Sunday morning, 6:30am, I receive an SMS from the stake president stating that he'd like me to come to church today to visit with him. What should I reply?
We've been conditioned to respect, admire, and even fear these church leaders. But when we realize what the church really is, they only have as much authority over us as we give them.
We don't owe anyone an explanation of why we left.
I agree runtu. I think some of the problem with Mormons is that you allow them so much power. They have no training....many got the job due to being wealthy or knowing someone. You need to stop jumping when they say jump.
If you are inactive, xr, ignore the "summons." The SP has NO authority over you.
If you are trying to remain somewhat active because of a TBM spouse, then you probably will have to meet with him some time. Feel free to rearrange the date and time to one more convenient for you..
After I had stopped attending for an entire year, I awoke one Sunday morning to find a telephone message from the bishop. It had been sent at 7:30 a.m. by the ward clerk, advising me in a serious tone that the bishop wanted to meet with me at 8:30—i.e. at one hour’s notice. Say WHAT?! After no communication from him for a year, the bishop really thought I would suddenly show up promptly as demanded?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/30/2011 10:26PM by WiserWomanNow.
If you'd go given advance notice: "I already have plans today, next time, please notify me in advance to avoid scheduling conflicts"
If you wouldn't go regardless of when you were asked "I won't be meeting you today, If I'm interested in setting up a meeting with you in the future, I'll contact you"
and how do you know they are who they say they are. Then tell them never to contact you before 9 a.m. and not later than 8 p.m. at night. Then tell them if they want to make an appointment, they will need to call during the above hours and make an appointment.
Or: ignore the message!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/30/2011 11:41PM by SusieQ#1.
This seems like the best result. Just because they say jump, you don't need to ask how high. Maybe you slept in, maybe you had your phone off, maybe you had something better to do besides being chained to the text. Ignoring the message is a perfectly valid and neutral response.
What I did is tell them that when I want to talk then I will call them to set up the appointment. Hope they are not waiting by the phone cuz that is one call I am not gonna make.
My stake pres, back in 83, rung me up, and commanded me by revelation to go on mission on the year of my university exams and I lost focus from my studies, sold my brand new grand piano for well less than half to go on mission, and to this day never got another one or finished my music studies, only to end up manic depressed. Tho my inheritance was given to me when I my father was pleased I was out of that cult relegion...
The church just fucked my life around, even toward marrige tho children were born, only to be taken by god, and the prophecy of one who would be famous, is to be born out of wedlock, but that was my own revelation and it surely came to pass and a happy occasion made possible by being out of the cult mormonism and its control..
If I had it to do over again, I would respond, "Sure. Meet me at Starbucks, the one in Chalet Plaza." Or not quite as good, "Sure. Come by my house Tuesday night, but not before 7pm. And don't forget that The Daily Show is on at 8, so you have to leave before then."
It must, in any case, be on your terms. It would be particularly good if you could arrange a situation in which HE must wait for YOU, instead of the customary power thing that they do by making you wait.
On the other hand, don't forget that you can just say no.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/01/2011 02:16AM by cludgie.