Stake and ward leaders should be familiar with the General Handbook. The General Handbook is the first policy guide for church administration. The policies on this page are local clarification complimenting the general instructions of the handbook.
Review General Handbook 18.7.2
When a baptismal service for 8-year-old children who are members of record involves only one ward, a member of the bishopric plans and conducts it.
Members should not request individual times for the baptism of a child.
Baptismal services for 8-year-old children are held monthly on the Saturday before Fast Sunday at 11:00 AM. Each ward plans and conducts their own baptismal service. The ward primary presidency manages the baptismal clothing. The stake primary presidency and baptism coordinators manage the font and room assignments for the baptismal services. When circumstances do not allow a child to be baptized on the stake baptism day, members may move the baptism to the stake baptism day in the following month. Exceptions to this policy must be approved and planned by the bishop.
Review General Handbook 34.6.2.3
Excess budget allowance funds should not be spent. Excess ward funds should be returned to the stake. Excess stake funds should be returned to the Church. As an exception, stakes and wards may retain some unspent funds if they are needed for specific activities that are planned for the next year, such as a youth conference. However, significant portions of the stake or ward budget allowance should not be retained from one year to the next.
Before the end of each year the ward council approves a budget for the upcoming year. During the last week of December, all excess funds are returned to the stake. The budget account begins and ends each year with a zero balance. There is no need to hold extra funds to cover early expenses in the year as the ward account balance is allowed to be negative as long as the expenses are within the approved budget. If excess budget funds need to be retained for specific activities in the upcoming year, those funds must be approved by both the bishop and the stake president.
Review General Handbook 20.6
If funds from ward and stake budgets and from participants are not sufficient for camps, the bishop may authorize one ward fundraising event annually.
One fundraising event to fund youth camps and equipment may be held annually at the ward level. Bishops regularly review section 20.6 of the General Handbook and ensure that all limitations outlined in that section are followed. Funds are to be spent in the same year they are raised. The ward budget account ends the year with a zero balance as described in the Stake Budget Carryover policy.
Review General Handbook 20.2.2, 38.8.27
Review disability.churchofjesuschrist.org
Those who plan activities should reach out to all, especially new members, less-active members, youth, single adults, those with disabilites, and people of other faiths.
Every effort should be made to integrate members with disabilities under 18 into their wards and stakes.
Youth with disabilities should be included as fully as possible in ward and stake activities. Leaders reach out in love to understand the strengths and challenges of each disabled participant. Leaders talk with the person and his or her family members and become familiar with accommodations that may remove barriers to participation. Leaders make reasonable adaptations to activities to facilitate participation by disabled youth. When more leaders are needed to supervise activities for members with disabilities, the bishopric invites additional ward members to help a person with a disability at an activity.
For the wellbeing of our disabled youth, sometimes they will not be able to participate. Some activities that would not be hazardous to others may be dangerous to a disabled person. The nature of some activities may prohibit participation in an activity. Some examples may include:
Parents will be expected to come and pick up their youth from the activity if one of the above factors exists but was not reported to leaders.
Review General Handbook 20.5.9
Church sports activities provide opportunities for physical activity and fellowship. They emphasize participation, sportsmanship, and skill development. When the activity involves competition, every effort should be made to avoid contention. All team members should have regular opportunities to play, regardless of skill level.
Stake Sports are held weekly on Thursday nights from 7 - 9pm at the Stake Center.
Late Night Sports are held Tues, Wed, Thurs nights in all buildings from 9 - 11pm. The full sized gym at the stake center is scheduled according the Late Night Sports document. Late Night Sports at the Stake Center are reserved for stake and ward organizations. Family and friend groups use the building scheduler to reserve game play at other times and locations.
Review General Handbook 20.7.7
When a Church activity for youth involves long-distance travel or staying overnight, parents or guardians must give written permission for their children to participate.
For our stake, long-distance travel is farther than 100 miles. The bishop approves local travel and the stake president approves long distantance travel. Primary and youth activity leaders get verbal consent from parents and the bishop for any travel. Written consent is required for long distance travel or for overnight activities. Emergency contact information for each participant is kept on hand at all activities and for all travel.
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