is included in PEC, though.

[Dravin]

Ours is usually 60 minutes...at least half of the meeting is reporting from the full time missionaries.

Sounds like the Ward Mission Leader and the Missionaries need to be trained on just what exactly is needed in the meeting. It's easy for the missionaries to just give a rundown of all their appointments for that week and their future appointments for the next.

We tried a small intervention once in bishopric meeting. The counselors, myself, and the secretary all told him that we never once went to PEC when we were missionaries.

If the Missionaries, Ward Mission Leader and Auxilery and Priesthood leaders are properly correlating prior to PEC there really isn't much point for the Missionaries to be there on a every week basis. In my experience though such correlation prior to the meetings isn't handled effectively and "Missionary Time" during PEC ends up being used for that purpose.

[MarginOfError]

And yet, welfare issues should not be discussed outside of the Ward Council anymore. The welfare committee is the Ward Council now.

To some extent, yes. But not entirely. It isn't entirely clear to me how much welfare should be addressed in ward council and how much should be addressed in PEC, but I refer you back to the following quote:

4.3 Priesthood Executive Committee

As needed, the bishop may invite the Relief Society president to attend some ward PEC meetings to discuss confidential welfare matters and to coordinate home teaching and visiting teaching assignments.

The new handbook states, "As recommended by the ward mission leader, the bishop may occasionally invite full-time missionaries to meet with the ward council." The missionaries are not referenced in the three paragraphs dedicated to PEC. The ward mission leader is included in PEC, though.

Regardless, the bishop presides over both ward council and PEC and has the authority to invite the full time missionaries to whatever meeting he deems fit. :sigh:

[Just_A_Guy]

Frankly, it seems to me like PEC is the ideal scenario for the bishop to receive the last month's home teaching report, and for the initial discussion of any issues/needs/concerns identified by the home teachers within the families they teach.

Edited November 15, 2010 by Just_A_Guy

[rameumptom]

In the Spanish Branch I work with (preparing them to be a ward), we've decided to do PEC twice a month, and Council twice a month. RS Pres will be invited to attend PEC. In this setting, the most confidential issues can be discussed that do not need to be addressed by the Council. The fewer people involved in confidential matters, the better. Those that need to be extended to the entire Council will be.

Often things will be uncovered about a family during HT/VT that is very sensitive, but needs discussion among the key leadership. This is one area PEC will work well. Then, if there are needs for the whole Council, the portion of information they need regarding the family can be given, without sharing all the confidential matter.

Welfare issues will primarily be discussed in PEC, as the MP and RS leaders will be there to discuss what is needed for both short term and long term assistance. Those issues needing to be relayed to the Council can then be done.

The Council will manage issues that require more effort from the ward as a whole, whereas the PEC will continue focusing on key matters that should not go beyond a few key leaders in the unit.

[Wingnut]

The Council will manage issues that require more effort from the ward as a whole, whereas the PEC will continue focusing on key matters that should not go beyond a few key leaders in the unit.

See, that's what I don't really get. The only people on the Ward Council who aren't also part of PEC are the Primary and Young Women presidents, and the Relief Society president, who is now being invited to PEC. So it's not really "a few key leaders" -- it's the Ward Council minus Primary and Young Women.

[MarginOfError]

See, that's what I don't really get. The only people on the Ward Council who aren't also part of PEC are the Primary and Young Women presidents, and the Relief Society president, who is now being invited to PEC. So it's not really "a few key leaders" -- it's the Ward Council minus Primary and Young Women.

And the Sunday School President.

[Wingnut]

And the Sunday School President.

I forgot about him. Ours never comes to Ward Council, so he's easy to forget.

[martybess]

I would say a good majority of our PEC will be spent on going over:

- Missionary work. (1/2 of meeting)

- Members needs. (1/4 of meeting) - Concerns about specific members/families. How they are doing spiritually, temporally etc.

- Specific qrm/group assignments. (1/4 of meeting)

YM, help single sisters/widows with needs such as snow removal, lawns, sacrement, etc.

EQ/HP/RS - Spiritual/temporal needs. This includes such things as missionary discussions, temple preparation classes, gospel principle classes, home teaching, and stake assignments-(BIG AREA HERE). We live where we have a temple cleaning assignments, desert industries assignments and drives, canning assignments at welfare square, chair setup for conferences, etc. We do not have an "Ward employment specialist" HP&EQ are responsible for this. HP are over monthly ward temple night and temple efforts. The list can go on.

[Wingnut]

Each and all of those things were covered in the Ward Council role play.

[martybess]

I forgot about him. Ours never comes to Ward Council, so he's easy to forget.

Ward activity specialist came but now no more. :)

[Wingnut]

Ward activity specialist came but now no more. :)

Which is why I didn't include it on the list.