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Is the Ward Clerk the Ward CTO (Chief Technology Officer)

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:56 pm
by johnshaw
This interesting discussion came up recently in our SP meeting (I am a Stake Clerk/STS). A Bishop was proposing a change for their Ward Clerk. The suggested name came in and I asked the question about his technical qualifications. Is this high 60 year old brother the person to manage not only the records, finances, but also the Technology needs of the Ward?

It brings me to my point of writing. Is technical qualification a strong consideration (like organized enough to keep records, financially capable of doing finances, etc...) for the Clerk position? It seems that the online web applications are assigning the lead technology rights to clerks and ExecSec in a Ward, they also assign them to Bishopric members, but these members have ecclesiastical duties as well. So who should be responsible for making sure that the online directory is up-to-date? Learning and using the beta software for a ward? Calendaring, Directory, Maps, Newsletter, Lesson Scheduler, all of these tools and how they are being rolled out, require some technical competence from the clerk office? What say ye all? How are your wards handling this responsibility?

I'm about ready to suggest some soft language be given to Bishops and Branch Presidents, something like:

Just as when considering a clerk, their ability to manage the computer records system, and finances, a strong consideration of their technical ability to work with web-related software the church has rolled out. In cases where a Bishop feels strongly enough about a brother who is not technically savvy, an assistant Clerk over technology should also be submitted at the same time....

Something like that.

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:21 pm
by jonesrk
A lot of the online/technical work can also be delegated to an assistant clerk. In our stake they have asked that some one be designated as the 'ward technology specialist'. That person would be the front line for questions from members and helping them with the websites, etc.

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:29 am
by benjamincarleski
In our ward, we have an assistant clerk who is assigned as the technology specialist. The ward clerk is still tech savy, but member questions about the websites, using the DVD players, or hooking up the projector to a laptop are all referred to the assistant clerk. He also back-fills both the finance clerk and membership clerk as needed. This allows the ward clerk to focus on record keeping in the ward, while still having someone the leadership and membership can turn to for help and answers with technology questions.

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:35 pm
by lehrschallbrian
In my YSA ward I serve as CTO. My exec sec is also very tech savy and he lends me a hand alot.

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:12 pm
by dfchamplain
Our ward has done the same thing by calling an assistant clerk and having him act as the "ward technology specialist". The assistant clerk is able to help in all other clerical functions as well such as membership, finance, and history. This assistant clerk is also responsible for helping members understand the technology which the Church has made available to all and how they can use it in their callings / personal life.

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:28 pm
by KenRichins
It would be NICE for there to be a STANDARD calling of: Assistant Ward Clerk - Technology Specialist Then the correct rights could be assigned automatically and would solve many minor problems with getting proper access to programs and make it easier to help the ward members and leaders deal with the new technology and features of the new programs with needed local hands-on help.

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:40 pm
by russellhltn
KenRichins wrote:It would be NICE for there to be a STANDARD calling of: Assistant Ward Clerk - Technology Specialist Then the correct rights could be assigned automatically and would solve many minor problems with getting proper access to programs and make it easier to help the ward members and leaders deal with the new technology and features of the new programs with needed local hands-on help.

How would it be different then "Assistant Ward Clerk"?

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:42 pm
by KenRichins
It would clarify the assignment of that clerk, just like finance or membership does with their standard callings

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:04 pm
by johnshaw
Agreed. I believe it is clear at the Stake Level. The ward level has not been defined as well, the only true 'evidence' I see is that by default the Bishopric has rights to things. But is the Ward Clerk responsible for (as in is it an 'office of the clerk' assignment to manage the webcast receiving, video conferencing, online web app tool roll-out, help with mobile apps, etc...) I don't think it has been spelled out as well as I'd like to see. I get the feeling that many Bishops and Branch Presidents in my stake haven't taken much of an interest in the online tools because there hasn't been a letter from the official communications channel, so anything I'm doing seems to be just extraneous.... just a feeling I get

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:40 pm
by kisaac
KenRichins wrote:It would be NICE for there to be a STANDARD calling of: Assistant Ward Clerk - Technology Specialist Then the correct rights could be assigned automatically
While waiting for the standard calling to be created, it sure seems like the standard calling of website admin is very close to a "ward technology specialist." Do you need them also to be an assistant clerk as well, because that grants some accesses you might not desire them to have on LDS.org and involves the stake in the calling, and limits those you can call to those that can be an assistant clerk.

You could call him as an assistant ward clerk now, and as Website Admin so he can train others, or solve problems with LDS.org use. Using the standard calling of Website Admin allows the calling of a sister to such a "technology" post, which could be combined with a custom calling, such as that of ward tech specialist. One ward I know is considering calling the technology specialist under the Sunday School as a specialist librarian...again, not a clerk position and thus making the calling available to sisters.