Stake Family History Director and Indexing Director

Issues related to the use and operation of Family History Centers
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rmajors
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Stake Family History Director and Indexing Director

#1

Post by rmajors »

Our Stake is reorganizing our Family History Centers, we have 4 FHCs. We have a couple of questions.
1) Is there a requirement for the Stake Family History Center Director or the Stake Indexing Director to be Melchizedek Priesthood Holders. The real question is: can worthy Sisters fill these calling. Various comments in the Forum indicate terms "he or she" but no specific direction, just want clarification.
2) Since we have 4 Family History Centers in our widely dispersed Stake, we are assuming that each can have their own Stake Family History Center Director, reporting to our assigned High Councilman.
3) Can multiple Stake Indexing Directors can be called based on the need of the individual units?
4) We are planning Family History Fair and would like to do that in each of the wards/branches that feel that it would be of a benefit to the members and the community, we assume that is acceptable. Again, just want clarification.
5) Our FHC computers are very old and need serious upgrades. Our FM Group has said that they are not responsible for the computers in the FHC, who do we contact to work on getting these systems replaced.
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aebrown
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Re: Stake Family History Director and Indexing Director

#2

Post by aebrown »

rmajors wrote:1) Is there a requirement for the Stake Family History Center Director or the Stake Indexing Director to be Melchizedek Priesthood Holders. The real question is: can worthy Sisters fill these calling. Various comments in the Forum indicate terms "he or she" but no specific direction, just want clarification.
In To Turn the Hearts, on page 9, we read: "The stake presidency, in consultation with the high councilor, recommends an individual to be called as the stake indexing director. Assistant directors may also be called."

This handbook is very careful to use the term "individual" when either a man or woman can be called. So a worthy sister could certainly fill this calling.
rmajors wrote:2) Since we have 4 Family History Centers in our widely dispersed Stake, we are assuming that each can have their own Stake Family History Center Director, reporting to our assigned High Councilman.
In To Turn the Hearts, on page 10, we read: "The assigned high councilor ensures that the staffing needs of family history centers in the stake are met. For multistake family history centers, high councilors from participating stakes work together to help oversee the centers and provide family history consultants and funds.

Family history centers are staffed by individuals who have specific skills in teaching, doing family history research, and using FamilySearch technology.

Staff members include: Family history center director and assistant directors, if needed. Directors and assistant directors are recommended to serve by the stake presidency and are approved by the stake presidency and the high council. The stake presidency may ask the assigned high councilor for a recommendation."

Note that there are two different callings: "Family History Center Director" and "Stake Family History Center Director."
  • The calling "Family History Center Director" can only be entered by the Family History Department. Someone from the responsible stake (often the stake clerk) will call the FH Department and get this set up. This calling is associated with a particular FHC, and is required in order for the new FHC director to have correct permissions for online resources and to interact with the FH Department. This calling does not appear in the Stake Leadership Section of the Directory on LDS.org.
  • The calling "Stake Family History Center Director" is entered by the stake clerk in MLS, just as with any other stake calling. It is associated with the stake, not any particular FHC, and confers no particular permissions. It does appear in the Directory on LDS.org in the Stake Leadership section.
So each FHC certainly has its own FHC Director.
rmajors wrote:3) Can multiple Stake Indexing Directors can be called based on the need of the individual units?
No. In To Turn the Hearts, on page 9, we read: "The stake presidency, in consultation with the high councilor, recommends an individual to be called as the stake indexing director. Assistant directors may also be called."

It's very clear that the singular "an individual" is used, so there can be only one stake indexing director. However, it's also clear that any number of assistant indexing directors can be called to meet the needs of your units.
rmajors wrote:4) We are planning Family History Fair and would like to do that in each of the wards/branches that feel that it would be of a benefit to the members and the community, we assume that is acceptable. Again, just want clarification.
In an official letter dated 9 September 2013, we read:

"For stakes who plan to hold a local Family History Fair, the Family History Department can provide tools to help organize the event with classes, workshops, activities for youth, and advertising materials.

Other useful resources are available from an annual family history conference hosted by the Family History Department, known as RootsTech. Selected class materials from the conference will be available to download after February 6, 2014.

A stake representative may sign up for your stake to receive these resources at https://www.lds.org/hostfair. Training and additional instructional materials are available online. If you have questions, please contact familyhistoryfair@familysearch.org. Support telephone numbers may be found at https://contact.familysearch.org.

I'm sure you can have as many fairs as you'd like. Those links will give you additional information.
rmajors wrote:5) Our FHC computers are very old and need serious upgrades. Our FM Group has said that they are not responsible for the computers in the FHC, who do we contact to work on getting these systems replaced.
See these knowledge articles:
rmajors
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Re: Stake Family History Director and Indexing Director

#3

Post by rmajors »

Thank you very much. Really good information and we appreciate the response. This is definitely worth a read by those facing similar questions.
russellhltn
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Re: Stake Family History Director and Indexing Director

#4

Post by russellhltn »

Just as a note - if your computers are properly set up and have the inventory application installed, and the director is turning in their reports, the cascading will tend to happen automatically.

Also, I'd note that all advice given is for authorized FHCs, not ones set up by the local leaders. In the latter case, you're on your own.

Some additional documents: Handbook 2: 5.4 and Family History Callings and FHC Operations Guide.
Have you searched the Help Center? Try doing a Google search and adding "site:churchofjesuschrist.org/help" to the search criteria.

So we can better help you, please edit your Profile to include your general location.
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