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Church Handbook of Instruction

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:42 am
by JamesP-p40
Does anyone know if access to the CHI is restricted to only Bishops and their counselors (or Stake Presidents and their counselors)?

I was under the impression, that as an "informal" member of the bishopric, ward clerks and executive secretaries were supposed to have access to Book 1 of the CHI. But in our first bishopric meeting last night, I brought it up and both counselors and the Bishop seemed to indicate that we were not to have access to it. When I explained that there are sections that outline our duties and how to perform them, I was told that they could photocopy those sections and give them to us for our reference.

Can anyone clarify?

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:56 am
by danpass
JamesP wrote:Does anyone know if access to the CHI is restricted to only Bishops and their counselors (or Stake Presidents and their counselors)?

I was under the impression, that as an "informal" member of the bishopric, ward clerks and executive secretaries were supposed to have access to Book 1 of the CHI. But in our first bishopric meeting last night, I brought it up and both counselors and the Bishop seemed to indicate that we were not to have access to it. When I explained that there are sections that outline our duties and how to perform them, I was told that they could photocopy those sections and give them to us for our reference.

Can anyone clarify?
Each ward is to have 4 copies of Book 1. One each is assigned to the Bishop and the 2 counselors. The 4th copy is assigned to the Ward Clerk. I'm no longer a ward clerk and do not have a copy of Book 1 in my possession, but this information is given in Book 1. Ask them to look it up.

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:01 am
by mkmurray
danpass wrote:Each ward is to have 4 copies of Book 1. One each is assigned to the Bishop and the 2 counselors. The 4th copy is assigned to the Ward Clerk. I'm no longer a ward clerk and do not have a copy of Book 1 in my possession, but this information is given in Book 1. Ask them to look it up.
Yes, Book 1 also details which sections of Book 2 should go to the different auxiliary presedencies as well (Elders, HP, YM, YW, Primary, Sunday School, Ward Mission, etc.)

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:06 pm
by lajackson
danpass wrote:The 4th copy is assigned to the Ward Clerk.

Some bishops ask the ward clerk to be responsible for the 4th book. Others ask the executive secretary to watch over it. Either way, the 4th book is one that should be available to the clerk and executive secretary to help them fulfill their callings. Often, it is kept locked up in the clerks office.

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:10 pm
by JamesP-p40
Thanks for the responses. Now comes the uncomfortable conversation with the Bishop telling him I need the book he doesn't (for some reason) think I should have....

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:15 pm
by mkmurray
JamesP wrote:Thanks for the responses. Now comes the uncomfortable conversation with the Bishop telling him I need the book he doesn't (for some reason) think I should have....
Well, again, the Church Handbook of Instructions actually has a section for who gets to have a copy of what from Book 1 and Book 2. I realize you probably don't have a copy of your own because of the current situation, but perhaps someone here with a copy on-hand could provide a page number reference for you to pass along to your bishop.

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:16 pm
by lajackson
JamesP wrote:Thanks for the responses. Now comes the uncomfortable conversation with the Bishop telling him I need the book he doesn't (for some reason) think I should have....

It is quite possible that he does not have it, either. Not every unit still has four copies of Book 1, and it is very hard (nearly impossible) to obtain another copy.

They should have it, though.

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:17 pm
by lajackson
mkmurray wrote:Well, again, the Church Handbook of Instructions actually has a section for who gets to have a copy of what from Book 1 and Book 2. I realize you probably don't have a copy of your own because of the current situation, but perhaps someone here with a copy on-hand could provide a page number reference for you to pass along to your bishop.

It is in the very front, before section 1 begins.

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 1:07 pm
by JamesP-p40
lajackson wrote:It is quite possible that he does not have it, either. Not every unit still has four copies of Book 1, and it is very hard (nearly impossible) to obtain another copy.

They should have it, though.
He found the third (his) and fourth copy in his desk last night during our first bishopric meeting. He wondered out loud what the fourth copy was for, and that's when the discussion ensued....

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 1:11 pm
by danpass
lajackson wrote:It is quite possible that he does not have it, either. Not every unit still has four copies of Book 1, and it is very hard (nearly impossible) to obtain another copy.

They should have it, though.
Although difficult, it is possible to get a replacement. If your ward is short a copy, you should do everything within reason to track down the missing copy. It may be stuffed in a cabinet or file somewhere in the Clerk's or Bishop's office and forgotten about. You should also contact previous clerks and executive secretaries and try to identify who had it last. Or perhaps a former Bishop or Counselor lost or failed to return their copy and the Clerk's copy got re-provisioned. If you still haven't been able to locate it after this, the Bishop will need to request a replacement and he will have to explain why the replacement is needed.

Update: I see from your last post that the Clerk's copy is not lost. But perhaps this information will be helpful to someone else.