Posted by:
messygoop
(
)
Date: August 04, 2017 02:52PM
This isn't a discussion about imaginary power and the so-called keys of the priesthood. No, this is about real power and tangible items like the actual copy of a key to church property; yes the chapel building. In case you didn't know, the church has strict guidelines about how many copies of a building key exist. So this is my story about the fight over keys.
As a RM, a new bishop called me to serve as the membership clerk. It was explained that I would occasionally need to "run" to the church to access membership files and transmit membership data to SLC (In 1994, the modem of the SLC membership department to process membership file updates was always turned off on Sundays. I was told by the SP that this was to discourage the clerks from "goofing off" in their offices instead of being indoctrinated in their GD and PH classes.) So I asked the BP about getting a key to the building and he agreed that I needed one. He told me to see Brother Stingy as he was serving as the Building & Facilities supervisor. He also was a member of my ward.
Well Brother Stingy laughed and laughed then laughed some more when I told him that my calling required a church key. "No no no. Messy you don't understand that the church doesn't hand out keys to everyone that wants one. Go back to the BP and ask him to get one. Or you could go see Brother Grin. He was a clerk just before you."
So I went to seek Brother Grin and explained that I needed his church building key. He began to laugh and chuckle. "I'm not giving up my key. I need access to the building from time to time." The prick wouldn't give up his key.
So I went 4 months without a key. Every time that I needed to do some clerk work, I had to call up the BP to borrow his key. I think he got tired of meeting me at such and such road to hand off his key. Keep in mind that this was before cell phones so you can imagine the sheer inconvenience and the waste of time.
It is a BIG deal in bragging rights (like church callings) who is entrusted with keys to access the church.
Back story: There was an on-going feud between the "moderate" BP who wanted to govern by his laid back approach to the "spirit-of-the-law" and the hostile Brother Grin who deeply resented getting promote to the High Council. Grin was the classic passive-aggressive. There was also friction and butting of egos between the BP and Brother Stingy who was overseeing facilities of the stake and in the HP group. Stingy was narcissistic and bitter from the church holding court on 3 of his immoral daughters. Now ward council meetings were highly explosive. Brother Stingy and Sister Grin (serving in the RS presidency) would openly criticize the ward (Bishop) for not addressing moral issues in the ward. Insert two hours of idle gossip and speculation about less actives and youth. One day the BP had enough of their contempt and he dismissed them from the ward council.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2017 11:06PM by messygoop.