What is a "Church record"?

[BenRaines]

Scouting callings matter if you have been divorced? I know my father has a mark on his record for something he served time for. So he can never serve in the Primary. This is not marking him. This is protecting the youth. He would not serve in Scouting either. Divorce has nothing to do with serving in Scouting. Pedophile will have something to do with it.

Ben Raines

[pentecorman]

That's right.

[qedd]

Originally Posted by pentecorman

Actually, there are confidential marks placed on your record that only your Bishop (or Stake Pres) has access to. I learned this when I inquired about becoming a CES teacher. They said you cannot be divorved and you cannot have been disfellowshipped or exed. I inquired "how would you know if I were?" I was told that there was an astrisk at a certain spot on your record that indicated this fact of your past. It is also used for scout callings and any calling when working with the youth.
As a parent I think this is great. However, as a person I think it dismisses true repentance and permanantly brands people. Terrible!

Permanent marks are far and few between -- those that pose a danger to children, etc. are a concern however. There is little or nothing that would tell a bishop or branch president that a person had been the subject of Church discipline in the past. The Church is big on repentance and on moving forward. Priesthood leadership and clerks are directed to destroy records of disciplinary proceedings once they are no longer needed (i.e., the individual has been brought back into full fellowship, etc.).

When a member moves between units (wards or branches), the previous bishop or branch president can request that the next bishop or branch president contact him. But this is usually to discuss current issues or concerns (which may include cases of individuals that are moving around frequently attempting to take advantage of Church welfare).

The Church really isn't in the business of building a detailed dossier on each of us. Indiscriminately branding individuals for life would defeat the purpose of repentance, forgiveness, mercy, and the mission of the Church (bringing souls unto Christ).

[havejoy]

If having been disfellowshipped in the past kept us from getting callings there would be a lot more of us getting disfellowshipped.

I said something to my last Bishop about having been disfellowshipped a long time ago and he seemed genuinely surprised. However, if there was something in someones past that made it dangerous for them to be around children then the Church has a legal obligation to make sure the children are protected.

[pentecorman]

If there is something in someone's past, and he/she repents, then is that person still a threat? Is he/she still the subject of questionable intent? How?

[havejoy]

The one that comes to mind is the pedophile. If someone had been convicted of such a crime it would be unconscionable to allow them to be a a calling that would allow them to be around children. It would put the children in danger of being hurt and it would put the pedophile in a position of temptation.

[pentecorman]

This really addresses several problems.
I grew up thinking that God actually "called" people through inspiration/revelation.
So you are either saying "don't obey God because common sense says not to," or "God really has nothing to do with these small calling, we just fill them in as needed, and would never put a repentant pedophile in because we all know he has not really been born again."
I also grew up believing this church was "big" on forgiveness too. Imagine saying that to your wife -Yeah honey, I forgive you, but I'm keepin' tabs. If you feel that way just divorce/excommunicate and move on!

[pentecorman]

"Don't let Paul become an Apostle, he was a Jesus hater and Christian basher." "Don't let Alma the Younger go out on a mission, his eyes will become attracted to women and things of the world again and will destroy the church."
We think we believe in the spirit of revelation to guide us. Then it gets real and we deny the very power thereof. Sad.

[havejoy]

Do you really think a bishop can't make a mistake? I mean, if you're looking for a reason to hate the church then go ahead and hate it for not putting convicted child molesters in positions of power over children.

[pentecorman]

Who said anything about "hate the church?" I love the church. Bishops can make mistakes, so can pedophiles. But God does not.
See, now is when members fall back on "everyone, even prophets, make mistakes." No one ever wants to talk about the contradictions in what we say and preach versus reality.

We say, "Repent, get cleansed through the Atonement." Then what we actually do is put astrisks next to people's names who have something that warranted disfellowship even though they have repented, gone to the temple, hold reccomends, and it is 20 years in the past. That is hypocricy.

The problem is that we feel like apostate church haters if we say anything. I did not bring up this topic, but I will speak honestly about it. Not everyone who has been disfellowshipped is a child molester. Some may have been disfellowshipped by one of those "mistakes" made by the bishop that you want to excuse.