lajackson wrote:JohnShaw wrote:What in the world is correlation for, if not to reduce duplication?
Correlation has nothing to do with duplication. Under correlation, we study the same things at the same time so that we will all be on the same page when we have our gospel discussions at home. To remove duplication, we would combine classes and only have one teacher teach everyone. They are not related.
Well, since you delighted in taking me to task about what correlation is, and in your vast experience referenced, I take issue that you don't really understand what correlation was and is historically. It doesn't seem to me that you've studied the history of correlation that started under President Heber J. Grant with then superintendent of sunday schools David O. McKay being on the original task-force. The list of recommendations from that committee were largely based on an underlying the principle (from President Grant) to eliminate DUPLICATION (because it eliminated COST). For Instance, magazines were being produced by RS, YMYWMIA, Primary, Priesthood, etc.... all having editorial boards, editors, producers, etc... We were running church schools competing with government run schools, etc.. Church buildings used to be constructed at the whim of people, now they are cookie cutter stamped plans... create once, build a ton.... saving duplicate effort/money on building design. Create a curriculum at a 7th grade level to reduce the effort it takes to translate to the worlds languages. Saving COST in hiring more advanced speakers of each of those languages, and eliminating the Duplication of or the most efficient use of the 3-hour block teaching the gospel (eliminating duplication of some gospel principle lessons and eliminate the exclusion of some gospel principle lessons - providing a balance of lessons that otherwise might not be there when thinking about multiple departments doing their own thing. Just to name a few of correlation's focus.
The history of coorelation is much more complex than what you've stated here, but it is always true that a duplication of effort under girded MOST of what correlation started as and why it is the way it is. In our example today, the COST is just a bit different.
lajackson wrote:In your original post, you list six items that you feel strongly we need. They are all very valuable tools that may have the potential to assist in the work of ministering to our fellow Saints. If we could not do the work without them, I am certain they would be under development.
But we can do the work without them. And we have been for years.
I can't think of a single tool that already exists online that we can't do without according to the statements you've made here. I totally don't get why asking for improvements and new functionality and trying to find a way to move these items forward is mutually exclusive to ministering the gospel.
lajackson wrote:I am not opposed to technological advances that will further the work. But the greatest online tools in the world will not help someone become a better home or visiting teacher, a better quorum or class instructor, or a better father or mother.
Again, not sure where this line of reasoning comes from... asking for and insisting on better tools to MANAGE and RUN the operations and administrative aspects of the church are not mutually exclusive to ministering as you seem to make them here. And in fact, only serves to eliminate much of the chaos, and time involved, which can drive the spirit away and takes time away from all those wonderful items you mentioned.
I realize that many people don't do well thinking in a grand scale. When I think about the amount of time it takes to call a new EQ president, and then look at that for every stake in the western hemisphere, I have to wonder just how much effort is wasted in that space. When one chooses to myopically look at 'my own world/work, or experience' then I can see why 'dealing with it' doesn't seem to be a big deal. It is difficult for a human who thinks nothing of the few hours it might take to help arrange things like calling a EQ President in their own stake, and thinks of that as a 'part of doing business' - it takes vision to think about that at a macros level rather than a micro level.
I've been either an ExecSec or a Ward-level, Stake level clerk now for nearly 20 years, and I have LARGE Enterprise IT expertise in a Software Services and Infrastructure Services company - these things are near and dear to my heart. I'm not saying that
I Need to spend more time with my family, what
I'm saying is that Each and Every Clerk, ExecSec, Secretary, Auxiliary President putting in time and effort every week Needs to spend more time with their family. I can manage myself just fine, and while I appreciate the advice, I'm not in this for ME, or My stake. I'm in this for the Church as a whole.
While at this time I can't link to anything specific, there is a stated intent by the Church teams developing these tools, to make improvements for the sake of time and effort. If the stated intention is to save time, but then only deliver part of the solution/system, asking for it to be finished to complete the intent doesn't seem out on a limb to me.
I tried to state in my original post, that there will always be something that draws more attention. Is there something that can be done to provide the completion of the promised results? Maybe the MoreGoodFoundation could be used
“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.”
― Thomas Paine, Common Sense